IllustrationCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET, WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THEN, VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. ALSO VEHICLE HAD SPARKS AND SMOKED INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK
1995 Oldsmobile Achieva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 9 of 70 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports5 fire reports4 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
20 reportsRECALL 00V287000 ON STARTER. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED, TOTALLED. THIS HAPPENED 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT. *AK THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED SETTLEMENT FROM INSURANCE AND CAN NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. *YH
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE NEAR THE DASHBOARD. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF STREET, AND WITHIN SECONDS VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMED MAIN HEAT CAME FROM DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE AND POSSIBLY IT WAS ELECTRICAL.*AK
#EA00007, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION , AND VEHICLE TRIED TO RESTART BY ITSELF TWICE. IGNITON SHORTED OUT AND MELTED RESULTING IN HEADLAMP SWITCH AND STARTER SOLENOID NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY . DEALER CLAIMED IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH. TO STOP THE FLASHING STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE LIFTED UP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED , AND STATED ELECTICAL WIRES BURNED OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
A FUSE THAT CONTROLLED THE DOOR LOCKS AND MIRRORS CONTROLS KEPT BLOWING OUT AFTER BEING REPLACED SEVERAL TIME DUE TO MELTED AND BURNED WIRING HARNESS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE AND RESULTED IN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN THE BATTERY DIES IN THE VEHICLE THE POWER WINDOWS BECAME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS REPLACED.
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE HORN ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ALONGVEHICLE WILL DECELERATE ALL BY ITSELF AND MOVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. TT
Official recalls
100V287000 · 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.
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