1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Steering

Steering leads by volume: 14 of 43 complaints (33%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 47 in 1996 to 43 in 1997.

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 3 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category	1995	1996	1997	vs. 1997 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	3,100–3,450	2,950–3,450	2,950–3,450
Combined MPG	18–20	18–21	18–21
City / Highway MPG	15–17 / 24–26	15–18 / 24–26	15–18 / 24–26
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	444–494	423–494	423–494
Complaints filed	77	47	43	Not compared
Recalls issued	1	2	1	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	7	2	3	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	0	1	1	Not compared
Injuries reported	12	2	3	Not compared
Deaths reported	2	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	3	2	2

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

Steering: 14 of 43 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.

EPA rates it 18–21 MPG combined across 2 configurations.

EPA estimates $2,950–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 4-spd	6	3.1L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	18 mpg (high)	26 mpg (high)	21 mpg (high)	$2,950 (low)	423 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2	Automatic 4-spd	6	3.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	15 mpg (low)	24 mpg (low)	18 mpg (low)	$3,450 (high)	494 g/mi (high)

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	5	0	0	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	2	0	0	0
Fuel System	0	0	0	0
Electrical	3	0	0	0
Brakes	12	1	0	1
Steering	14	2	0	1
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	4	0	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	5	0	0	1
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	1	0	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	3	0	1	0
Visibility & Lighting	1	0	0	0
Other	1	0	0	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION · Campaign 03V527000 · Dec 18, 2003
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: 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 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.