IllustrationVEHICLE BATTERY SHORTED OUT WHICH RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS CAUSED POWER DOORS TO BE INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE, DOORS COULDN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE.*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.
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: 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
What owners actually said
63 reportsTHE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB
THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO GO UP AND DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. *MR *PH *NLM
THE WHEEL RIM WAS OUT OF ROUND WHICH CAUSED A SEVERE VIBRATION. *TS *JB
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER DID NOT MOVE TO PARK AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SWITCHED OFF. THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS JAMMED IN DRIVE AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE BOOT AND CONSOLE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED 2 TIMES. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AND DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ADMIT PART WAS DE…
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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER DID NOT MOVE TO PARK AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SWITCHED OFF. THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS JAMMED IN DRIVE AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE BOOT AND CONSOLE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED 2 TIMES. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AND DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ADMIT PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *TT *JB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING.
I JUST GOT WORK DONE TO IT 9/13/02 THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING CHAIN. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR AND DRIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS THE TEMPERATURE GO STRAIGHT TO THE HALF MARK AND WORK IT'S WAY TOWARDS THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE CAR GETS HOT TOO FAST. I HAVE SPENT $600.00 ON THIS CAR SO FAR AND I JUST BOUGHT IT. THE WARRANTY JU…
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I JUST GOT WORK DONE TO IT 9/13/02 THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING CHAIN. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR AND DRIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS THE TEMPERATURE GO STRAIGHT TO THE HALF MARK AND WORK IT'S WAY TOWARDS THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE CAR GETS HOT TOO FAST. I HAVE SPENT $600.00 ON THIS CAR SO FAR AND I JUST BOUGHT IT. THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. IT WAS A THREE MONTH WARRANTY ON THE CAR. PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767158
VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITH CAUSE UNDETECTED BY DEALERSHIP. HIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. ALSO, SUBJECT TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/CONSOLE. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
POWER WINDOWS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN IN USE THEY WILL STICK WHEN DOWN OR UP, UNABLE TO PULL THEM DOWN. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR RELAY SWITCH, TOOK TO DEALER THEY REPLACED RELAY, AND PRESENTLY VEHICLE IS DISCHARGING. VEHICLE WAS FINE UNTIL DEALER REPLACED RELAY. BATTERY LIGHT IS ON, AND VEHICLE IS NOT CHARGING.*AKCONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. *JG
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.