Two years at the same age, so the older one is not punished for having been on the road longer.
1995 vs 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-09-07
Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.
In plain English
A lifetime total makes the 1995 look busier because it has been on the road longer. This page counts reports in the first 372 months for each year, so both years are the same age.
In that window, the 1996 has 40.3% fewer owner reports than the 1995.
The mix also shifted: Airbags is a smaller share of reports on the 1996 (22.4 points). That is a change in what owners named, not a score.
Open both year-pages. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov. Have a shop inspect Airbags. Do not pick a year from the percentage alone.
First 372 months on market for each model year
Exposure window calculated through Sep 8, 2026
Reports while each year was the same age
▼ 40.3% fewer reports at the same age
NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-09-07
What owners named more or less
Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.
View component share data as a table
| Component | 1995 share | 1996 share | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 44.2% | 21.7% | ▼ 22.4 pts smaller share |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 6.5% | 17.4% | ▲ 10.9 pts larger share |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 6.5% | 15.2% | ▲ 8.7 pts larger share |
| Steering (STEERING) | 2.6% | 10.9% | ▲ 8.3 pts larger share |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 10.4% | 2.2% | ▼ 8.2 pts smaller share |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 1.3% | 4.4% | ▲ 3.1 pts larger share |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 2.6% | not reported | ▼ 2.6 pts smaller share |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | not reported | 2.2% | ▲ 2.2 pts larger share |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 19.5% | 17.4% | ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 1.3% | not reported | ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 1.3% | 2.2% | ▲ 0.9 pts larger share |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 1.3% | 2.2% | ▲ 0.9 pts larger share |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 75.3% | 84.8% | ▲ 9.5 pts larger share |
NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-09-06
Recall campaigns
Campaign components: Airbags
Campaign components: Airbags and Steering
NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety signals
- ◆ Fires
- 0 → 1
- ◆ Injuries
- 12 → 2
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme year had more problems, 1995 or 1996?
In that window, the 1996 has 40.3% fewer owner reports than the 1995. Lifetime totals are not used here because the older year has had more time on the road.
Why not just compare lifetime complaint totals?
The older year has had more time to collect reports. This page holds age constant by counting the first 372 months for each year.
Does a larger share of one system mean that year is worse?
No. It means owners named that system more often in the file. Inspect it. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip.