NHTSA Complaint #715985 — 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

I PURCHASED A 91 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME AS A "DEMO" MODEL FROM A LOCAL DEALER. I WAS THE FIRST "TITLED" OWNER OF THE CAR. FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 92, I NOTICED "SPLITTING OR CRACKLING" IN THE PAINT OF THE CAR. AFTER A FEW YEARS, IT BEGAN FLAKING AT THE CRACKED AREAS AND PEELING. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND TOOK IT FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THEY INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE DEFECT. I LEFT IT GO, NOW ITS GETTING VERY BAD AND RUST IS STARTING TO FORM. I AM LIVID! I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THE OUTSIDE WITH REGULAR CLEANING AND WAXING. NOTHING HAS HELPED TO STOP THE FLAKING. WHEN I WASH THE CAR WITH A POWERFUL SPRAY NOZZLE, IT FLAKES OF IN LARGE HUNKS!! PLEASE HELP! I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAINT THE ENTIRE CAR! IT ONLY HAS 66K MILES AND I PLANNED TO HAVE THE CAR FOR AWHILE YET BUT THE APPEARANCE IS EMBARRASSING THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. I CONTACTED GM A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE I DIDN'T CONTACT THEM DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WHICH ENDED APPROX TWO YEARS AGO. I TOLD THEM I DID CONTACT THE DEALER DURING THE WARRANTY TIME BUT THEY TOLD ME NOTHING COULD BE DONE SO I LEFT IT GO AND JUST ASSUMED THEY WERE INFORMING ME CORRECTLY. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT I CAN DO, IF ANYTHING. I DO KNOW OF OTHER GM CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PAINT PROBLEMS ON THEIR VEHICLES AND THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF FOR THEM. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. *AK