IllustrationI OWN A 1998 OLDS ACHEIVA. MY THROTTLE IDLE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS AS THE CAR PICKS UP SPEED ON ITS OWN, AND IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THESE REPAIRS ARE EXCESSIVE AND EXPENSIVE. *NLM
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
4 reportsWHILE PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY START TO ACCERLERATE WITH GREAT FORCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LUNGING FORWARD AFTER THROTTLE MOTOR VALVE WAS REPLACED. *YH
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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED UNTIL THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.