1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,758,317 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 89V102000 1989-06-16 1,755,897 affected
Defect

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).

Consequence

SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

SEAT BELTS 86V093000 1986-07-14 2,223 affected
Defect

LEFT HANDED DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR PLATE MAY BE UPSIDE DOWN IN LOCK PILLAR SO THAT THE UNTHREADED SLOT OF THE PLATE ALIGNED WITH THE HOLE IN THE LOCK PILLAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE ANCHOR BOLT BEING DRIVEN INTO THE SLOT INSTEAD OF THE THREADED HOLE OF THE ANCHOR PLATE. …

Remedy

INSTALL A BOLT ANCHOR PLATE REINFORCEMENT AND NEW BOLT, AS NECESSARY.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 86V061000 1986-05-13 197 affected
Defect

AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES THAT THIS STOP LAMP BE LIGHTED ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO,…

Remedy

CORRECTLY INDEX WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
2fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
1
Total complaints31

What owners report

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

“While driving 28 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent shop and the technician replaced the fuel pump. *jb”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · reported 2004-08-19

“Consumer states that her daughter had a vehicle that had a problem with the engine bolt, which could hurt her. There was a recall on the rear engine cradle bolt in 1997. This was corrected with the recall by the previous owner. The bolt disconnected from the engine at least 3 times since…”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2004-07-12

“Vehicle experienced engine fire while driving (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 2000-06-01

“While driving gas pedal is sticking all the time. Contacted dealer, and couldn't find any problem. *ak”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · reported 1999-10-08

“Vehicle experienced engine fire. (ohio traffic crash report). Mjs”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1999-07-30

“While trying to apply the brakes, had to use the emergency parking brake. The brake lights come on and then the brakes went all the way out.*ak”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · reported 1996-09-10

“Poor stabiity, causing accident. (new jersey state police report)*sd”

SUSPENSION:FRONT · reported 1996-02-26

“Rear brakes locked up. *ak”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM · reported 1995-08-18

Defect investigations

Investigation C89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE89104 Opened 1989-03-17 · closed 1989-05-12

JAMMED STEERING MECHANISM

SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===

Investigation PE89145 Opened 1989-07-21 · closed 1989-09-22

PARKING BRAKE CABLE

===

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 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.