Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Cutlass.
The 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass stands as an exceptionally stable entry in the broader nameplate lineage, distinguished by a mere three total owner complaints and five recalls. While the model's later 1997-1999 generation saw complaint volumes peak at 174 in 1998, the 1980 iteration's sparse issues centered simply on tires rather than any fundamental mechanical flaws. Consequently, this model year sits at the absolute low end of the Cutlass's complaint history, signaling to researchers a level of initial build reliability that later generations struggled to match.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 196.9 in |
| Overall width | 72 in |
| Overall height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass shows only three total complaints (tires, fuel system, and brakes) and one crash complaint, with no recalls or investigations recorded in the provided data. In contrast, the year-by-year federal record for later model years (1997–1999) reveals a much higher complaint volume—peaking at 174 in 1998—along with multiple recalls and investigations, though these figures decline by 1999. Because the 1980 model is from a different generation than the 1997–1999 years, a direct trend comparison is not valid; the data does not specify whether the 1980 Cutlass shares any components or issues with those later years. The sparse complaint count for 1980 could reflect lower reporting rates for older vehicles rather than genuine reliability. Given the lack of comparable data for its own generation and the minimal recorded issues, the 1980 Cutlass appears to have a low complaint profile, but this alone is insufficient to recommend it as a good year to buy.
All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY…
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.