RoadVitals

1996 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.
23
Latest Aug 15, 2013
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.
26%
of 87 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.
1
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 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 15, 2013

I BOUGHT MY DADS 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA, ON ABOUT THE 7-22-13, HE HAD IT AT OUR MECHANICS CAR LOT FOR SALE AND MY TRUCKS TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING ON ME SO I PURCHASED MY DADS CAR, WENT TO PICK IT UP AND NOW AFTER 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND 5 WEEKS LATER THEY STILL CAN'T GET MY CAR FIXED SO IT WILL RUN,THIS IS WHAT IT DOES,SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FLASHING UNTIL IT COMES ON FULLY ALL THE TIME,DIES AND REFUSES TO START, SO I DONE SOME LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE ACHIEVA, MALIBU'S,BASICALLY ALL G.M. CARS FROM EARLY 90'S- UPPER 90'S ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN IN SOME CASES, SO I FILL LIKE IF THIS IS NOT TOOK CARE OF IT COULD CAUSE A WRECK,FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT OF SOME KIND BEING IT IS THE # 1 THING TO GO WRONG WITH THIS KIND AND YEAR MODEL'S OF OLDS-ACHIEVA, JUST WAS WONDERING IF MY CAR GOT MISSED ON RECALL OR IF IT SHOULD BE RECALLED, I'M ABOUT HALF WAY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVEN IF IT GETS FIXED, THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND ME BE DRIVING IT NEXT TIME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY HELP FOR MY CAR TO GET RECALLED.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535676
Incident
Jul 22, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 29, 2007

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY REFUSES TO START DUE TO PASS LOCK AND LEAVES US STRANDED. DEALER REPLACED IPC AND IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. SPENT $1000, AND ITS STILL THE SAME. READING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS GM VEHICLES SHOWING, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10195018
Incident
Jun 19, 2007
Mileage
34,258 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 24, 2007

PASS LOCK 1 SECURITY SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THE CAR THINKS THAT I AM STEALING IT AND DOES NOT ALLOW GASOLINE TO FLOW TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND COST $500 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WHICH HOUSES THE SECURITY SENSORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10194090
Incident
Jun 5, 2007
Mileage
155,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 6, 2004

CAR WAS AT DEALER ON 8/17/99 WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSOR-OX 3.682 PART DUE TO A SHORTED RELAY AND DAMAGED SENSOR AT A COST OF $337.44. THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED JUNE 29, 2001 AT A COST OF $453.98, INCLUDING TOWING OF THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION. THE SERP BELT WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND REPLACED. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ENTRIES LISTED FOR THE SENSOR, SERP BELT, AND ALTERNATOR REPAIRS. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS OCCURRED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL RECALL ON FEBRUARY 27, 2002 (RECALL FOR DEALER TO INSTALL RELAY KIT TO PREVENT SHORT AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE AND FIRE). THE BUILD DATES INVOLVED WERE 5/1/95  7/31/96, MINE WAS BUILT WITHIN THESE DATES, DECEMBER 1995. WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS PAID FOR PRIOR TO FEDERAL RECALL (791.42). *JB

NHTSA ID
10080435
Incident
Aug 17, 1999
ElectricalEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 15, 2004

ALTERNATOR,SERP BELT TENSIONER, SERP BELT, R& R ALTERNATOR,R & R BELT TENSIONER ... THE TENSION ACUTALLY BROKE OFF AND DESTROYED THE OTHER PARTS. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN???? FOR ONLY 43000 MILES ON THIS CAR THATS RIDICULOUS... ANY HELP HERE/?

NHTSA ID
10068779
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Mileage
43,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 11, 2003

VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND ANY SPEED FOR NO REASON. THEN IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 7 MINS TO GET IT RESTARTED AND THAT IS ONL;Y IF U PUT IT IN "N" AND TURN IT ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN BACK ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH B4 GMC SEARCHES FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY OR STREET.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045977
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Mileage
35 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 22, 2003
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL# 02V070000 SUBJECT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE REPAIR, IGNITION SHORT CIRCUITED,CAUSING A FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034395
Electrical
Filed Nov 12, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AND THE BATTERY FAILED AS THE RESULT OF THE DEALER?S POOR RECALL REPAIR PREVIOUSLY IN WHICH WIRING HARNESS AND A RELAY WERE INSTALLED. *YH

NHTSA ID
568231
Incident
Sep 25, 2002
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2002

CONSUMER STATES IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBRUSEMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT *SCC

NHTSA ID
567083
Electrical
Filed May 13, 2002

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT OPERATING AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

NHTSA ID
565751
Incident
Mar 11, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 7, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 02V070000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008. GOT RECALL NOTICE. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER INDICATED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. DID NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE IN. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
8009308
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 2002

CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. WHEN THIS OCCURS LIGHTS DOES NOT COME ON AT KEY UP. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. PRIOR TO REPAIRS CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V070000 RELATING TO FAILURE. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM PREVIOUS REPAIRS PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ID
565467
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2002

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V07) CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

NHTSA ID
565205
Electrical
Filed Apr 10, 2002

CONSUMER HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH SMOKE APPEARING FROM DASHBOARD. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V07000 NOTICE; HOWEVER IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007230
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 2002

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WHEN SHE ACTUALLY GOT IT IT VEHICLE STARTED AND MADE A LOUD BUSTING SOUND, SHE THEN CUT IT OFF, TO LET IT COOL DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
8007060
Incident
Apr 8, 2002
Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 2001

WHEN TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO START NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN ,CONSUMER WAS STILL TRYING WHEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM STEERING WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN IGNITION THAT MELTED SOME WIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID
894386
Incident
Aug 12, 2001
Electrical
Filed Dec 20, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED COMPUTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
876824
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON ROAD, WENT TO USE THE HORN AND IT FAILED. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED 5 TIMES, AND IT WORKS FOR ONLY A SHORT WHILE AFTER REPAIR. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
865222
Incident
Oct 15, 1996
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Feb 11, 2000

FRONT END WASN'T STABLE. ALSO, CAR HAD THREE SETS OF MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS, AND MAIN COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
856779
Electrical
Filed Jun 1, 1998

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAULTY CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID
536015
ElectricalInterior & seatsSuspension+1 more
Filed Jan 12, 1998

INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND STAY ON. IN ADDITION, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION/ HORN NOT WORKING/ GAS GAUGE FAILURE/ VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD FROM STOP POSITION AND AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
523007
Incident
Aug 21, 1997
Electrical
Filed Apr 15, 1996

ENGINE STALLED DUE TO INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED IGNITION WIRES MELTING. *DSH

NHTSA ID
503473
Incident
Mar 13, 1996
BrakesElectrical
Filed Apr 15, 1996

DEFECTIVE CALIPERS STUCK, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR/DAMAGE TO BRAKE PARTS. *DSH

NHTSA ID
503472
Incident
Feb 28, 1996

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 .