IllustrationONGOING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING. ALSO, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, INDICATING BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK
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.
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: 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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
6 reportsRECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V05900 FOR UNDER HOOD FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO IN TURN, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED NO RECALL FOR FUSE CENTER LOCATED ON VEHICLE BY VIN #. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: IGNITION COIL BURNED OUT COMPLETELY, CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD/HAD WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT …
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RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #97V05900 FOR UNDER HOOD FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO IN TURN, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. WAS INFORMED NO RECALL FOR FUSE CENTER LOCATED ON VEHICLE BY VIN #. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: IGNITION COIL BURNED OUT COMPLETELY, CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD/HAD WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT REPLACED/CROSS CASTER AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT, AND FRONT BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CALIPERS/ROTORS WERE NOT REPLACED, AND ,PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
IGNITION COIL COMPLETELY BURNED CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD SOONER THAN NEEDED. THE CRANK SHAFT, WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CROSS CASTER IS AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT. NO FRONT BRAKES. CALIPERS & ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. *AK RIGHT REAR DOOR MISALIGNED, CA…
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IGNITION COIL COMPLETELY BURNED CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO GO BAD SOONER THAN NEEDED. THE CRANK SHAFT, WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CROSS CASTER IS AT PERMANENT RIGHT ANGLE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL RIGHT. NO FRONT BRAKES. CALIPERS & ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. *AK RIGHT REAR DOOR MISALIGNED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY CLOSING, RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY DUE TO FAULTY MOTOR. UNDERHOOD FUSE RECALL, REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED. *SLC
EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR REPLACED 3 X IN 16 MONTHS
BRAKES ARE EXCESSIVELY WEARING OUT. CONSUMER HAS TURNED THE ROTORS 2 TIMES AT 33,000 MILES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SPEED CONTROL WAS SET AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL/ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. *AK
Official recalls
202V070000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.