SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1998 Oldsmobile Achieva

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.5.

About this comparison →
40Owner complaints

Model-year median: 57.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
70
199587
199663
199740
19983
2000
Compare all Achieva years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
12Engine And Engine Cooling
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7Air Bags
4Vehicle Speed Control
4
All reported categories
Equipment
2Interior Lighting
2Power Train
2Seat Belts
2Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Steering
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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 40 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2001
Electrical System

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. ONLY WARNING WAS HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT PRIOR TO ANYTHING HAPPENING. RECEIVED A JUMP START & ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. ONCE JUMPER CABLES REMOVED VEHICLE DIED.*AK COSUMER STATES ONCE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUSH VEHICLE O…

Read full complaint

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. ONLY WARNING WAS HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT PRIOR TO ANYTHING HAPPENING. RECEIVED A JUMP START & ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. ONCE JUMPER CABLES REMOVED VEHICLE DIED.*AK COSUMER STATES ONCE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUSH VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, DUE TO NO EMERGENCY SIDE, ALSO WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED AND THE SHIFTER WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR.*JB

NHTSA ODI #890061

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UP TO 70 MPH, MAKING IT HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID MAYBE THE MAT WAS GETTING STUCK BETWEEN PEDAL. 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AND THIRD TIME THEY SAID SOLENOID WAS BAD. THEN THEY SAID ABS HAD A SHORT IN IT. DEALER STILL HAS NOT FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE P…

Read full complaint

AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UP TO 70 MPH, MAKING IT HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID MAYBE THE MAT WAS GETTING STUCK BETWEEN PEDAL. 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AND THIRD TIME THEY SAID SOLENOID WAS BAD. THEN THEY SAID ABS HAD A SHORT IN IT. DEALER STILL HAS NOT FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861112

Official recalls

1

04V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 27, 2004

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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.