IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO KNOCK. THEN , ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. *AK
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 →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 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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
8 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, FUEL PRESSURE VALVE, MASTER CYLINDER, ABS BOOSTER, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND BRAKES, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED WHEN THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL, HOSE AND REGULATOR FAILED. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE INTAKE ND VALVE COVER GASKETS, RADIATOR HOSE, WHEEL CYLINDERS AND THERMOSTAT. *JB *NLM
ANTI FREEZE LIQUID EATS AWAY INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPLACED PART.*AK
COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH LOW COOLANT AND REPAIRS VERY EXPENSIVE. BUT THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS OVER LOOK. *MJ
THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW COOLANT LIGHTS APPEAR OFTEN AND THE ENGINE IDLES AT AN ABNORMAL SETTING. WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN WARMER THAN IT SHOULD AND CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO BE REPLACED LONG BEFORE THEY SHOULD BE. AS FOR THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT, THERE IS NOT A NEED TO ADD COOLANT BECAUSE ITS JUST A LITTLE LESS THAN FULL. AN…
Read full complaint
THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW COOLANT LIGHTS APPEAR OFTEN AND THE ENGINE IDLES AT AN ABNORMAL SETTING. WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN WARMER THAN IT SHOULD AND CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO BE REPLACED LONG BEFORE THEY SHOULD BE. AS FOR THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT, THERE IS NOT A NEED TO ADD COOLANT BECAUSE ITS JUST A LITTLE LESS THAN FULL. AND AS FOR THE HIGH IDLE, THE CAR HAS ACCELERATED AT TIMES BY ITS SELF TO 45 MPH.
ENGINE CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT.
Official recalls
104V036000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.