IllustrationCAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, WONT START FOR 5 OR 10 MIN. REAR WINDOW STILL POPPING OUT . NO DEALERS CAN DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WIYH THE CAR.
1996 Oldsmobile Achieva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 17 of 87 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
87 reportsMY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION NEVER DEPLOYED THE AIR BAGS. IF THEY OPENED MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES.I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY. *AK
WHEN TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO START NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN ,CONSUMER WAS STILL TRYING WHEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM STEERING WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN IGNITION THAT MELTED SOME WIRES.*AK
CAR RUNS NO INTEROIR OR EXTERIOR LIGHTS, DASHBOARD LIGHTS. *AK
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF OR QUITS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. WILL NOT RESTART AT TIMES FOR 15 MINUTES OR MORE. DEALER CANNOT PINPOINT PROBLEM.*AK
AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS FIXED 3 ACHIEVA VEHICLES BELOW 50,000 MILES,IN WHICH BRAKE LINE CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK, RESULTING IN BRAKED. THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED COMPUTER. *AK
CAR HAS RECURRENT PROBLEMS, NEVER RESOLVED, SERVICE COSTS, MUST REPLACE CAR!!!!!!! I FEEL LIKE SUEING GMAC FOR THIS. GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT NO ONE KNOWS THE CAUSE. ALWAYS A GASOLINE ODOR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON…
Read full complaint
CAR HAS RECURRENT PROBLEMS, NEVER RESOLVED, SERVICE COSTS, MUST REPLACE CAR!!!!!!! I FEEL LIKE SUEING GMAC FOR THIS. GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT NO ONE KNOWS THE CAUSE. ALWAYS A GASOLINE ODOR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON AND ENGINES CUTS OFF SOMETIME FOR NO REASON SO IT GETS TOWED AND TOWED. I FEEL LIKE MY LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY. THIS CAR COST ME OVER $18,000 AND I GET A CAR IN THE SHOP MOST OF THE TIME. ENDED UP TRADING IN CAR FOR ANOTHER "LEMON" ALERO 2000. NOW THIS CAR CUTS OFF WHEN I TURN OFF THE AC. I REALLY HATE OLDS CARS! DEFECTS THAT CANNOT BE TRACED....WHAT A DEAL! NOW I HAVE HIGHER PAYMENTS ON ANOTHER OLDS THAT HAS MORE UNDETECTABLE PROBLEMS. CONSTANTLY IN THE SERVICE SHOP, SO HERE WE GO AGAIN. OH WELL, THEY SURE ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF ME,... THAT IS, IF I LIVE THROUGH THIS CAR.THE ACHIEVA WAS IN THE SHOP MORE THAT 6 TIMES IN A YEAR, EVERY YEAR. I WONDER WHAT THIS ALERO WILL DO? AND TO THINK I LET THE DEALERSHIP GET ME FOR ANOTHER $18,000 ON YET ANOTHER CAR. THE PAYMENTS ARE HIGHER THAN THE LAST LEMON THEY SOLD ME. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT ME INTO A NEW CAR, WITH MY REMAINING PAYMENTS ON THE ACHIEVA. PERIOD.
FIRE BURNED STEERING COLUMN AND DASH AND BROKE WINDSHIELD AND BURNED HEADLINER WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON ROAD, WENT TO USE THE HORN AND IT FAILED. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED 5 TIMES, AND IT WORKS FOR ONLY A SHORT WHILE AFTER REPAIR. *AK *ML
Official recalls
402V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 6, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
98V027000 · Interior Lighting
Feb 17, 1998
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Dec 17, 1996
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
96V211000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 28, 1996
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.