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1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
3
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 1980 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. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

    NHTSA 81V022000 Reported 67,350 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The electro-clear rear window defoggers contain a defect which causes the glass to shatter without impact during or some time after use of the defogger. Vertical electrical strips may deteriorate and cause hot spots that can result in breakage of the rear glass.

    Remedy: Vehicles will be inspected for presence of a particular weatherstrip. If present, a layer of a special conductive epoxy will be added to the vertical bar on the rear window glass. This epoxy is a new conductive…

3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“About a 1.5 to 2 years ago i purchase a firestone 721 passenger car tire. I almost immediately began having problems with my car riding ruff. I took the car back to the firestone dealer where i bought”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2000 · Tires

“This is to bob young: after reading the wall st journal article i wanted you to know that i learned first hand another cause of runaway vehicles: electronic carburetor didnt like fuel richness so acce”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 12, 1999 · Fuel system, gasoline

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 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass

How do I know if my 1980 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1980 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 81V022000).

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.