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1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

5 safety recalls for the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Wheel cylinders (service brakes)

    NHTSA 85V048000 Reported 1,810,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Excessive enlargement of the wheel cylinder pilot hole in the rear brake backing plate could allow the wheel cylinder to rotate and cause loss of brake fluid. Consequence of defect: a loss of brake fluid leads to loss of rear brake action, creating the potential for an accident. Front brakes would remain operational.

    Remedy: Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.

  2. Axle shaft (power train)

    NHTSA 84V149000 Reported 3,100,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Rear axle assembly may have axles that were improperly manufactured. This condition may result in separation of the axle shaft and wheel assembly from the vehicle.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect the rear axle to determine whether it was manufactured at the buffalo plant. If so, they will make axle measurements and if necessary replace or modify affected axle components without charge.

  3. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 81V025000 Reported 5,821,160 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The bolts that attach the lower rear control arm to the frame may fracture. The rear control arm supports and positions the rear axle. Fracture of the bolts would allow the control arm to drop free.

    Remedy: Both rear control arm attachment bolts will be replaced without charge.

  4. Wheel bearing (suspension)

    NHTSA 79V175000 Reported 1,896,222 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Under certain driving conditions, these vehicles can experience temperatures in the front wheel outer bearing area which can affect the wheel bearing grease. This can result in inadequate lubrication of the bearing. This condition may be further aggravated by improper adjustment of the front wheel spindle nut.

    Remedy: The dealer will install new front wheel outer bearings packed with grease and the spindle will be coated with lubricant. New grease retainer caps will also be installed to maintain grease in outer bearing. This will be…

  5. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 78V139000 Reported 333,619 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The hub portion of the fan blade assembly could crack due to high stress levels generated during engine operating conditions. Eventually, the blade could break apart at the hub and blade pieces could be propelled into the engine. If the hood is open while the engine is running, the fragments would be free to fly from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the fan blade assembly without charge to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Oldsmobile Cutlass model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Oldsmobile Cutlass model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass10
1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass20
1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass30
1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass30
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass13
1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass23
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass50
1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass72
1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass43
1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass23
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass21
1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass25
1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass216
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass318
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass323
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass216
1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass674
1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass6113
1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass6103
1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass6193
1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass3136
1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass4139
1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass4148
1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass3156
1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass0123
1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass296
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass2155
1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass080

Checking a specific 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass

How do I know if my 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Oldsmobile dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V139000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Oldsmobile models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.