1992 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner Complaints

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WASHING VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE TRUNK. THE RUBBER HANGER THAT HOLDS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MELTED, BUT THE MUFFLER WAS STILL ON. THERE WAS A FOOTBALL SIZE HOLE IN THE TRUNK. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC TO DETERMINE WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10142317

Incident

Nov 9, 2005

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRAHED INTO A POLE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099554

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SHE SAW SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DASH. SHE DROVE HOME IN A SNOW STORM FOR 1.5 HOURS AND AFTER GETTING HOME TURNED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, AND CAR OFF. I NOTICE THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. IT SMELLED LIKE A FIRE WAS GOING TO START. I DROVE IT INTO MY SHED AND CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WAS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND IT COST ME OVER $100 TO REPLACE IT. IT PROBRABLY WOULD OF COST ME OVER $200 DOLLARS IF I WERE TO HAVE A DEALER OR GARAGE DO IT. THIS TO ME IS A VERY HIGH SAFETY CONCERN AND DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

10072473

Incident

Jan 18, 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, LOWER RADIATOR HOSE, FRONT STRUTS,WATER PUMP, DISC BRAKE, CALIPERS, PADS AND STARTER SOLENOID WERE ALL REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10057476

Incident

Apr 11, 2003

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8006318

BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FAIL, BRAKES DO NOT TAKE HOLD IMMEDIATELY , COMPLETE FAILURE DURING INLCLEMENT WEATHER. ABS LIGHT ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

757641

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

THIS CAR FROM THE GET GO WAS A LEMON. I CONTACTED THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM, THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE CAR, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT ANYONE COULD DO FOR ME. I NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT NTSA EXISTED BEFORE TODAY. I AM NOT SURE THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO BUT I DO KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE WITH A "BAD" ACHIEVA. ANOTHER THING WRONG WITH THE CAR IS THE PAINT CHIPS RIGHT OFF!!! THIS CAR HAS BEEN FALLING APART AS SOON AS I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT!! IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR ME BUT THESE CARS SHOULD BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD SO PEOPLE DONT GO BROKE LIKE I DID KEEPING THEM RUNNING. NOT TO MENTION THAT THE HEAD ON THE ACHIEVA IS ALUMINUM AND THE GASKETS BREAK AFTER SO MUCH PRESSURE. I HAD TO REPLACE THAT TOO!! THE HARD PART WAS FINDING A MECHANIC THAT WOULD EVEN TOUCH THE ENGINE. NO MECHANICS ARE WILLING TO DEAL WITH QUAD 4 ENGINES!!! IF THAT DOESNT TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CARS THAN I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY BUT HELP!!! *AK

NHTSA ID

748647

Incident

Jan 10, 1996

I TRIED TO START MY CAR TO GO TO WORK ON 3/12/01 AND I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A PROBLEM. I APPEARED TO WORK FINE THE DAY BEFORE. THE CAR DID START BUT IMMEDIATELY IT STARTED TO POOR SMOKE OUT THE EXAUST PIPE. I ALSO NOTICED THE SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE. I DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE TO MY NORMAL SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BLOWN CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. AFTER RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR (REGENCY OLDSMOBILE) AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR DID NOT MEET THE CRITRIA BECAUSE OF ITS AGE. THEY CONFIRMED THE VIN NUMBER I GAVE THEM HAD THE PROBLEM, BUT MY PROBLEM WAS THAT MY CAR WAS TO OLD. I THEN CALLED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE OFFICE AT 1-800-442-6537 WHERE THE LADY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO REPAIRS AGAINST THAT SAME VIN NUMBER THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME WAS. CAN YOU HELP ME?

NHTSA ID

742549

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

FIRE STARTED UNDER DASH,FIRE ALSO IN FUSE RECEPTICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

741906

Incident

Mar 2, 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

NHTSA ID

881027

Incident

Jan 30, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

863077

Incident

Jun 6, 2000

ALTERNATOR OUT 96/UPPER RAD HOSE OUT 97/ OXYGEN SENSOR OUT 98/DOOR LOCK OUT 98/TIMING CHAIN,GEARS,GUIDES, WATER PUMP OUT 99/TRANS. PAN LEAK 2000/HEAD GASKET OUT 2000** HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE A FEAR OF GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE NOT GET PAID FOR WITH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

722770

Incident

May 1, 1999

THIS VENICLE HAS STARTED TO OVERHEAT AFTER GOING SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED TWICE WITH IN THE LAST FOUR (4) MONTHS. THE FISRT TIME 8/24/99 AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. I HAD THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND TIMING COVER REPLACED FRO A TOTAL COST OF $692.10. THE SECOND OCCURENCE WAS DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AS WELL. ON THIS OCASSION THE HEAD HAD TO REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK ON THE ALU. HEAD. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND A REPLACEMENT HEAD BECAUSE ALL OF THE ONES HE COULD FIND ALL HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA. I PURCHASED A NE W UNIT DIRECTLY FROM GM AND THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AFTER 2 1/2 WEEKS AND $856 LATER. MY OPINION IS THAT THE ALUMINUM HEAD IN QUESTION HAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE AREA WHERE THE CRACK OCCURED. I HAVE NOTED OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME STORY ANF TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL/ENGINE TYPE. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME SOME KIND OF CONSIDERATION BACK TO THE CONSMER FOR CASH OUT OF POCKET FOR THE LISTED HEAD FAILURES. VICTOR M. MARRUFO *AK

NHTSA ID

717674

Incident

Aug 24, 1999

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I THOUGHT I SMELLED A SMOKE ODOR, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE COMING IN THE VENT. I DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME ABOUT 35 MINUTES. AFTER GETTING HOME WHEN I EXITED MY CAR I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT IT LOOKED LIKE MY LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT THEY WEREN'T TURNED ON. I DOUBLED CHECKED AND THEY WERE TURNED OFF. MY HUSBAND THEN CAME OUT AND WE MOVED IT INTO THE SHADE JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WASNT THE SUNLIGHT, AND IT WASNT. WE THEN HAD A MUCH STRONGER SMELL OF SMOKE AND THEN SMOKE STARTING COMING OUT THE THE STEERING COLUMN. IT SMELLED LIKE A FIRE WAS GOING TO START. WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR, BUT SMOKE CONTINUED SO WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY SAID I HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE MOST SHOCKING THING WAS JUST ABOUT 1 MONTH BEFORE THIS INCIDENT MY CO-WORKER HAS AN 1993 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA ALSO AND IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL. SURE SEEMS LIKE AN AWLFUL CONSEQUENCE. THANK YOU FOR CHECKING INTO THIS. IT COULD OF BEEN A HORRIBLE INCIDENT IF I HAD TO OF DRIVEN ANY LONGER. *AK

NHTSA ID

714820

Incident

Sep 9, 1999

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 15MPH. BEEN TO DEALER, AND TOLD CONSUMER TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING . ALSO, ENGINE HAD A RETTLING NOIS. THEN HESITATED AND STALLED OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

847676

Incident

Jul 31, 1998

INTERMITTENTLY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GOES OUT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

847463

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND VIBRATED. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

846152

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

THE HEAD CRACKED ON THE ENGINE- CAUSING THE CAR TO OVER HEAT

NHTSA ID

709858

Incident

Jul 24, 1999

AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR, I WAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE ENGINE FOR CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AND COOLANT LOSS. THOMAS MOTOR CARS DID THE WORK ON THE CAR AND NOW ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH COOLANT LOSS AND HEAD GASKETS. IS THERE ANY THING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

707220

Incident

Jul 4, 1997

THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS ALWAYS FALL OFF TRACK. THEY ARE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS AND TO REPAIR THIS TIME I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER WOULD BE $600 EST. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS EXPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT OLDSMOBILE IS SO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED A TSB (S). THE TSB ARE: 231066, 93T-34 AND 92-U-54 SO I AM TOLD BY THE TECHS. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

NHTSA ID

706109

Incident

May 1, 1994

VECHILE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS, SAME ITEMS, NUMEROUS TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY, ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY REBUILT 7 MONTHS AGO, UNDER WARRANTY, ENGINE FAILED AGAIN, OLDS WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY, WATER PUMP REPLACED THREE TIMES, STEERING PUMP REPLACED THREE TIMES, TIRES REPLACED TWO TIMES BY DEALER, BOUGHT TIRES MYSELF, TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED, BRAKES CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM, CONVERTER REPLACED, SENSPRS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, FAN MOTOR REPLACED TWICE, COOLANT OVERFLOW REPLACED, GASKETS REPLACED, CAMSHAFT, RODS, BEARINGS, TIMING GEARS, CRANK SHAFT INTAKE GASKETS ALL REPLACED, CAR HAD A CONTINUAL OVERHEATING PROBLEM FOR OVER THREE YEARS, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND ADVISED OLDSMOBILE, OLDSMOBILE REPLACED NUMEROUS INTERNAL PARTS IN ENGINE, AFTER7 MONTHS ENGINE HAD COMPLETE FAILURE, ALL PARTS INSTALLED , I PAID A PARTIAL OF BILL, WERE UNDER A WARRANTY, 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS, OLDSMOBILE WOULD NOT HONOR THERE WARRANTY, CLAIMED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GASKET WHICH BLEW CAUSING THE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. DEALER STATED THAT PARTS SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSTALLED PREVIOUSLY ON THAT ENGINE. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, OLDSMOBILE STATED IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPAIR THAN REPLACE, DEALER NOW WANTS AN ADDITIONAL $4,500 DOLLARS FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR ALL WORKED PREFORMED SINCE THE VECHILE HAD APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES ON IT, NUMEROUS TIMES FOR BRAKE ISSUES. VECHILE IS NOW AT AN INDEPENDENT ENGINE MANUFACTURE, PICTURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OF THE ENGINE AFTER IT WAS DISASSEMBLED, AND DEFECTIVE PARTS RECORDED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT (973) 274-0777 WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING ANY RECALLS, SAFETY ISSUES, AND/OR ASSISTANCE THAT CAN BE OFFERED. I HAD SUBMITTED A PRIOR COMPLAINT APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS AGO WHEN OLDSMOBILE WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, BUT WANTED TO SAVE MONEY AND INSTALLED SOME REPLACEMENT PARTS INERNALLY INTO THE ENGINE. I WILL SUPPLY ANY AND ALL INVOIVCES IF REQUIRED..THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

703239

Incident

Feb 5, 1999

VECHILE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS, SAME ITEMS, NUMEROUS TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY, ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY REBUILT 7 MONTHS AGO, UNDER WARRANTY, ENGINE FAILED AGAIN, OLDS WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY, WATER PUMP REPLACED THREE TIMES, STEERING PUMP REPLACED THREE TIMES, TIRES REPLACED TWO TIMES BY DEALER, BOUGHT TIRES MYSELF, TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED, BRAKES CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM, CONVERTER REPLACED, SENSORS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, FAN MOTOR REPLACED TWICE, COOLANT OVERFLOW REPLACED, GASKETS REPLACED, CAMSHAFT, RODS, BEARINGS, TIMING GEARS, CRANK SHAFT INTAKE GASKETS ALL REPLACED, CAR HAD A CONTINUAL OVERHEATING PROBLEM FOR OVER THREE YEARS, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND ADVISED OLDSMOBILE, OLDSMOBILE REPLACED NUMEROUS INTERNAL PARTS IN ENGINE, AFTER7 MONTHS ENGINE HAD COMPLETE FAILURE, ALL PARTS INSTALLED , I PAID A PARTIAL OF BILL, WERE UNDER A WARRANTY, 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS, OLDSMOBILE WOULD NOT HONOR THERE WARRANTY, CLAIMED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GASKET WHICH BLEW CAUSING THE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. DEALER STATED THAT PARTS SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSTALLED PREVIOUSLY ON THAT ENGINE. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, OLDSMOBILE STATED IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPAIR THAN REPLACE, DEALER NOW WANTS AN ADDITIONAL $4,500 DOLLARS FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR ALL WORKED PREFORMED SINCE THE VECHILE HAD APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES ON IT, NUMEROUS TIMES FOR BRAKE ISSUES. VECHILE IS NOW AT AN INDEPENDENT ENGINE MANUFACTURE, PICTURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OF THE ENGINE AFTER IT WAS DISASSEMBLED, AND DEFECTIVE PARTS RECORDED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT (973) 274-0777 WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING ANY RECALLS, SAFETY ISSUES, AND/OR ASSISTANCE THAT CAN BE OFFERED. I HAD SUBMITTED A PRIOR COMPLAINT APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS AGO WHEN OLDSMOBILE WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, BUT WANTED TO SAVE MONEY AND INSTALLED SOME REPLACEMENT PARTS INERNALLY INTO THE ENGINE. I WILL SUPPLY ANY AND ALL INVOIVCES IF REQUIRED..THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

703238

Incident

Feb 5, 1999

THE GOODYEAR P2055R16 TIRE SIDEWALL SPLIT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE SIDE WALL OF LEFT FRONT WENT FLAT UPON INPSECTION.*JB

NHTSA ID

828482

Incident

Sep 13, 1998

STEERING AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

540835

Incident

Apr 1, 1996

THE ENGINE OVERHEATS.

NHTSA ID

539011

Incident

Jan 1, 1993