IllustrationTHE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
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.
7 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reportsTILT MECHANISM "SPRUNG" WHEEL SWINGS UP AND DOWN EFFECTS ABILITY TO DRIVE CAR. AIRBAG PERFORMANCE COULD BE COMPRIMISED BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL SWINGS UP AND DOWN. LIGHTS ON DASH OR HEADLIGHTS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN HIGH BEAM TURNED ON OR OFF BY STALK ON ST
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FALLS DOWN ONTO DRIVERS LAP DUE TO BOLTS DISENGAGING AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
CYLINDER HEAD IS CRACKED. OLDSMOBILE HAD RECALLED THE 1992 AND 1993 ACHIEVAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE IS COMING INTO THE CAR AND ALSO THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE DRIVING.*AK
HEADLIGHTS SWITCH HAS A SHORTAGE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND SOMETIMES DON'T COME BACK ON. SWITCH HAS TO BE TOYED WITH TO COME BACK ON. *AK
RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE. DEAELR IS NOT WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK FIRE AND HEAT GENERATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER PARTS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND RUN BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT SUPP…
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RECALL 00V287000/ IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE. DEAELR IS NOT WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK FIRE AND HEAT GENERATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER PARTS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND RUN BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT SUPPLYING POWER TO PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF CONSUMER'S HOME. SHE WENT INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD AREA. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND THERE WERE FLAMES EVERYWHERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE IGNI…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF CONSUMER'S HOME. SHE WENT INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD AREA. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND THERE WERE FLAMES EVERYWHERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *YH
CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 000779-S CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. NOTICE STATED THAT RECALL WILL BE TAKEN CARE OFF IN JANUARY, BUT CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE ABOUT THE RECALL. *AK
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN . ALSO, KEY HOLE WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
MOTOR HAD A CRACKED HEAD. OLDSMOBILE ACKNOWLEDGES FAULTY HEAD GASKETS ON 1992 AND 1993 MODELS AND STATES THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT OUR HEAD GASKETS CRACKED IN THE EXACT LOCATIONS OF '92' AND '93 MODELS THAT HE REPAIRED. HE FEELS THAT OLDSMOBILE DID NOT REPAIR THE HEAD IN OUR 1994 ACHIEVE THAT WAS BUI…
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MOTOR HAD A CRACKED HEAD. OLDSMOBILE ACKNOWLEDGES FAULTY HEAD GASKETS ON 1992 AND 1993 MODELS AND STATES THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT OUR HEAD GASKETS CRACKED IN THE EXACT LOCATIONS OF '92' AND '93 MODELS THAT HE REPAIRED. HE FEELS THAT OLDSMOBILE DID NOT REPAIR THE HEAD IN OUR 1994 ACHIEVE THAT WAS BUILT IN NOVEMBER 1993. WE BELIEVE THAT OLDSMOBILE NEEDS TO EXTEND THEIR COVERAGE TO INCLUDE 1994 MODELS. *AK
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