1997 Oldsmobile Achieva problems
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. Next are engine (13%) and cruise control (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 108 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 19 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 19 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 90,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Oldsmobile Achieva with enough data (72 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Consumer was in a front end accident at 30 MPH . Upon impact, driver's side air bag deployed as it should have. However, passenger's side air bag did not deploy until after the accident. Child was thrown into windshield, and suffered a crushed chest dealer has not been contacted.
On 3/30/99 was driving 70 MPH on smooth interstate, dry road conditions when driver side airbag deployed for no reason. Was able to pull car to side of road. Contacted GM that afternoon after returning from the emergency room. Suffered whiplash and strained back and neck muscles. GM took report. Went several months with no info from them. GM contacted us to try to settle, because of time and doctor bills involved, we employed an attorney. GM told us because we got an attorney that they would not settle as quick.
Defective engine had stalling problems replace alternator and caught on fire. Customer states hears a banging noise when steps on brakes intermittently, front pads worn, customer denied work aware need front brake. Pump leaking, remove and replace water pump.
Vehicle 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.
The air bags deployed by there self no accident and not moving I was at a stand still .first the driver air bag deployed and then a few seconds later the passenger side deployed. I do not know if there are factory installed air bags in the car? As I bought the car second hand less then a year ago. There was no record of the car being in a accident and car never been totaled out. I do not know why it happened.