Oldsmobile ACHIEVA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
262 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 262 complaints (9.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 45 | 17.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 8.8% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 8.4% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.1% |
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 | 26 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Electrical System: 15; Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Electrical System:Ignition: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 203 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 34 |
| 1996 | 18 |
| 2000 | 47 |
| 2001 | 40 |
| 2002 | 40 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 34; 1996: 18; 2000: 47; 2001: 40; 2002: 40; 2003: 23; 2004: 26; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 6; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 22 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 10057476 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, STRONG GAS FUMES CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK THE SMELL WORSENED PER CONSUMER. THE MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE GROUND TO THE COMPUTER, CHECKED FOR EXHAUST LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE FLANGE AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WERE INOPERATIVE AS WELL, AND NOISE OCCURRED WHEN THE A/C WAS IN USE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF REPAIRS THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED. *SC THE BATTERY, TIRES, LOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481091 · 1995-02-10 (February 10, 1995)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED DUE TO SNOW BUILDING UP IN WHEELS, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964252 · 1995-04-24 (April 24, 1995)
POSSIBILITY MAP SENSOR CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THEREFORE RESULTING IN ERRATIC OPERATION AND POOR PORFOMANCE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8006318 · 2002-03-25 (March 25, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO RESTART. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK IGNITION MODULE FAILED, BRAKE SENSOR FAILED, STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, HOOD CABLE BROKE, STARTER FAILED, RADIATOR CRACKED, FUSES CONTINUE TO BLOW AND THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON BROKE. *MJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863077 · 2000-06-06 (June 6, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT ANY SPEED STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE OR STOP, AND ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING, THEN IT STALLED. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO RE-START VEHICLE, IT VIBRATED. BUT, WHEN PUT IN DRIVE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069810 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881027 · 2001-02-21 (February 21, 2001)
AFTER DRIVING COULD STOP AND ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. ENGINE WILL NOT START UNTIL CONSUMER WILL LET VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL RESTART AND WORK AGAIN. DEALER SAID THAT PROBLEM IWAS WITH TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960567 · 1995-02-24 (February 24, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972600 · 1995-09-26 (September 26, 1995)
SMELLING GAS AND GAUGE FAILED DUE TO WELDS IN GAS TANK HAVE SPLIT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435480 · 2011-11-14 (November 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07E015000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435480 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1992: 0; 1993: 1; 1994: 2; 1995: 1; 1996: 4; 1997: 2; 1998: 1; 2000: 0