IllustrationHAVE CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, DEALER SOLD CAR WITH SPARK PLUG MISFIRES, STALLING, AND A BADLY NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH *AK
1997 Oldsmobile Achieva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.5.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →63Owner complaints
Model-year median: 57.5
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1997 Oldsmobile Achieva
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 63 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 18 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 17 reports
- Air Bags: 8 reports
- Power Train: 7 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 7 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Achieva years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 13 of 63 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 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.
4 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
17 reportsRECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V05900 FOR UNDER HOOD FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO IN TURN, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED NO RECALL FOR FUSE CENTER LOCATED ON VEHICLE BY VIN #. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: IGNITION COIL BURNED OUT COMPLETELY, CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD/HAD WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT …
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RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V05900 FOR UNDER HOOD FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO IN TURN, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED NO RECALL FOR FUSE CENTER LOCATED ON VEHICLE BY VIN #. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: IGNITION COIL BURNED OUT COMPLETELY, CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD/HAD WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT REPLACED/CROSS CASTER AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT, AND FRONT BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CALIPERS/ROTORS WERE NOT REPLACED, AND ,PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SLIDES AROUND. WOULD FAIL TO LOCK AFTER BEING PUSHED BACK OR FORWARD. THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF TRACK AFTER GOING DOWN OR UP. THE ANTI-FREEZE WOULD LEAK ON SIDE OF CAB. THE TRUNK FAILS TO STAY LOCKED AFTER BEING SHUT. IT KEEPS POPPING OPEN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK ON DEFECTS.*AK
IGNITION COIL COMPLETELY BURNED CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD SOONER THAN NEEDED. THE CRANK SHAFT, WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CROSS CASTER IS AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT. NO FRONT BRAKES. CALIPERS & ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. *AK RIGHT REAR DOOR MISALIGNED, CA…
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IGNITION COIL COMPLETELY BURNED CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD SOONER THAN NEEDED. THE CRANK SHAFT, WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CROSS CASTER IS AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT. NO FRONT BRAKES. CALIPERS & ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. *AK RIGHT REAR DOOR MISALIGNED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY CLOSING, RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY DUE TO FAULTY MOTOR. UNDERHOOD FUSE RECALL, REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED. *SLC
OIL PRESSURE IS TOO HIGH DUE TO OIL PUMP FAILURE. YH
WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THOUGH THE AIR CLEANER SYSTEM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
HEADLIGHTS PULSATE.
Recall campaigns
202V070000 · 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.
97V059000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Apr 8, 1997
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.