TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION TO THE FACE AND LEFT HAND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED A CRASH WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION TO THE FACE AND LEFT HAND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED A CRASH WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ..UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10649591
130,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Air Bags
THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BY THERE SELF NO ACCIDENT AND NOT MOVING I WAS AT A STAND STILL .FIRST THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE ARE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR BAGS IN THE CAR? AS I BOUGHT THE CAR SECOND HAND LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE CAR…
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THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BY THERE SELF NO ACCIDENT AND NOT MOVING I WAS AT A STAND STILL .FIRST THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE ARE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR BAGS IN THE CAR? AS I BOUGHT THE CAR SECOND HAND LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE CAR BEING IN A ACCIDENT AND CAR NEVER BEEN TOTALED OUT. I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10509487
90,000 miles · Mar 15, 2012
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10451857
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Air Bags
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND ON RAILROAD TRACKS, FRONT OF VEHICLE UNDER CARRIAGE WENT DOWN TO THE TRACKS, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, AND DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870190
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2000
Air Bags
WHILE TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #861693
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1999
Air BagsInjury
ON 3/30/99 WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON SMOOTH INTERSTATE, DRY ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. CONTACTED GM THAT AFTERNOON AFTER RETURNING FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM. SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND STRAINED BACK AND NECK MUSCLES. GM TOOK REPORT. WENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO I…
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ON 3/30/99 WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON SMOOTH INTERSTATE, DRY ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. CONTACTED GM THAT AFTERNOON AFTER RETURNING FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM. SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND STRAINED BACK AND NECK MUSCLES. GM TOOK REPORT. WENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO INFO FROM THEM. GM CONTACTED US TO TRY TO SETTLE, BECAUSE OF TIME AND DOCTOR BILLS INVOLVED, WE EMPLOYED AN ATTORNEY. GM TOLD US BECAUSE WE GOT AN ATTORNEY THAT THEY WOULD NOT SETTLE AS QUICK. FINALLY OF 6/9/99 GM EMPLOYEES CAME TO OUR PLACE OF BUSINESS AND LOOKED AT CAR AND REMOVED COMPUTER FROM UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SAID IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO "DRY IT OUT" SO THEY COULD TELL WHAT HAPPENED. AS OF THIS DATE, GM IS GIVING US THE RUNAROUND AND HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE BOX TESTED YET. WE DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BRING THIS INCIDENT TO A CLOSE BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF MEDICAL BILLS AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY NECK AND BACK WHICH IS GREATLY AFFECTING MY WORK. SOMEHOW ONE OF THE PEOPLE FROM YOUR OFFICE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND CONTACTED US, HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM HIM, HOWEVER HE WAS SURPRIZED THAT GM HAD NOT TRIED TO SETTLE WITH US. THIS CAR IS USED AS OUR PERSONAL CAR AND WHEN GM REMOVED THE COMPUTER BOX, THEY DID NOT OFFER TO HAVE THE COMPUTER OR THE AIRBAG REPLACED. WE ARE HAVING TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION AS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON AND KEEP PAYING FOR THIS ONE, AND WE DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE OUT THE MONEY TO REPLACE SUCH ITEMS. WE ARE ACTUALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AN AIRBAG BACK IN IT, AS NOW WE DO NOT TRUST THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOPE YOU CAN HELP OR TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO.
NHTSA ODI #713788
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT AT 30 MPH . UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AS IT SHOULD HAVE. HOWEVER, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. CHILD WAS THROWN INTO WINDSHIELD, AND SUFFERED A CRUSHED CHEST DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848986
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 1999
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISON, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.WEATHER WAS CLEAR . *AK
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.
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 OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year