1997 Oldsmobile ACHIEVA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
76,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 37 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 21.6% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 16.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Power Train: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 5; 2002: 9; 2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2007: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002622 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,081 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024328 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
VEHICLE BATTERY SHORTED OUT WHICH RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS CAUSED POWER DOORS TO BE INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE, DOORS COULDN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019548 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720024 · 2000-03-12 (March 12, 2000)
HAVE CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, DEALER SOLD CAR WITH SPARK PLUG MISFIRES, STALLING, AND A BADLY NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009760 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER DID NOT MOVE TO PARK AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SWITCHED OFF. THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS JAMMED IN DRIVE AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE BOOT AND CONSOLE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED 2 TIMES. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AND DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ADMIT PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 861028 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING. ALSO, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, INDICATING BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899523 · 2001-11-27 (November 27, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE SPED UP, AND RPMS WENT OVER 3000. CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE BY APPLYING BRAKE. SHE TURNED OFF ENGINE. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386647 · 2011-03-07 (March 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EIGHT TIMES AND REPAIRED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386647 at NHTSA ↗