RoadVitals

1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
17
Latest Mar 20, 2004
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.
27%
of 63 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.
2
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2004

WATER PUMP IS LEAKING AND MAKING BEARING NOISE THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS $600. *JB

NHTSA ID
10062705
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

(1)54,971 MILES "LOW COOLANT LIGHT" DEX-COOL COOLANT GUARANTEED FOR 5 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES REPORTED "DIRTY COOLANT" FLUSHED AND REPLACED. STATED NO LEAKS,(2) INTERMITTENT "LOW COOLANT LIGHT" TOPPED UP "DEX-COOL" AS PER MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS. (3)56,000 MILES REPLACED HOSE THAT HAD DISINTEGRATED (4)59,350 MILES "COOLANT LEAK" REPLACED WATER PUMP, REPLACED SERP. BELT SATURATED WITH COOLANT. POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK! ENGINE SHAMPOO BECAUSE OF COOLANT SATURATION.(5)62,370MILES "COOLANT LEAK" REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND GASKET REPLACED DEX-COOL FOR THE 4TH TIME. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DEX-COOL COOLANT CAUSING COOLANT SYSTEM TO BREAK DOWN. (6) POSSIBLE RAD LEAK!!!

NHTSA ID
10071328
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10019548
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2002

I JUST GOT WORK DONE TO IT 9/13/02 THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING CHAIN. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR AND DRIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS THE TEMPERATURE GO STRAIGHT TO THE HALF MARK AND WORK IT'S WAY TOWARDS THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE CAR GETS HOT TOO FAST. I HAVE SPENT $600.00 ON THIS CAR SO FAR AND I JUST BOUGHT IT. THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. IT WAS A THREE MONTH WARRANTY ON THE CAR. PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767158

NHTSA ID
10007410
Mileage
5,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 8, 2002

ENGINE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING 70-73 MPH, AND ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8007046
Incident
Apr 7, 2002
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2002

VEHICLE HAD NO HEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED WATER PUMP/ GASKETS, AND SEALS HOWEVER, . PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006739
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 13, 2002
Fire reported

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HAD STALLING PROBLEMS REPLACE ALTERNATOR AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. CUSTOMER STATES HEARS A BANGING NOISE WHEN STEPS ON BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY, FRONT PADS WORN, CUSTOMER DENIED WORK AWARE NEED FRONT BRAKE. PUMP LEAKING, REMOVE AND REPLACE WATER PUMP.

NHTSA ID
9005223
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 16, 2001

VEHICLE STALLED IN OCT 2000. DEALER FOUND NOTHING. ON 14 MAR 2001, CONSUMER WAS AT STOP LIGHT, APPLIED GAS AND VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. THEN, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AGAIN NOTHING. CONSUMER PUT BACK IN DRIVE, AND VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, ENGINE REVVED. DEALER AGAIN FOUND NOTHING. *AK COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A COOLANT SMELL PRESENT IN VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED COOLANT SYSTEM; WATER PUMP, COOLANT PUMP, TIMING CHAIN, VEHICLE STALLED AND DEALER REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER. VEHICLE WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR, DEALER REPLACED A BROKEN SHIFT CABLE CONSOLE SHIFTER AND FOUND SHIFTER BOOT COMING OUT, DEALER INSTALLED NEW SHIFTER. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS ROUGH IDLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883255
Incident
Mar 14, 2001
Engine
Filed May 18, 2000

DEALER LET HIS GIRLFRIEND AND WHOEVER DRIVE THE CAR AND PUT 2000 MILES ON IT PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THEY LET IT GET TO LOW ON OIL , THUS CAUSING THIS ENGINE FAILURE. HE REFUSES TO REFUND MY MONEY OR PAY FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE ALSO BOUGHT A CAR FROM HIM AND HER ENGINE WENT BAD ALSO, HE IS AN ALCHOLIC AND JUST GOT OF JAIL AS OF THIS WRITING FOR HIS FOURTH DWI THIS YEAR, 2000. HE FORGETS WHAT HE TELLS PEOPLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
722882
Incident
May 11, 2000
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 26, 2000
Crash reported

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING. ALSO, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, INDICATING BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
861028
Incident
Oct 31, 1998
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 12, 2000

HAVE CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, DEALER SOLD CAR WITH SPARK PLUG MISFIRES, STALLING, AND A BADLY NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH *AK

NHTSA ID
720024
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 24, 1999

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V05900 FOR UNDER HOOD FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO IN TURN, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED NO RECALL FOR FUSE CENTER LOCATED ON VEHICLE BY VIN #. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: IGNITION COIL BURNED OUT COMPLETELY, CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD/HAD WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT REPLACED/CROSS CASTER AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT, AND FRONT BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CALIPERS/ROTORS WERE NOT REPLACED, AND ,PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
851759
Incident
Sep 30, 1999
EngineInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Nov 22, 1999

THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SLIDES AROUND. WOULD FAIL TO LOCK AFTER BEING PUSHED BACK OR FORWARD. THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF TRACK AFTER GOING DOWN OR UP. THE ANTI-FREEZE WOULD LEAK ON SIDE OF CAB. THE TRUNK FAILS TO STAY LOCKED AFTER BEING SHUT. IT KEEPS POPPING OPEN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK ON DEFECTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
852042
Incident
Jul 22, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Oct 12, 1999

IGNITION COIL COMPLETELY BURNED CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD SOONER THAN NEEDED. THE CRANK SHAFT, WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CROSS CASTER IS AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT. NO FRONT BRAKES. CALIPERS & ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. *AK RIGHT REAR DOOR MISALIGNED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY CLOSING, RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY DUE TO FAULTY MOTOR. UNDERHOOD FUSE RECALL, REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
850477
Incident
Oct 2, 1998
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 1999

OIL PRESSURE IS TOO HIGH DUE TO OIL PUMP FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ID
606573
Incident
Feb 2, 1998
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THOUGH THE AIR CLEANER SYSTEM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
829401
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+3 more
Filed Sep 10, 1998

HEADLIGHTS PULSATE.

NHTSA ID
539880
Incident
May 16, 1998

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

Electrical17Airbags8Brakes8Interior & seats8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .