IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND WAS TOTALLED. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK DEALER CONTACTED. STEERING WHEEL BROKE DUE TO IMPACT. INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *TT
1994 Oldsmobile Achieva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Achieva years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 62 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
Steering complaints
15 reportsWHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP, THE STEERING COLUMN FELL INTO MY LAP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND WAS INFORMED OF A SET OF 4 PINS THAT WORK THEMSELVES LOOSE. THE DEALER TOLD ME ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IT HAPPENS RATHER OFTEN. THEY PUT THE PINS BACK IN AND GLUED THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD N…
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WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP, THE STEERING COLUMN FELL INTO MY LAP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND WAS INFORMED OF A SET OF 4 PINS THAT WORK THEMSELVES LOOSE. THE DEALER TOLD ME ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IT HAPPENS RATHER OFTEN. THEY PUT THE PINS BACK IN AND GLUED THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD NOT FALL OUT AGAIN. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY WOBBLY AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD ME THE GLUE MUST HAVE NOT HELD. THEY REINSTALLED THE PINS AND GLUED THEM BACK ONCE AGAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL LOOSE AND SHAKES. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL FALL OUT AGAIN. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS IN ADVANCE.*AK
TILT MECHANISM "SPRUNG" WHEEL SWINGS UP AND DOWN EFFECTS ABILITY TO DRIVE CAR. AIRBAG PERFORMANCE COULD BE COMPRIMISED BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL SWINGS UP AND DOWN. LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN HIGH BEAM TURNED ON OR OFF BY STALK ON ST
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FALLS DOWN ONTO DRIVERS LAP DUE TO BOLTS DISENGAGING AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE. DEAELR IS NOT WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK FIRE AND HEAT GENERATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER PARTS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND RUN BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT SUPP…
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RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE. DEAELR IS NOT WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK FIRE AND HEAT GENERATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER PARTS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND RUN BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT SUPPLYING POWER TO PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
STEERING WHEEL FELL INTO DRIVERS LAP WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A DRIVE WAY. STREERING COLUMN DROPPED INTO DRIVER LAP AND STEERING WAS IMPOSSIBLE!!*AK
THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT PINS KEEP FALLING OUT CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THERE ARE TWO PINS THAT KEEP FALLING OUT, WE REMOVE THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO PUT THEM BACK IN PLACE, HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO COME OUT. I T IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING . THE WHEEL ALMOST SITS ON MY LAP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I C…
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THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT PINS KEEP FALLING OUT CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THERE ARE TWO PINS THAT KEEP FALLING OUT, WE REMOVE THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO PUT THEM BACK IN PLACE, HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO COME OUT. I T IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING . THE WHEEL ALMOST SITS ON MY LAP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. THESE PINS HAVE MANY SCREWDRIVER MARKS, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE FIXED IT TEMPORARILY. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR THEY ARE ASKING AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT TO LOOK INTO IT. PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS A WAY WE CAN FIX IT OURSELVES, FOR WE DO ALMOST ANY TYPE OF MECHANICAL WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, MRS. GRUBBS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
RACK & PINION STEERING WOULD GET STIFF IN THE MORNINGS. WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, IT WOULD MAKE WHINNING NOISE. FEELS LIKE NO POWER STEERING. PROBLEMS WITH STEERING HAPPENS ONLY IN THE MORNINGS & NOT AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. *AK
THIS IS THE 4TH FAILURE OF THE FRONT PADS. THIS LAST FAILURE TOOK PLACE AFTER ONLY TEN MONTHS OF SERVICE. THE FAILURE ALSO WARPED THE ROTORS, SHEARED THE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FORM ITS MOUNT. DEALER BLAMES FAILURE ON A CRACKED STEERING KNUCKLE. THIS CONSTANT BRAKE PAD FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHUSE THIS CAR. THIS MEA…
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THIS IS THE 4TH FAILURE OF THE FRONT PADS. THIS LAST FAILURE TOOK PLACE AFTER ONLY TEN MONTHS OF SERVICE. THE FAILURE ALSO WARPED THE ROTORS, SHEARED THE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FORM ITS MOUNT. DEALER BLAMES FAILURE ON A CRACKED STEERING KNUCKLE. THIS CONSTANT BRAKE PAD FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHUSE THIS CAR. THIS MEANS THAT THE KNUCKLE HAS BEEN CRACKED UNDER WARRANTY AND PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON EXCESIVE BRAKE WEAR FOR THIS CAR BUT NO GM DEALER TOOK ACTION BASED ON THIS. THIS LAST FAILURE WAS THE MOST SERIOUS AS IT INVOLVED THE PADS/ROTORS, ANT-ILOCK SENSOR, AND STEERING KNUCKLE. *AK
Official recalls
200V287000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly
Oct 2, 2000
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 1994
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA00007 · Steering Column Fires
Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available