RecallRepo

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,018,429 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 03V527000 2003-12-11 750,283 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION…

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC…

AIR BAGS 00V171000 2000-07-03 268,146 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR'S INTERNAL WIRING, WHICH CAN OCCUR OVER TIME, COULD CAUSE THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. THIS DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR DURING VEHICLE START-UP, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IDLING, OR WHILE IN OPERATION.

Consequence

IF THE CONSUMER IS TOO CLOSE TO AN INFLATING AIR BAG, SERIOUS INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INFLATORS ON THESE AIR BAGS.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
8
1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
2
1fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
2
1crashes
Total complaints54

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“While driving the temperature gauge went hot. Consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic before the vehicle overheats. The dealership has serviced the vehicle 4 times for this issue, in which the thermostat, the water pump, the radiator and the intake gasket were replaced. However, the problem still…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH · reported 2004-04-16

“Consumer took vehicle for a regular maintenance to independent shop, and mechanic determined that head gasket was leaking coolant, intake manifold was replaced at consumer's expense of $410.00. *ak *nm”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE · reported 2004-04-07

“The consumer heard a ticking noise from the engine. Upon inspection of the noise by the dealership they noticed that the intake manifold gasket was leaking coolant into the oil. This occurs because the manifold is make of plastic. *nm”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE · reported 2004-03-29

“Car problems with 1996 cutlass keeps stalling I have already replaced intake gasket put new battery in an had other repairs this car only has 96000 miles. *ak”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 2004-03-20

“While turning the steering wheel towards the right it locked up and caused the consumer to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. Please provide any additional information. *nm the consumer was informed the problem was due to a defective rack and pinion…”

STEERING:RACK AND PINION · reported 2003-10-15

“Steering is almost impossible to turn during low speed left hand turns. Problem is intermittent.”

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · reported 2003-09-20

“Vehicle did not give any warning that the battery was discharging. This occurred while driving 55mph on interstate 95 in ma. The electrical system completely shut down as I exited the road. Second time this happened in 4 years. No icons came on to warn me. Frightening experience to have car…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY · reported 2003-09-11

“While making a left turn steering wheel locked up. Driver had managed to pull over to side of road and stopped vehicle. Had vehicle towed to dealer. Mechanic could not locate cause of steering wheel locking up.*ak”

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE · reported 2003-09-02

Defect investigations

Investigation EA03019 Opened 2003-09-15 · closed 2003-12-18

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS…

Investigation EA03019 Opened 2003-09-15 · closed 2003-12-18

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS…

Investigation EA99026 Opened 1999-08-31 · closed 2001-12-28

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

There is no summary currently available

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.