Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Dt: the contact stated while driving home from work the contact's husband fell asleep at the wheel. There was no collision with another vehicle. However, this vehicle hit a sign and a brick wall. It was a frontal impact, and the air bags did not deploy. Injuries were sustained. Seat belts were in use. The vehicle was totaled.
Car lights slowly went out on drive home. Antilock brakes went out, power steering went out and finally all the lights went out and vehicle would not start. Replaced battery-horn wouldn't work and light continued to come on. Took car to the dealership-reset computer-now day running lamps don't come on when start the car on-they only come on when the car is in drive. The airbag senor is also out. This all occurred at 37000 miles.
On 1/07 had low speed slide on icy road , causing impact with small tree, and resulting in minor cracks in right front bumper cap, and subsequent air bag deployment. Now, have received information regarding defective airbags which inadvertently deployed in minor crash conditions. Deployment has totaled vehicle with only minor damage.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass. While traveling approximately 35 MPH, the driver side air bag inadvertently deployed with force and impacted the contact's face, causing limited visibility. The contact mentioned that a substance emitted in the vehicle when the air bag deployed. The contact sustained injuries to the face and neck that did not require medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for further inspection and diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 235,000.
1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass premature air bag deployment. The bottom of the vehicel came in contact somehow with a drain which caused the air bag to deploy. This consequently caused hte windshield to shatter and damage to the dash.
While driving at 35 MPH, consumer t-boned another vehicle and driver's side seat belt did not retract and hold consumer in place like it should have done. Contacted dealer. Consumer states that air bag did not deploy, one person was injured in accident.
Consumer received notice for recall 00V171000, and has been informed for eleven (11) months that part was unavailable. Consumer stated that other vehicles have been repaired under this recall. However, when he arrived for a scheduled appointment part was no longer available. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass supreme. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic stop, another vehicle crashed into the contact. The air bags did not deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact suffered injuries to the head and was currently hospitalized. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the non-deployment of the air bags and the manufacturer stated that there was nothing they could do to assist. The failure mileage was 168,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 2/9/12
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent air bag deployments
There is no summary currently available
Oversensitive air bag deployment
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Cutlass years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (32), 1996 (22), 1998 (9), 1997 (6) and 1999 (5) model years. Airbag complaints make up 21% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Oldsmobile Cutlass airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for any Oldsmobile Cutlass model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Oldsmobile Cutlass airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 153,000 miles; 9% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (51 mentions), followed by the side/window (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.