IllustrationABS FRONT BRAKES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TO FIVE TIMES.
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 reportsHEAD GASKET CAUSING OIL TO BE GUMMY BROWN/CREAMY.
BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN READY TO MAKE A LEFT WHEN STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE, FELL DOWN,STEERING SHIFTED FROM PLACE TO PLACE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT,CONSUMER TOOK COVERING OVER THE STEERING COLUMN NOTICED LEFT PIN CAME OFF, AND RIGHT WAS VERY LOOSE BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE HOLDING STEERING WHEEL …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN READY TO MAKE A LEFT WHEN STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE, FELL DOWN,STEERING SHIFTED FROM PLACE TO PLACE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT,CONSUMER TOOK COVERING OVER THE STEERING COLUMN NOTICED LEFT PIN CAME OFF, AND RIGHT WAS VERY LOOSE BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE HOLDING STEERING WHEEL IN A TIGHT HOLD POSITION UNTIL ARRIVED AT HOME. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT (25) MPH, THE TILT STEERING WHEEL CAME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION AND MOVED AROUND FREELY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
DUE TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE EXPRIENCED THE LOCKS BEHAVING ERRATICALLY (ON AND OFF), AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT. A FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, REPLACED THE BATTERY 2 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *AK
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE FRONT SEATBACK MOVES FREQUENTLY AND IN FORWARD POSITION WHEN STOPPING. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DEALERS HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. *AK
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
FRONT STEERING PULLE DTO THE LEFT, ALSO MADE SQUEALING NOISE. *AK
UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 30MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.*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