1992 Oldsmobile Achieva Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ENGINE OVERHEATS.

NHTSA ID

539011

Incident

Jan 1, 1993

THE VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING DUE TO A CRACKED HEAD GASKET, CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE VEHICLE SMELLED AS IF IT WAS ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

809174

VEHICLE FAILED TO START.

NHTSA ID

507424

Incident

Jul 31, 1996

THE ENGINE GASKET AND TIMING BELT WHEN OUT . TT

NHTSA ID

967243