1998 Oldsmobile ACHIEVA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014618 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED WHEN THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL, HOSE AND REGULATOR FAILED. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE INTAKE ND VALVE COVER GASKETS, RADIATOR HOSE, WHEEL CYLINDERS AND THERMOSTAT. *JB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014618 at NHTSA ↗
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 10032541 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 OLDS ACHEIVA. MY THROTTLE IDLE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS AS THE CAR PICKS UP SPEED ON ITS OWN, AND IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THESE REPAIRS ARE EXCESSIVE AND EXPENSIVE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032541 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 ↗
Owner report 10046780 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE RESTRAINTS IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA ARE NOT COOPERATIVE WITH CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. THE SEAT BELT LATCH IS LOCATED TOO FAR FORWARD ON THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT NOT ALLOWING A SECURE FIT WITH CHILD RESTRAINTS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF A LATCH RETROFIT KIT WAS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE SO YOU COULD JUST BYPASS THE VEHICLE RESTRAINTS ALL TOGETHER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054651 · 2004-01-22 (January 22, 2004)
ALTERNATOR - 2ND TIME THAT GOES OUT IN 3 1/2 YEARS. CAR BOUGHT IN 1999 WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES, ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING AT 37000 MILES IN 1999, AND NOW AGAIN IN JAN 2004.
Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071452 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIR THE DEALER AGREE TO TOW THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED THE DEALER REFUSED TO TOW THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER WITHOUT CHARGE. *PH THE RECALL WAS FOR AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE RECALL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071452 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V036000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗