Model year guide

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme at a glance

Safety recalls1
Combined18–21 mpg

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

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme recalls 1

Steering:rack And Pinion NHTSA Campaign #03V527000 · manufacturer #03062 · 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 1-800-630-6537…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. 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.

1997 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 volume101 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 1997 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.

Dimensions & weight

Length
194.5–194.9 in
Width
72.0 in
Height
53.1–54.7 in
Wheelbase
107.5 in
Curb weight
3,283–3,389 lb
Front track
59.4 in
Rear track
57.9 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Steering

On certain vehicles, the lower pinion bearings retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers may fail and permit the ball bearings to escape. If the problem were to occur, the driver would have to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel. Correction: Dealers are to inspect the condition of the lower bearing, and replace the lower pinion bearing or the rack and pi…

Transport Canada #2003336 · Dec 2003

Engine

On certain vehicles, the spark plug wires may be causing the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) to be illuminated, as well as causing rough idle and poor performance. These conditions may be due to a dielectric breakdown of the plastic extender piece at the boot joint of the spark plug wire. Correction: Dealers will replace all six spark plug wires with a new service spark plug w…

Transport Canada #1999083 · May 1999

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is a mid-size car produced by Oldsmobile between 1966 and 1997. It was positioned as a premium offering at the top of the Cutlass range. It began as a trim package, developed its own roofline, and rose during the mid-1970s to become not only the most popular Oldsmobile but the highest selling model in its class.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme trims & engines on record

Trims
SL
Engines
3.1L 6-cyl

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme vehicles on record

Other Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model years

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1997 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 done at no charge.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme get?

The 1997 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.