1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass: 6 recalls, 103 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
.jpg){kind=link}
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #90V054000 · 1990 · 673,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener May pull through door mounted anchor plate.
Why it matters: Seat belt May not sustain loads required by fmvss 210, and in a vehicle accident, the seat belt May not properly restrain a passenger, resulting in increased risk of greater injury to an occupant.
The fix: Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #90V185000 · 1990 · 476,422 vehicles
What's wrong: Brake stoplamps May not illuminate or, in some cases, stoplamps will not stay illuminated all the time when brakes are applied due to a faulty stoplamp switch. Also in vehicles equipped with cruise control, a faulty stoplamp switch can result in resumption of the cruise control function upon release of the brake pedal.
Why it matters: A trailing vehicle May not recognize a braking actionin time to respond appropriately. Also, cruise control will reengage uponrelease of the brake pedal and resume the set speed. In either case, it couldresult in a crash without prior warning.
The fix: Install an improved design stoplamp switch.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #91V005000 · 1991 · 412,792 vehicles
What's wrong: Front shoulder safety belt webbing May separate at front belt upper guide loops on either side of the front seat.
Why it matters: Webbing separation could occur without prior warning andincrease the risk of injury to belted front outboard occupants in a high energycrash.
The fix: Install a controlled rotation bracket on driver and passenger side front seat belt guide loops.
Wheels Vehicle recall #94V041000 · 1995 · 198,163 vehicles
What's wrong: Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Wheels Vehicle recall #95V115000 · 1995 · 22,361 vehicles
What's wrong: Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #97V058000 · 1997 · 676,535 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both bolts pull through, the rear cradle would not longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft can separate from the steering gear.
Why it matters: If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (hydraulic) (51): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (18), brake failure / soft pedal (11).
- Seat belts (12): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (9): the most common themes are electrical failure (3), stalls / loses power (2).
- Body & structure (8): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2), door / lock issues (2).
The 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass has 103 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 10 Cutlass model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 133). Complaints peaked in 1995 (40 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old. Neighboring years: 1991 (193 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 29 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 30 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass problems?
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (hydraulic) (51), seat belts (12), electrical (9).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.3 L, Automatic 3-spd), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.