11th Aug 2003, 08:14

I also own a 1999 Olds Cutlass. I bought it one year ago with only 39,500 miles on it. I commute an hour to work each day so I've already put 35,000 miles on the car myself, but I'm amazed at all the problems we've encountered with this car. First of all, the air conditioning light goes off and on and of course when the light is off, the a/c isn't working. The next problem we noticed is with the oil. The low level oil light came on 4 months after we bought the car and since the car didn't appear to be leaking the oil, we assume it's burning the oil. I haven't had it looked at, but my husband continues to add oil to the car periodically. Next it was the driver's side window; it won't roll down if the car has been sitting outside in the sun all day. The last problem we've encountered is the coolant leaking although we hadn't noticed any puddles under the car until this weekend. This morning when I put the car in reverse, the engine made a knocking noise and the check engine light came on and stayed on. So the car is now parked, and I assume I'll be as unfortunate as the rest of you when I take it into the shop. I just hope the repairs aren't $2,000 as one of you mentioned! Believe me when this car is in working condition, we'll be trading it in for a Honda or Toyota. I'm definitely done with Oldsmobile.

14th Oct 2003, 06:05

I also have a 1999 olds cutlass, at 52000 miles I had to replace the front wheel bearings at a cost of $379.00 per side. and now at 82000 I will have to replace the intake gaskets and valve cover gaskets. also my check engine light comes on and goes off at will. I made a mistake buying this car.

15th Nov 2003, 14:51

I have 1999 Cutlass, and I have the same intake gasket problem. I am putting coolant every week to keep the car running. I think there should be a recall about this. It will cost me at least $700.

15th Dec 2003, 13:49

I, too, am having problems with my 1999 Olds Cutlass. In checking with various mechanics, it would seem that GM has put a "disposable" engine in these cars. I am told it is very common for these engines to blow a head gasket at around 100,00 miles for no apparent reason. I am SO upset. You would think a car would last as long as it takes to pay for it...

17th Jan 2004, 09:00

I own a 1997 Cutlass. It now has 115,000 miles. Problems I had with the vehicle are as follows. The front brakes are horrible. Ever since I changed the the OEM pair they never worked the same. I bought lifetime brakes and they need to be changed frequently. I am becoming very fast at this now. The brakes make noises all the time. It sometimes sounds like everything is loose up there, but it isn't. My 1 and 2 settings on the fan are also not working. As for the AC light going on and off my does that as well. When it is off, an easy way to get it back on is to hit the dash at the right of the cig. lighter. If you hit it it will turn back on. I don't suggest hitting it too hard and cause more damage. Both of my front wheel bearings needed to be replaced aroung 105,000. My front passenger window always ran slow and still does. My front speakers blew out. I replaced those as well, and actually I need to replace the front right one again, because it blew out again. My check engine light has been on for almost 2 years now. My ABS light is always on. The funny thing is when I got my wheel bearings replaced the light was off for 2 months and now it is back on again. I am thinking it is an electrical switch by the brakes, but I am not sure. I will get it looked at. I also got the intake manifold gasket repaired at around 110,000. I also replaced the battery at around 85,000.

24th Feb 2005, 10:52

After reading all this I feel lucky with my 99 cutlass, My biggest gripe is those front wheel bearings, you can't buy just the bearings anymore, you need to buy the entire hub at about $250 per side!! They went in 2002 and again here in 2005 when I travel between 40-50MPH the wheels roar like I am in an airplane. I had to do rear springs recently and yes the head gaskets way back at about 70K miles. ABS light has been on for the last 7 months, electric mirrors have mostly crapped out, window switch gone, A/C won't stay on, P/S lines went. All the 3.1 engines "tick" when they are cold. All in all not a bad car though for a cheap car, I have 140K now.

Jack G

Seabrook, NH.

6th Mar 2005, 20:13

Oh, the woes of owning a Cutlass. I have a 99' GLS. It now has 206000 miles on it. Here's what I've done to it. Front brakes, 11 times they've been changed; with rotors 4 times. Alternator has been changed once, and the serpentine belt has been changed once. The front passenger power window doesn't work. I've changed the motor, but that wasn't the problem, it's in the harness. The fan only works on #5 setting now. That progressed sequentially starting with the #1 setting. I'm waiting for the last one to go. I've replaced front wheel bearings at a cost of $350 per wheel. I'm currently putting in approximately one gallon of coolant per week and the car consumes about 2 1/2 quarts of oil every 3000 miles. It doesn't burn and it doesn't leak, I don't know where it goes.

Over all, this car has cost me very little, but that is because I don't fix the problems as they arise. I have just dealt with the problems.

10th Jul 2005, 21:08

My wife has a 97 Cutlass Supreme with 56,000 km's on it. Rear brakes are a disaster. Both rear pads and calipers had to be replaced at 20,000 kms. It's now had the rear brakes replaced three times, with the rotors getting replaced twice.

It will be going in for its fourth rear brake job in the next few days, and I'm sure the rotors will have to be replaced a third time.

It also appears to be leaking coolant from somewhere, and it looks like there's an oily substance in the coolant overflow tank, so I'm betting that an intake gasket is shot also. What a lemon this car has been!

15th Aug 2005, 15:16

Well I have a 99 olds. cutlass and I have some of the same problem with the low coolant, air cond. works on 3,4, check engine is on and now its turning off on me. The air cond. light turns off, but I think its the air compressor is going out.

30th Aug 2005, 11:27

I 0wn a 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass. There is a leak by the Intake Manifold which requires me to add coolant every two weeks. Also, the A/C light sometimes goes off and on. Plastic Intake manifold failure is my guess. the A/C problem is any-body's guess.