1998 Oldsmobile ACHIEVA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 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 4 of 36 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 27.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.8% |
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 | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 23 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 | 6 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10015612 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019488 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, FUEL PRESSURE VALVE, MASTER CYLINDER, ABS BOOSTER, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND BRAKES, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208675 · 2007-11-12 (November 12, 2007)
PURCHASED VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007, HAD ALREADY HAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 AT YARK AUTOMOTIVE IN TOLEDO, OHIO. FREQUENTLY FAILS TO START. HAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2007. DEALERSHIP WORKING ON THE VEHICLE NOW CLAIMS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748354 · 2001-07-12 (July 12, 2001)
WHILE MOVING TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RETURN TO D. AFTER FULL STOP TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8002519 · 2002-01-18 (January 18, 2002)
COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH LOW COOLANT AND REPAIRS VERY EXPENSIVE. BUT THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS OVER LOOK. *MJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353295 · 2010-09-01 (September 1, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY THE VIN BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853272 · 2016-04-04 (April 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IDLED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECK THE OIL WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING LIQUID LEAKED ONTO THE OIL PAN, WHICH MIXED THE TWO LIQUIDS. COOLANT ALSO LEAKED INTO THE AIR VENTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039516 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND WHEN KEY WAS PUT IN STARTER, IT WOULD NOT START. AND I COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WHEN I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE CAR DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL ON WAS MISSING, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS HALF WAY OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD IT FIXED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING!! WHEN I HAD DRIVEN IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, IT WAS FINE. I CALLED GMAC YESTERDAY, AND THEY CHECKED INTO IT AND DECIDED THAT SINCE IT WAS A 1998 VEHICLE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,483 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039516 at NHTSA ↗