I WAS SOLD A CAR THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETLY WORN OUT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS BROKEN, 1 TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED IN THE SIDEWALL AND WAS FULL OF FIX-A-FLAT CHEMICAL. *AK
1994 Oldsmobile Achieva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 1 of 62 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.
- Steering. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
11 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
THIS IS THE 4TH FAILURE OF THE FRONT PADS. THIS LAST FAILURE TOOK PLACE AFTER ONLY TEN MONTHS OF SERVICE. THE FAILURE ALSO WARPED THE ROTORS, SHEARED THE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FORM ITS MOUNT. DEALER BLAMES FAILURE ON A CRACKED STEERING KNUCKLE. THIS CONSTANT BRAKE PAD FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHUSE THIS CAR. THIS MEA…
Read full complaint
THIS IS THE 4TH FAILURE OF THE FRONT PADS. THIS LAST FAILURE TOOK PLACE AFTER ONLY TEN MONTHS OF SERVICE. THE FAILURE ALSO WARPED THE ROTORS, SHEARED THE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FORM ITS MOUNT. DEALER BLAMES FAILURE ON A CRACKED STEERING KNUCKLE. THIS CONSTANT BRAKE PAD FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHUSE THIS CAR. THIS MEANS THAT THE KNUCKLE HAS BEEN CRACKED UNDER WARRANTY AND PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON EXCESIVE BRAKE WEAR FOR THIS CAR BUT NO GM DEALER TOOK ACTION BASED ON THIS. THIS LAST FAILURE WAS THE MOST SERIOUS AS IT INVOLVED THE PADS/ROTORS, ANT-ILOCK SENSOR, AND STEERING KNUCKLE. *AK
BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS FAILED.
ABS FRONT BRAKES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TO FIVE TIMES.
BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE WORN OUT EXCESSIVELY, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 18K MILES. TT
THE ABS BRAKES WEAR OUT FAST AND THE CAR HAS 23,000 MILES AND HAS ITS 3RD SET OF BRAKES ON IT. *AK
FRONT BRAKES FAILURE, ROTORS ARE WARPING. TT
Official recalls
200V287000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly
Oct 2, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 1994
THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.
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
1EA00007 · Steering Column Fires
Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
Illustration