1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Reviews

I have had no serious problems with this car.

I keep it maintained, and it has been very trustworthy.

This has been the best car I have ever owned.

I require a comfortable driver's seat, and except for a Buick Park Avenue that I owned, this seat is great.

Purchased 4 door 1997 Cutlass Supreme SL 3.1 litre at 170,000 miles, and ran it hard everywhere in Toronto and surrounding areas.

Had plugs, air filter, oil change etc etc... tune up at 200,000 km with brake repair. Told heater core is gone.

At 210,000 km pulley shaft broke. Replaced in Thunder Bay.

Fort McMurray Alberta at 215,000km, thermostat stuck, car overheated. Head gasket damage.

If I had not run the car overheated, it would still be running really well.

Interior is a little sparse, but I suppose it is not a luxury car so I cannot quibble.

Overall the car ran fine with no major problems with a normal maintenance schedule. Considering its age and how I drove it, held up quite nicely.

The intake gaskets on my car started leaking at around 115,000 miles. Which means it started leaking antifreeze, not badly, but enough that they had to be replaced.

The water pump also went at about 110,000. Cheap and easy fix not that uncommon to any car.

The only sore spot was that I had to replace the rack and pinion twice. Once because it was leaking and once because the pinion gear separated from the rack.

The power antenna also quit working.

Overall I love this car.

It has plenty of power.

It is extremely comfortable on long trips.

The air conditioning is ice cold.

Handles very well for a mid-level car.

It is also one of the best looking cars GM put out in the nineties.

Replaced radiator, lower intake gasket, spark plugs and wires, fuel filter, and PVC valve.

Other than typical up keep and a few little things I have little to no problems with it. I love this car. I love the entire styling from exterior to interior. Mine even had a factory installed block heater. I think it was a very stupid thing for Oldsmobile to drop the Cutlass Supreme W-body line.

This car handles very well and has great acceleration. I have no complaints about it.

The engine has a ticking noise when it's cold. The dealer tells me this is normal, but it's only getting louder with time. I have an extended warranty, but the dealers (the only ones that are approved) refuse to fix it, stating that they don't want an "inspector" to come by. The engine had the pistons supposedly replaced at around 6,000 miles, but the noise continued.

Brake rotors had to be replaced at 45,000 miles at a cost of $600.

Brake lights went out 5 or more times before the 30,000 mile warranty period was over. The problem was finally fixed.

Alternator went out at 30,000 miles.

Interior plastic parts are flimsy. Visor snaps keep falling off.

There is a noise on the left front steering that I'm told is normal, but sounds like a scraping.

The engine used to vibrate rather wildly until the dealer installed some sort of a dampener on the engine mounts. Now the engine still vibrates at idle, but one doesn't feel it as much.

The car's cam sensor went out and stranded me.

The dealer screwed up my after-market alarm and sunroof controls after I had the brakes done. The dealer, Marina Pontiac, in Santa Cruz is the WORST! They have horrible customer service.

I will never buy another GM product in my life. This car has been incredibly unreliable, and the dealers don't want to "deal" with the problems it has.