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1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Cutlass.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass is a passenger-car offering built around an automatic four-speed transmission, EPA-rated at 18/26/21 mpg and serviced with 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 API engine oil. Within the 1997–1999 model-run complaint record, the 1997 edition sits between the peak 1998 (174 complaints) and the lowest 1999 (92 complaints), registering 166 owner complaints, three recalls, and "Service Brakes, Hydraulic" as the top reported concern. That mid-run standing means the 1997 Cutlass is neither the most nor the least complained-about year of this brief run, so brake-system condition and recall completion are the key items to verify.

Model year1999 1998 1997 1987 1986 1985 1981 1980 1977

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-60R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 25322835
Engine air filter	25161977
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301813
Front wiper blades	22660359 alt 22700263
Serpentine belt	12576452 discontinued
Thermostat	24507563 alt 10226107

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.9 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3283 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 26 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	98 cu ft
Cargo volume	16 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	103 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	76 Code M ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	17 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	14 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	12 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance

5,000-7,000 ohms

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.88 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	40-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs / 148 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	81 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	85 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.039 in / 0.433 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Door Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Hood Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass recorded 166 complaints, 3 recalls, 7 investigations, 121 TSBs, 10 crash complaints, and 2 fire complaints. In the following year, complaints rose to 174 while recalls remained at 3, investigations fell to 6, and TSBs decreased to 106. By 1999 complaints dropped sharply to 92, recalls fell to 1, investigations reached 0, and TSBs totaled 102, showing a clear decline in reported issues after 1998. Thus, the 1997 model sits between the higher‑problem 1998 year and the improved 1999 year, with fewer complaints than 1998 but more than 1999, and the same recall count as 1998 but more than 1999. This pattern indicates that the 1997 Cutlass does not benefit from the lower problem frequency seen in 1999. Consequently, for a buyer seeking the fewest federally recorded issues, a 1999 Cutlass would be a preferable choice over the 1997 model.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

121

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

166

Owner complaints

10 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’97’98 ’99

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 166 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic30

Steering29

Engine & Engine Cooling17

Electrical System9

Suspension8

Air Bags7

Service Brakes, Air7

Visibility5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

03V527000Steering:Rack And PinionReported 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. 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 121 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA273	2019-12-02	Electrical System	This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cutlass. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25161977 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301813

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 Cutlass take?

4.5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Cutlass have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Cutlass get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.