Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 9, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 62 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 62 · page 1 of 3
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
Steering
Filed Jul 2, 2001
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP, THE STEERING COLUMN FELL INTO MY LAP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND WAS INFORMED OF A SET OF 4 PINS THAT WORK THEMSELVES LOOSE. THE DEALER TOLD ME ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IT HAPPENS RATHER OFTEN. THEY PUT THE PINS BACK IN AND GLUED THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD NOT FALL OUT AGAIN. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY WOBBLY AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD ME THE GLUE MUST HAVE NOT HELD. THEY REINSTALLED THE PINS AND GLUED THEM BACK ONCE AGAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL LOOSE AND SHAKES. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL FALL OUT AGAIN. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS IN ADVANCE.*AK
NHTSA ID
747650
Incident
Jan 31, 2001
Electrical
Filed May 30, 2001
RECALL 00 V0287 000. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. HOWEVER, REMEDY FAILED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 24-MAY-2001 AT COURTESY OLDSMOBILE IN LOS VEGAS, NV, 702-221-8000.*AK
NHTSA ID
889366
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 15, 2001
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
NHTSA ID
561210
Incident
Apr 30, 2001
AirbagsSteering
Filed Apr 10, 2001
TILT MECHANISM "SPRUNG" WHEEL SWINGS UP AND DOWN EFFECTS ABILITY TO DRIVE CAR. AIRBAG PERFORMANCE COULD BE COMPRIMISED BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL SWINGS UP AND DOWN. LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN HIGH BEAM TURNED ON OR OFF BY STALK ON ST
NHTSA ID
743842
Incident
Mar 26, 2001
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 2001
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FALLS DOWN ONTO DRIVERS LAP DUE TO BOLTS DISENGAGING AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
880763
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2001
CYLINDER HEAD IS CRACKED. OLDSMOBILE HAD RECALLED THE 1992 AND 1993 ACHIEVAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE IS COMING INTO THE CAR AND ALSO THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE DRIVING.*AK
NHTSA ID
741025
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 15, 2001
HEADLIGHTS SWITCH HAS A SHORTAGE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND SOMETIMES DON'T COME BACK ON. SWITCH HAS TO BE TOYED WITH TO COME BACK ON. *AK
NHTSA ID
880604
Incident
Dec 20, 2000
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 27, 2000
Fire reported
RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE. DEAELR IS NOT WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK FIRE AND HEAT GENERATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER PARTS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND RUN BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT SUPPLYING POWER TO PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
NHTSA ID
877023
Incident
Oct 12, 2000
Electrical
Filed Dec 26, 2000
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF CONSUMER'S HOME. SHE WENT INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD AREA. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND THERE WERE FLAMES EVERYWHERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *YH
NHTSA ID
877013
Incident
May 23, 2000
Electrical
Filed Dec 26, 2000
CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 000779-S CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. NOTICE STATED THAT RECALL WILL BE TAKEN CARE OFF IN JANUARY, BUT CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE ABOUT THE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ID
876973
Incident
Dec 26, 2000
Electrical
Filed Nov 28, 2000
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN . ALSO, KEY HOLE WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
875618
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2000
MOTOR HAD A CRACKED HEAD. OLDSMOBILE ACKNOWLEDGES FAULTY HEAD GASKETS ON 1992 AND 1993 MODELS AND STATES THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT OUR HEAD GASKETS CRACKED IN THE EXACT LOCATIONS OF '92' AND '93 MODELS THAT HE REPAIRED. HE FEELS THAT OLDSMOBILE DID NOT REPAIR THE HEAD IN OUR 1994 ACHIEVE THAT WAS BUILT IN NOVEMBER 1993. WE BELIEVE THAT OLDSMOBILE NEEDS TO EXTEND THEIR COVERAGE TO INCLUDE 1994 MODELS. *AK
NHTSA ID
735575
Incident
Sep 20, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 25, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
732492
Incident
Feb 15, 1996
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Aug 16, 2000
THE PLACEMENT OF LIQUID LINE HOSE WAS AGAINST FAN HOUSING AND RUBBED A HOLE IN THE HOSE. WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE FREON TO LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
NHTSA ID
728191
Incident
Aug 5, 2000
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2000
AT 70,000 MILES MY ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND A CRACKED HEAD WHICH HAS COST ME A TOTAL OF $1000.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I CONTACTED G.M. AND THEY TOLD ME '93 & '92 MODELS WERE REACALLED FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM, HOWEVER MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR MY COST SINCE MY ENGINE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ID
726629
Incident
Jul 7, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 31, 2000
FAILURE TO START DURING PERIODS OF HOT WEATHER. *AK
NHTSA ID
726319
Steering
Filed Jul 24, 2000
STEERING WHEEL FELL INTO DRIVERS LAP WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A DRIVE WAY. STREERING COLUMN DROPPED INTO DRIVER LAP AND STEERING WAS IMPOSSIBLE!!*AK
NHTSA ID
725918
Incident
Jul 24, 2000
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.
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