RoadVitals

1994 Oldsmobile Achieva

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
62
Latest Jul 19, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 2, 2000
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
13
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 62 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva, most frequently naming the steering, electrical and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 43 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
00V287000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Oct 2, 2000
699,617 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
The risk: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 00079View on NHTSA.gov
94V122000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jul 1, 1994
1,681 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA00007ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING COLUMN FIRES

Opened Mar 3, 2000
Closed Feb 7, 2001

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 00V287000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 62
Electrical
Filed Jul 19, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ISSUED RECALL # 00V287000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY) IN 2001. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

NHTSA ID
10196869
Incident
Jul 17, 2007
Mileage
138,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 7, 2005

DT: THE AIR BAG AND THE HORN WERE HAVING WIRING SENSOR PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE SENSOR ON THE INTERNAL SHORTAGE. THIS WAS HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS. THE HORN WAS GOING OFF WHEN HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE HORN TO SHUT OFF THE HORN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, "AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A N INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBAG. CONSUMER STATED HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ID
10124477
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
BrakesVisibility
Filed Oct 25, 2002

CHECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON & OFF MANUFACTURER CAN'T DUPLICATE, WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE USED HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK HAZARD LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT ALL NOW. WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR WEATHER IS DAMP WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR JUMPS/HOPS. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WORKS WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE SWITCH OR THE KEY I HAD TO PULL THE ASSEMBLY OUT SO I CAN PUSH THE KNOB ALL OF THE WAY UP BEFORE YOU CAN GET IN OR OUT. A/C DIDNT WORK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AS IT WAS MID JAN. WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE IN FEB. OF 2001 THE CAR STARTED MISSING REALLY BAD IT STALLED & WOULDN'T START THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS FIRE RED. THERE WAS GAS IN MY OIL, IT JUMPED TIME, FOWLED OUT THE PLUGS, ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE DEAD, IT NEEDED AN IGNITION COIL,TIMING, BELT PLUGS, SOME SENSOR (I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT NOW) BUT I CAN CALL THE MECHANIC & FIND OUT IT COST ME ROUGHLY $600.00 FOR A FRIEND FOR REPAIRS NOW I HEAR WATER SWISHING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN I TURN, I THINK IT'S MY WATER PUMP AS IT'S OVER HEATING & IT'S MAKING LIKE A GRINDING NOISE IN THE BOX LOOKING THING BELOW THE ALTERNATOR.THE BRAKES DO ALOT OF CLUNKING, AND WHENEVER YOU MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND DRIVE ABOUT 1/4 MI. YOU HEAR/FEEL A CLUNK UNDER THE CAR AND THE TRANS. SEEMS TO SHIFT A LITTLE HARD & I CAN ALSO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. I THINK THAT IS ABOUT IT. DT

NHTSA ID
768867
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Aug 23, 2002
Fire reported

THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE RETURNED HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER OR IGNITION. NLM

NHTSA ID
567186
Airbags
Filed Apr 30, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8008897
Incident
Apr 13, 2002
AirbagsSteering
Filed Apr 23, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND WAS TOTALLED. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK DEALER CONTACTED. STEERING WHEEL BROKE DUE TO IMPACT. INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8008384
Incident
Apr 15, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 16, 2002

ENGINE LOST POWER AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY, ABLE TO PULL TO RIGHT SHOULDER, ENGINE WAS NOT HOT, NO CHECK LIGHTS WERE ON, CHECKED OIL & WATER LEVELS, OK, TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE BUT IT WAS VERY NOISY & BACKFIRING, AND WOULD ONLY RUN AT FAST IDLE. SHUT DOWN, CALLED TOW TRUCK. MECHANIC TOOK A COMPRESSION CHECK, NO COMPRESSION IN # 2 & 4 CYLINDERS. THIS ENGINE HAS A TIMING CHAIN, NOT A BELT, TIMING WAS CHECKED, FOUND OK. PULLED HEAD & FOUND THAT VALVES ON THOSE CYLINDERS HAD HIT PISTONS, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO HURT SAME. PRESSURE CHECKED HEAD, GROUND VALVES (WERE NOT BENT), REASSEMBLED ENGINE, STARTED SAME & IT WAS MISSING & BACKFIRING THRU THROTTLE BOBY, SAME AS ON FREEWAY. MECHANIC GOT ON THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR ANSWERS & HAD NUMEROUS REPLIES THAT COIL HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED SAME, HAVE PUT ALMOST 1000 MILES ON ODOMETER WITH NO PROBLEMS....DUE TO THE FACT THAT OLDS HAS COME OUT WITH A REVISED COIL HOUSING & MECHANICS ALL OVER USA REPORTED HAVING SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A PROGRAM INITIATED FOR OLDS TO REIMBURSE OWNERS THEIR COSTS AT THIS LOW MILEAGE FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY REPAIR COST WAS $1031.17, WHICH COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN $4000.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE IF THE PISTONS HAD HIT THE VALVES ANY HARDER. OLDS REDESIGNED THE HOUSING, WHICH INDICATES THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. OLDS REFUSES TO HELP PAY ANY OF THE BILL BECAUSE THE PROBLEM "WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AT A GM DEALER" THEY ARE SENDING ME A DENIAL OF HELP LETTER. PLEASE RESPOND WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.. *AK

NHTSA ID
759436
Incident
Feb 7, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 10, 2001

I WAS SOLD A CAR THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETLY WORN OUT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS BROKEN, 1 TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED IN THE SIDEWALL AND WAS FULL OF FIX-A-FLAT CHEMICAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
752009
Incident
Sep 7, 2001

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIC4696E

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

PIC4696D

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.

PIC4696C

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

04152004

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

VEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CODES AS INTERMITTENT OR HARD FAILURES. GM VOICEMAIL EXPRESS. *TT

00966B

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Oldsmobile Achieva by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000300—
1998403050.0
1997634051.5
1996876055.1
1995701151.3
1994Viewing622158.2
1993381045.6
1992530039.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.