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1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Cutlass Supreme.

Body PASSENGER CAR

Defined as a passenger car requiring 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil for engine maintenance, the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme initiates a reliability dataset spanning from 1990 through 1996. This model year recorded 176 total owner complaints and 8 recalls, with service brakes and hydraulic systems emerging as the top complaint area. In the context of the full production run, the 1990 variant holds a moderate reliability standing that stays below the 252 complaints peaked in 1994 while surpassing the 90 complaints logged at the 1995 low point.

Model year1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	192.1 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3508 lb

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme marks the beginning of this generation’s federal complaint and recall trajectory, with 176 complaints and 8 recalls—figures that are elevated compared to the mid-cycle dip in 1992 (161 complaints, 4 recalls) but notably lower than the peak in 1991 (240 complaints, 8 recalls) and 1994 (252 complaints, 5 recalls). The data shows a clear early-generation spike in issues, particularly in hydraulic brakes (67 complaints), which may reflect teething problems with new or revised systems, while electrical and structural complaints also feature prominently. Investigations were relatively high in 1990 (6) and 1991 (9), suggesting federal scrutiny of emerging patterns, though the root causes are not specified in the data. By 1992, complaints and recalls declined, indicating potential refinements, but the 1990 model year’s figures imply it may still carry unresolved or latent issues from the generation’s launch. With 14 crash-related and 4 fire-related complaints, the 1990 model raises some safety considerations, though not at an extreme level. **Takeaway: The 1990 Cutlass Supreme is a riskier buy than mid-cycle years (1992–1993), as it falls in the early, more volatile phase of the generation’s reliability arc.**

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

176

Owner complaints

14 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 176 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic67

Structure20

Electrical System15

Seat Belts12

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Vehicle Speed Control6

Unknown Or Other5

Power Train5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

00V189000StructureReported 11/07/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
990309004	1999-10-01	Suspension	CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT
876002A	1998-07-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS…
CAMP90C52(O)	1995-06-01	Electrical System	INTEGRATED DRIECT IGNITION (I.D.I.) COIL HOUSING CRACKED.*SD

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cutlass Supreme. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 Cutlass Supreme take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Cutlass Supreme have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.