Model year guide

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints181
Combined18–21 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme recalls 2

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #00V171000 · 03/07/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR'S INTERNAL WIRING, WHICH CAN OCCUR OVER TIME, COULD CAUSE THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. THIS DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR DURING VEHICLE START-UP, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IDLING, OR WHILE IN OPERATION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INFLATORS ON THESE AIR BAGS.

Steering:rack And Pinion NHTSA Campaign #03V527000 · 11/12/2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme common problems

Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme MPG & running costs

Combined18–21 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,450
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,250
Fuel only$17,250
Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme trims & engines on record

Trims
SL
Engines
3.1L 6-cyl

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme vehicles on record

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL1G3WH12M6TF347861 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL1G3WH52MXTF376593 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL1G3WH52M8TF336917 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL1G3WH52M7TF374977

Other Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model years

1997 1995 1994

1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme?

Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, steering, vehicle speed control.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme get?

The 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme has U.S. EPA estimates of 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.