Oldsmobile Achieva recall history and complaint patterns

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Oldsmobile Achieva, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 11
Total Complaints 625
Years Covered 1992–2000

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the Oldsmobile Achieva. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Oldsmobile Achieva, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Electrical

5 campaigns · Years: 1993–1998

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 2 more notices in this theme

Visibility and lighting

2 campaigns · Years: 1996

These campaigns relate to lighting, glass, or visibility components (lamps, wipers, and related systems).

Official notices (evidence):

Airbags

1 campaign · Years: 1996

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Fuel and emissions

1 campaign · Years: 1994

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Oldsmobile Achieva in NHTSA complaint data are Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2000 0 6 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system, Structure.
1998 1 52 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Air bags:frontal, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1997 2 108 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Engine and engine cooling:cooling system, Electrical system:ignition:switch.
1996 4 116 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Electrical system:ignition:switch, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1995 1 102 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Air bags:frontal, Electrical system:ignition.
1994 2 85 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Steering: steering wheel/handle bar, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1993 1 66 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor.
1992 0 90 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system.

What to Do Next

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Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Electrical system , Air bags and Exterior lighting

Show recall evidence by year

1998

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (04V036000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.

1997

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (02V070000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.
  • Electrical system: Front underhood: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V059000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The protective cover for the underhood fuse center was omitted. Without this cover, the positive terminal bolt on the fuse block is exposed and can contact the insulated negative battery cable. If the insulation on the negative cable becomes sufficiently worn, an electrical short circuit can occu

1996

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (02V070000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.
  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V211000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.
  • Exterior lighting: Hazard flashing warning lights: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V250000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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."
  • Interior lighting: Safety recall involving the interior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V027000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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."

1995

  • Electrical system: Starter assembly: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (00V287000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine starter fails to engage and the driver hold the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, producing heat that can melt switch parts.

1994

  • Electrical system: Starter assembly: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (00V287000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine starter fails to engage and the driver hold the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, producing heat that can melt switch parts.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (94V122000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: These vehicles were constructed with welds in the rear compartment pan assembly that are not sufficient to comply with the requirements pertaining to fuel tank leakage in the event of a rear impact collision. The fuel tank assemblies do not comply with fmvss no. 301, "Fuel system integrity."

1993

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (93V153000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The neutral start safety switch could have been fractured during installation.

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Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

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