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1996 Oldsmobile Achieva

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 17 of 87 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

25 reports
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150,000 miles · Aug 15, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

I BOUGHT MY DADS 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA, ON ABOUT THE 7-22-13, HE HAD IT AT OUR MECHANICS CAR LOT FOR SALE AND MY TRUCKS TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING ON ME SO I PURCHASED MY DADS CAR, WENT TO PICK IT UP AND NOW AFTER 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND 5 WEEKS LATER THEY STILL CAN'T GET MY CAR FIXED SO IT WILL RUN,THIS IS WHAT IT DOES,SE…

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I BOUGHT MY DADS 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA, ON ABOUT THE 7-22-13, HE HAD IT AT OUR MECHANICS CAR LOT FOR SALE AND MY TRUCKS TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING ON ME SO I PURCHASED MY DADS CAR, WENT TO PICK IT UP AND NOW AFTER 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND 5 WEEKS LATER THEY STILL CAN'T GET MY CAR FIXED SO IT WILL RUN,THIS IS WHAT IT DOES,SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FLASHING UNTIL IT COMES ON FULLY ALL THE TIME,DIES AND REFUSES TO START, SO I DONE SOME LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE ACHIEVA, MALIBU'S,BASICALLY ALL G.M. CARS FROM EARLY 90'S- UPPER 90'S ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN IN SOME CASES, SO I FILL LIKE IF THIS IS NOT TOOK CARE OF IT COULD CAUSE A WRECK,FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT OF SOME KIND BEING IT IS THE # 1 THING TO GO WRONG WITH THIS KIND AND YEAR MODEL'S OF OLDS-ACHIEVA, JUST WAS WONDERING IF MY CAR GOT MISSED ON RECALL OR IF IT SHOULD BE RECALLED, I'M ABOUT HALF WAY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVEN IF IT GETS FIXED, THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND ME BE DRIVING IT NEXT TIME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY HELP FOR MY CAR TO GET RECALLED.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535676

34,258 miles · Jun 29, 2007
Electrical System

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY REFUSES TO START DUE TO PASS LOCK AND LEAVES US STRANDED. DEALER REPLACED IPC AND IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. SPENT $1000, AND ITS STILL THE SAME. READING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS GM VEHICLES SHOWING, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10195018

155,000 miles · Jun 24, 2007
Electrical System

PASS LOCK 1 SECURITY SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THE CAR THINKS THAT I AM STEALING IT AND DOES NOT ALLOW GASOLINE TO FLOW TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND COST $500 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WHICH HOUSES THE SECURITY SENSORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10194090

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2004
Electrical System

CAR WAS AT DEALER ON 8/17/99 WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSOR-OX 3.682 PART DUE TO A SHORTED RELAY AND DAMAGED SENSOR AT A COST OF $337.44. THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED JUNE 29, 2001 AT A COST OF $453.98, INCLUDING TOWING OF THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION. THE SERP BELT WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND REPLACED.…

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CAR WAS AT DEALER ON 8/17/99 WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSOR-OX 3.682 PART DUE TO A SHORTED RELAY AND DAMAGED SENSOR AT A COST OF $337.44. THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED JUNE 29, 2001 AT A COST OF $453.98, INCLUDING TOWING OF THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION. THE SERP BELT WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND REPLACED. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ENTRIES LISTED FOR THE SENSOR, SERP BELT, AND ALTERNATOR REPAIRS. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS OCCURRED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL RECALL ON FEBRUARY 27, 2002 (RECALL FOR DEALER TO INSTALL RELAY KIT TO PREVENT SHORT AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE AND FIRE). THE BUILD DATES INVOLVED WERE 5/1/95  7/31/96, MINE WAS BUILT WITHIN THESE DATES, DECEMBER 1995. WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS PAID FOR PRIOR TO FEDERAL RECALL (791.42). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10080435

43,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

ALTERNATOR,SERP BELT TENSIONER, SERP BELT, R& R ALTERNATOR,R & R BELT TENSIONER ... THE TENSION ACUTALLY BROKE OFF AND DESTROYED THE OTHER PARTS. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN???? FOR ONLY 43000 MILES ON THIS CAR THATS RIDICULOUS... ANY HELP HERE/?

NHTSA ODI #10068779

35 miles · Nov 11, 2003
Electrical System

VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND ANY SPEED FOR NO REASON. THEN IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 7 MINS TO GET IT RESTARTED AND THAT IS ONL;Y IF U PUT IT IN "N" AND TURN IT ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN BACK ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH B4 GMC SEARCHES FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY OR STREET.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10045977

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL# 02V070000 SUBJECT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE REPAIR, IGNITION SHORT CIRCUITED,CAUSING A FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10034395

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2002
Electrical System

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AND THE BATTERY FAILED AS THE RESULT OF THE DEALER?S POOR RECALL REPAIR PREVIOUSLY IN WHICH WIRING HARNESS AND A RELAY WERE INSTALLED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #568231

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBRUSEMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT *SCC

NHTSA ODI #567083

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2002
Electrical System

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT OPERATING AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

NHTSA ODI #565751

Official recalls

4

02V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Mar 6, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

98V027000 · Interior Lighting

Feb 17, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

Dec 17, 1996

THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.

96V211000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 28, 1996

DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG FABRIC CAN SNAG ON A REINFORCEMENT INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING THE EXPANDING AIR BAG TO LIFT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD AND THEN DEPLOY UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE DOOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF HE OR SHE CONTACTS A BROKEN REINFORCEMENT OR IF THE SNAGGING AFFECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PADS AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PLASTIC EDGE PROTECTOR TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD REINFORCEMENT. ON CERTAIN EARLY-PRODUCTION VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD WILL BE REPLACED.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.