RoadVitals

1998 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.
40
Latest Apr 4, 2016
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.
3
Latest Mar 12, 2007
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.
0
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.
4
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 40 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 40 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

  • Electrical1224.5%
  • Engine918.4%
  • Brakes714.3%
  • Airbags48.2%
  • Driver assistance48.2%
  • Interior & seats24.1%
  • Fuel system24.1%
  • Seat belts24.1%

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

3 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
07E021000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Mar 12, 2007
742 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DELPHIView on NHTSA.gov
07E015000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Feb 26, 2007
3,124 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO AN OVERLY RICH FUEL BLEND OR THE VEHICLE'S EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CARBON CANISTER MAY LEAK FUEL.
The risk: A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.
DELPHIView on NHTSA.gov
04V036000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Jan 27, 2004
1,415,231 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
The risk: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 04002View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 40
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IDLED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECK THE OIL WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING LIQUID LEAKED ONTO THE OIL PAN, WHICH MIXED THE TWO LIQUIDS. COOLANT ALSO LEAKED INTO THE AIR VENTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID
10853272
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
58,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2015
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVE ALONG UNION STREET IN GREENVILLE, MISS WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I SUDDENLY PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CAR BECAME ENGULF IN FLAMES. THE FIREMAN WAS CALLED TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE.THE CAR WAS LOST DUE TO THE FLAMES AND I LOST WAGES DUE TO THE CAR. I CONTACT GMC ABOUT THE CAR AND THEY SAID , THE CAR ENGULF IN FLAMES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682349
Incident
Jul 12, 2002
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 2011

MY GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS BEEN GOING ON THE FRITZ FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. EVERY FIX WOULD LAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WEEKS THAN GO RIGHT BACK TO NO WORKING. I KEEP GETTING LOCK OUT OF OF THE CAR WITH THE ANTI THIEFT. I HAVE A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF AT TIMES DURING THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I HATE GM AND THEIR CRAPPY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT IT THAT U WOULD THINK THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10383063
Incident
Jul 13, 2009
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY THE VIN BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10353295
Incident
Aug 25, 2010
Mileage
13,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 8, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED A RELAY KIT. YEARS LATER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE REMEDY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD ONLY BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY, THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR WAS TECHNICALLY SUFFICIENT. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID
10273090
Incident
May 11, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 12, 2007

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007, HAD ALREADY HAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 AT YARK AUTOMOTIVE IN TOLEDO, OHIO. FREQUENTLY FAILS TO START. HAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2007. DEALERSHIP WORKING ON THE VEHICLE NOW CLAIMS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208675
Incident
Nov 12, 2007
Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2005

1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. I OWN THE ABOVE MENTIONED CAR. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, NAMELY THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON AND MY ABS MAKES A FUNNY NOISE. THE BRAKES ALSO CLUNK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO BE REPAIRED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR THAT WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. WELL, IT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED FOR A FEW DAYS. BUT, HAS JUST STARTED AGAIN AND IT IS THE SAME THING. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE BRAKES GET SPONGY AND FAIL AT SPEEDS FROM 5 MPH TO 55 MPH. THE NOISE FROM THE ABS STARTED AGAIN AND THE BRAKES ARE CLUNKING AGAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. I CAN SEEM TO GET ANYBODY THAT IS ABLE TO DO A PERMANENT FIX. AND I CAN'T GET ANY INFO FROM GM ABOUT THIS. I NOTICED THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD FILED A COMPLIANT ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MY CAR. AND, SINCE IT PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, I FIGURED I WOULD FILE ONE TOO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10136060
Incident
Jul 10, 2005
Mileage
11,700 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 2, 2005

I PURCHASED A 1998 ODLSMOBILE ACHIEVA AS A PROGRAM CAR IN 1998 FROM BENDER CHEVY/OLDS/CADILLAC IN CLOVIS NM. SINCE THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT I HAVE HAD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AT SPEEDS LESS THEN 5MPH. THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT MADE NO EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THE TRUE SORCE ON THE PROBLEM. I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON SHORTLY THEREAFTER TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL. HE JUST INFORMED ME YESTERDAY 01 MAY 05, THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL INTERMITTENTLY DOING THE SAME THING AS THEY HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. SPECIFICALLY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AND THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD REQUIRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. I HIGHLIGHT THIS BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES LOOKING INTO BY AN AGENCY LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ID
10119367
Incident
May 1, 2005
Mileage
37,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

PIP4723D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

19NA273

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.

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.

PIP4723C

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

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—
1998Viewing403050.0
1997634051.5
1996876055.1
1995701151.3
1994622158.2
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.