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1997 Oldsmobile Achieva

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 13 of 63 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

18 reports
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100,000 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EIGHT TIMES AND REPAIRED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH AND STATED THAT SHE WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY WHETHER HER VIN WAS INCLUDED THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF UPDATED 07/08/11

NHTSA ODI #10386647

50,000 miles · Sep 28, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000). TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10204357

18,848 miles · Feb 27, 2004
Electrical System

CAR WOULD NOT START SO WE TOOK THE CAR IN ON 1/22/2004 AND HAD TO HAVE AN IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. COST $492.45 ON 2/6/2004 ONCE AGAIN CAR WOULD NOT START , SO WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO A DIFFERENT SHOP AND HAD TO HAVE THE ECM MODULE REPLACED . COST $629.28 THE TRUNK OF THIS CAR FILLS WITH WATER, HAS POWER SURGES THROUGH THE E…

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CAR WOULD NOT START SO WE TOOK THE CAR IN ON 1/22/2004 AND HAD TO HAVE AN IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. COST $492.45 ON 2/6/2004 ONCE AGAIN CAR WOULD NOT START , SO WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO A DIFFERENT SHOP AND HAD TO HAVE THE ECM MODULE REPLACED . COST $629.28 THE TRUNK OF THIS CAR FILLS WITH WATER, HAS POWER SURGES THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM--NOTICEABLE WHEN THE HEAT, DEFROST OR FAN HAS TO BE USED. ON OCCASION THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT AND I FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE THE FOURTH OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO, AS I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE BEEN SOLD A"LEMON"? THE VIN OF THIS CAR IS [XXX] THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME. [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/27/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10059102

99,000 miles · Jun 18, 2003
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE BATTERY SHORTED OUT WHICH RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS CAUSED POWER DOORS TO BE INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE, DOORS COULDN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024328

74,081 miles · Jan 13, 2003
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING.

NHTSA ODI #10002622

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2002
Electrical System

VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITH CAUSE UNDETECTED BY DEALERSHIP. HIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. ALSO, SUBJECT TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/CONSOLE. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8016633

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR RELAY SWITCH, TOOK TO DEALER THEY REPLACED RELAY, AND PRESENTLY VEHICLE IS DISCHARGING. VEHICLE WAS FINE UNTIL DEALER REPLACED RELAY. BATTERY LIGHT IS ON, AND VEHICLE IS NOT CHARGING.*AKCONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8011753

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V070000 IGNITION CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORMED RECALL UNLESS CONSUMER PAID FOR LABOR. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT *DT

NHTSA ODI #566009

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2002
Electrical System

DEALER: COURTESEY CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE, ORLANDO, FL; PHONE# 407/295-7000 WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER $600.00 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010336

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HAD STALLING PROBLEMS REPLACE ALTERNATOR AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. CUSTOMER STATES HEARS A BANGING NOISE WHEN STEPS ON BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY, FRONT PADS WORN, CUSTOMER DENIED WORK AWARE NEED FRONT BRAKE. PUMP LEAKING, REMOVE AND REPLACE WATER PUMP.

NHTSA ODI #9005223

Official recalls

2

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.

97V059000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Apr 8, 1997

THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.

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.