IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN FELL OFF INTO CONSUMER'S LAP. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT STEERING WHEEL COLUMN FELL OFF, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *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.
7 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reportsCRACKED ENGINE HEAD CAUSED ANTIFREEZE LEAKAGE, CAR SPUTTERS. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 FOR THE HEAD CORE, EXCLUDING LABOR AND ADDITIONAL COSTS. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT SOME DEALERS ARE GETTING THIS PART AT NO COST FOR REPLACEMENT. WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR AT THE VERY …
Read full complaint
CRACKED ENGINE HEAD CAUSED ANTIFREEZE LEAKAGE, CAR SPUTTERS. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 FOR THE HEAD CORE, EXCLUDING LABOR AND ADDITIONAL COSTS. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT SOME DEALERS ARE GETTING THIS PART AT NO COST FOR REPLACEMENT. WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR AT THE VERY LEAST THE COST OF THE HEAD CORE UNIT! *AK
CAR ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES AND SEVERAL MAJOR OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS
THE WALL @ THE 4TH SPARK-PLUG (FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE) IS CRACKED ABOUT 1.5" IS THIS A RARE OR COMMON ACCURRENCE ON THIS MODEL AND WHAT, CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *AK
MOTOR HAS A DEFECT THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE RECTIFIED.
BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS FAILED.
CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE LEAK. ALSO ENGINE COVER GASKET CRACKED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED #2 SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL FILTER.
ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS HAS BEEN CRACKED AND IS LEAKING OIL. DEALER HAS SEEN. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTINOUSLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR.
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING AWHILE, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION UNTIL IT GETS WARMED UP FOR AWHILE, AND WHEN DRIVING IT SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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