OldsmobileCutlass1986Overview/oldsmobile/cutlass/1986/base/

1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Cutlass.

The 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass is represented in the complaint database by 31 owner complaints and three recalls, with engine and engine cooling standing out as the most frequently reported problem area. That complaint count sits well below the levels recorded for the 19971999 model years, which span from 92 complaints in 1999 to 174 in 1998, placing the 1986 model outside the documented peak period of the nameplate's reliability history and marking it as a comparatively quieter year in the dataset.

Model year199919981997198719861985198119801977

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.6 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight2734 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 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.

At 7,500 miCarburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 miTransmission 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 JSON provides no federal complaint or recall figures for the 1986 model year, nor for the years immediately before or after it, so a year‑by‑year trend across the Cutlass generation cannot be constructed from the supplied data. For 1986 the available details show six engine‑and‑cooling complaints, four structure complaints, three power‑train complaints, three vehicle‑speed‑control complaints, one crash complaint, and three fire complaints. Because the year‑by‑year federal record only covers 19971999, there is no comparative basis to assess whether 1986 sits at a high, low, or intermediate point in complaint or recall frequency. Consequently, the data does not specify any known systemic issue or recall pattern unique to the 1986 Cutlass. Takeaway: with insufficient historical federal‑record information to evaluate reliability trends, a prospective buyer should treat the 1986 Cutlass as an unknown‑risk vehicle and obtain a thorough pre‑purchase inspection before deciding to purchase.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
31
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 31 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling6
Structure4
Power Train3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Steering3
Tires2
Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

89V102000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 16/06/1989

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF). Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

86V061000Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/TrunkReported 13/05/1986

AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES… Remedy: CORRECTLY INDEX WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS.

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

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

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

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1986 Cutlass have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.