1996 Oldsmobile Achieva

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 87 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal9
506
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline6
000
Air Bags5
302
Suspension › Front4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
101
Electrical System4
000
Interior Lighting3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm2
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

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.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump07E015000
Filed Feb 26, 20073,124 vehiclesDelphi

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.

Risk. A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

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.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch02V070000
Filed Mar 6, 20021,589,948 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

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.

Risk. IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. 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 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Interior Lighting98V027000
Filed Feb 17, 1998249,420 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."

Risk. THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights96V250000
Filed Dec 17, 1996270,014 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.

Air Bags › Frontal96V211000
Filed Oct 28, 199648,689 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG FABRIC CAN SNAG ON A REINFORCEMENT INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING THE EXPANDING AIR BAG TO LIFT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD AND THEN DEPLOY UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE DOOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Risk. IN A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF HE OR SHE CONTACTS A BROKEN REINFORCEMENT OR IF THE SNAGGING AFFECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PADS AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PLASTIC EDGE PROTECTOR TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD REINFORCEMENT. ON CERTAIN EARLY-PRODUCTION VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD WILL BE REPLACED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Aug 15, 2013150,000 milesAR

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

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 14, 2011134,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07E015000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal
Filed Jun 5, 200874,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSAXLE HAD AN OIL LEAK NEAR THE CV JOINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF THE TRANSAXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING FLUID NEAR THE CV JOINT. UPDATED *JB

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 27, 200875,000 milesNY

FRONT AIR BAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 17, 2008NY

PASSENGER IN VEHICLE SUSTAINED SERIOUS EYE INJURY DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE - . *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Jun 29, 200734,258 milesPA

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

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Jun 24, 2007155,000 milesNY

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

Structure
Filed Jan 24, 200770,986 milesNY

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON IN MY 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. I WAS REFERRED TO MY DEALER BY MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A AIR BAG SAFETY MODULE PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED BY GM AS PER "ALL DATA". THE DEALER REFERRED ME TO GM WARRANTY HOTLINE WHEN THE VIN # DID NOT MATCH A RECALL THROUGH THE GM DATABASE. THE ENTIRE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED BY THE DEALER TO BE APPROXIMATELY $3000.00 USING VINTAGE AUTO PARTS ON THE HARNESS FOR THE MODULE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A BODY LEAK THAT COLLECTED WATER AND SHORTED OUT THE SAFETY MODULE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE DO TO THE DANGER OF POSSIBLE INFLATION OF THE AIRBAG WITH OUT WARNING, AS PER THE RECALL NOTICE THAT GM SAYS NEVER OCCURRED. GM WON'T HELP IN THE REPAIR BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND MET THE 10 YEAR MARK ON 10/31/06. I'VE BEEN WARNED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM BY THE GM DEALER, WHILE BEING PRESENTED WITH A $3,000.00 REPAIR BILL ON A CAR THAT IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER OTHERWISE. IT SEEMS GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Filed Dec 6, 2006164,000 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT A NHTSA RECALL # 96V250000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Oct 23, 2006129,970 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING MY 1996 OLDS ACHIEVA SOUTHBOUND ON I-271 IN NE OHIO BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. PAVEMENT WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO TYPE OF IMPACT. CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE SEVERE CHEST PAINS. I AM TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS NOW. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2005100,000 milesTN

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION AND PUT ON THE COMPUTER, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT WAS WRONG. THE INTAKE GASKET BLEW TWICE ALLOWING WATER IN THE ENGINE. *AK *NM

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Apr 5, 2005GA

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP LOWER BALL JOINT DISENGAGED AND TIRE CAME OFF. THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jul 6, 2004NY

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jul 2, 2004NY

AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS COOLANT AND NEEDS TO BE REPEATEDLY SERVICED BECAUSE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS WARM AIR. AIR CONDITIONER CHECKED WHEN UNDER WARRANTY 4/1/98 AND DEALER STATED RECHARGED A/C. HOWEVER, COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED 5/28/99, 5/12/00, 4/29/01, 6/9/04 FOR A TOTAL COST OF $482.48. DYE INJECTED AND NO LEAK NOTICED. LEAKAGE OCCURS OVER MONTHS WHERE DYE NOT DETECTABLE. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OVER TIME.*AK

Interior Lighting
Filed Feb 19, 200445,000 milesSC

THERE WAS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. THE DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 3, 200465,695 milesNV

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

Equipment
Filed Jan 15, 200443,000 milesFL

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/?

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200487,770 milesTX

LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Dec 16, 2003130,000 milesNY

IN REGARDS OF YOUR DEFECT INVESTIGATION# IQ3001, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY CONTROL MODULE, ITS NOT WORKING NOW DUE TO IT GOT WET, NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND I'M JUST WAITING FOR IT TO DEPLOY WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SO MAYBE THEN WHEN IT KILLS SOMEONE A RECALL WILL BE DONE ON IT. IT IS A POOR LOCATION FOR THE MODULE ANYWAYS.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Nov 11, 200335 milesOH

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

20 of 87 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20003000Routine
199840320Routine
199763410Routine
1996 — this page87631Fatalities reported
199570150Routine
199462260Routine
199338120Routine
199253040Routine

Compare every Achieva year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 12, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.