RoadVitals

1994 Oldsmobile Achieva Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jul 19, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 62 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
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
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
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
Electrical
Filed Jul 31, 2000

FAILURE TO START DURING PERIODS OF HOT WEATHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
726319
Electrical
Filed Jan 7, 1999

THE WALL @ THE 4TH SPARK-PLUG (FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE) IS CRACKED ABOUT 1.5" IS THIS A RARE OR COMMON ACCURRENCE ON THIS MODEL AND WHAT, CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *AK

NHTSA ID
701983
Incident
Jun 23, 1996
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 10, 1998

CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE LEAK. ALSO ENGINE COVER GASKET CRACKED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED #2 SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL FILTER.

NHTSA ID
780154
Incident
Jan 28, 1998
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 16, 1997
Fire reported

DUE TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE EXPRIENCED THE LOCKS BEHAVING ERRATICALLY (ON AND OFF), AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT. A FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, REPLACED THE BATTERY 2 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
813137
Incident
May 28, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .