1996 Oldsmobile Achieva

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/22/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 50 MPH. IF VEHICLE IS AT IDLE IT THE RPM WILL GO TO 3000.

• 12/20/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED COMPUTER. *AK

• 12/19/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, WONT START FOR 5 OR 10 MIN. REAR WINDOW STILL POPPING OUT . NO DEALERS CAN DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WIYH THE CAR.

• 12/16/2003· AIR BAGS

  IN REGARDS OF YOUR DEFECT INVESTIGATION# IQ3001, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY CONTROL MODULE, ITS NOT WORKING NOW DUE TO IT GOT WET, NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND I'M JUST WAITING FOR IT TO DEPLOY WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SO MAYBE THEN WHEN IT KILLS SOMEONE A RECALL WILL BE DONE ON IT. IT IS A POOR LOCATION FOR THE MODULE ANYWAYS.*AK

• 12/06/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT A NHTSA RECALL # 96V250000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

• 12/02/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  THW VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DID. *AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

• 11/26/2001· AIR BAGSCrash

  MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION NEVER DEPLOYED THE AIR BAGS. IF THEY OPENED MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES.I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY. *AK

• 11/14/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07E015000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

• 11/12/2002· 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

• 11/11/2003· 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

• 11/10/1997· SUSPENSION

  WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT STRUTS MAKE A NOISE. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/05/2002· SEAT BELTS

  PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED. *YH

• 10/30/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

• 10/26/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WATER LEAKS INTO LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT AS A RESULT, BULB BLOWS/WATER SEAPS INTO TRUNK.

• 10/23/2006· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING MY 1996 OLDS ACHIEVA SOUTHBOUND ON I-271 IN NE OHIO BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. PAVEMENT WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO TYPE OF IMPACT. CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE SEVERE CHEST PAINS. I AM TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS NOW. *NM

• 10/20/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.

• 10/19/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CAR HAS RECURRENT PROBLEMS, NEVER RESOLVED, SERVICE COSTS, MUST REPLACE CAR!!!!!!! I FEEL LIKE SUEING GMAC FOR THIS. GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT NO ONE KNOWS THE CAUSE. ALWAYS A GASOLINE ODOR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON AND ENGINES CUTS OFF SOMETIME FOR NO REASON SO IT GETS TOWED AND TOWED. I FEEL LIKE MY LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY. THIS CAR COST ME OVER $18,000 AND I GET A CAR IN THE SHOP MOST OF THE TIME. ENDED UP TRADING IN CAR FOR ANOTHER "LEMON" ALERO 2000. NOW THIS CAR CUTS OFF WHEN I TURN OFF THE AC. I REALLY HATE OLDS CARS! DEFECTS THAT CANNOT BE TRACED....WHAT A DEAL! NOW I HAVE HIGHER PAYMENTS ON ANOTHER OLDS THAT HAS MORE UNDETECTABLE PROBLEMS. CONSTANTLY IN THE SERVICE SHOP, SO HERE WE GO AGAIN. OH WELL, THEY SURE ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF ME,... THAT IS, IF I LIVE THROUGH THIS CAR.THE ACHIEVA WAS IN THE SHOP MORE THAT 6 TIMES IN A YEAR, EVERY YEAR. I WONDER WHAT THIS ALERO WILL DO? AND TO THINK I LET THE DEALERSHIP GET ME FOR ANOTHER $18,000 ON YET ANOTHER CAR. THE PAYMENTS ARE HIGHER THAN THE LAST LEMON THEY SOLD ME. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT ME INTO A NEW CAR, WITH MY REMAINING PAYMENTS ON THE ACHIEVA. PERIOD.

• 10/16/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TWILIGHT SENSOR FAILED. NLM

• 10/07/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKS COOLANT AND A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM APPARENTLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT. IT HAPPENS TO MANY OF ITS V6 3.1 AND 3.4 ENGINES AND COULD CAUSE SEVER DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S ENGINE WHICH LEADS TO POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T WANT TO PERFORM RECALLS, THEREFORE, WHO WANTS TO PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED TO BE RECALLED? *LA

• 10/07/2002· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER STATES THAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH. *MR

• 09/04/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE FAILURE.

• 09/03/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  FIRE BURNED STEERING COLUMN AND DASH AND BROKE WINDSHIELD AND BURNED HEADLINER WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY

• 08/29/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT: SHOULDER BELT IN THE FRONT SEAT ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES TWISTS AROUND UNTIL IT JAMS INTO THE MECHANISM. *AK

• 08/27/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON . CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING SERVICE AT THE DEALER. ALSO THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES. *AK *JB

• 08/22/2003· 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

• 08/17/1997· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY. *AK

• 08/15/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  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

• 08/15/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO START NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN ,CONSUMER WAS STILL TRYING WHEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM STEERING WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN IGNITION THAT MELTED SOME WIRES.*AK

• 08/12/2002· 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

• 08/11/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES GRAB AT TIMES

• 08/11/1998· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN BETWEEN 5 AND 70 MPH AND AFTER TURNING ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WENT OUT WITHOUT A WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO STOP UNTIL THE WIPERS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

• 07/31/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  FAULTY BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE SHOES HAD TO BE REPLACED.

• 07/27/1999· SUSPENSION

  NO SUMMARY

• 07/23/2001· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  CAR RUNS NO INTEROIR OR EXTERIOR LIGHTS, DASHBOARD LIGHTS. *AK

• 07/23/1998· SUSPENSION

  EXTREME VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REPAIRS TO WHEEL AND TIRES HOWEVER CONTINUES TO VIBRATE.

• 07/15/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION AND PUT ON THE COMPUTER, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT WAS WRONG. THE INTAKE GASKET BLEW TWICE ALLOWING WATER IN THE ENGINE. *AK *NM

• 07/11/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON ROAD, WENT TO USE THE HORN AND IT FAILED. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED 5 TIMES, AND IT WORKS FOR ONLY A SHORT WHILE AFTER REPAIR. *AK *ML

• 07/06/2004· 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. 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

• 07/04/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH A CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE THE ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE THE FUEL IN THE GAS TANK SURGES TO ONE SIDE. GENERALLY OCCURS WHEN THE GAS GAUGE INDICATES ONE QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. ALSO, LONG SWEEPING TURNS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION. THE ENGINE STALLS JUST WHEN I AM TRYING TO MERGE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL BAFFLES SHOULD BE IN THE GAS TANK AND/OR THE FUEL PUMP PICKUP SHOULD BE MODIFIED. *AK

• 07/03/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE HAS HAD A SLOW PICK UP. UPON USING CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE HESITATED. ALSO, CONSUMER HEARD A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*AK

• 07/02/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS COOLANT AND NEEDS TO BE REPEATEDLY SERVICED BECAUSE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS WARM AIR. AIR CONDITIONER CHECKED WHEN UNDER WARRANTY 4/1/98 AND DEALER STATED RECHARGED A/C. HOWEVER, COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED 5/28/99, 5/12/00, 4/29/01, 6/9/04 FOR A TOTAL COST OF $482.48. DYE INJECTED AND NO LEAK NOTICED. LEAKAGE OCCURS OVER MONTHS WHERE DYE NOT DETECTABLE. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OVER TIME.*AK

• 06/29/2007· 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

• 06/25/1998· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACED ON (3) DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, ON 11/24/97, 3/12/98 & 6/12/98. WHEN PULLING THE BELT IT MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. THE SAME NOISE IS COMING FROM THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM AGAIN. DEALER STATED NOISE CAME FROM THE LINKAGE AND ALIGNMENT ROD HITTING DOOR. *AK

• 06/24/2007· 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

• 06/23/1998· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO SHIFT PLATE BEING WEDGED INTO GEARS. SHIFT PLATE RUSTED AND BENT. ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

• 06/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE WILL STALL OR QUIT WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER CANNOT DULPICATE DEFECT. *AK

• 06/16/1999· AIR BAGS

  DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO WATER BUILDING UP UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND CAUSED DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. *AK

• 06/14/2002· VISIBILITY

  THE FIRST TIME WAS 09/03/2001 AND THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, SO I HAD TO BUY A NEW MIROR, DUE TO THE GLUE ON THE BACK OF THE MIROR HAD FAILED (THIS WAS THE DRIVERSIDE) NOW IT IS THE PASSAGER' S SIDE. *AK

• 06/10/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN SOUNDED FOR 45" THEN BLEW FUSE AND 1-F-NOTE. REPLACED FUSE, F-NOTE AND BOTH REGULATORS ($125). 2 WEEKS LATER, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, HORN STARTED BLOWING UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND REMOVED FUSE. DEALERSHIP INDICATES WIRING PROBLEM. BRAKES BOUNCE AND CREATE LOUD THUMPING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS, HAD BOTH ROTORS REPLACED AND REAR DRUMS SCRAPED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS DAILY. *AK

• 06/08/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, LUMBAR SUPPORT ADJUSTED 75-85% TO THE FRONT AND MY BACK GOT VERY STRONG STROKE OF LUMBAR SUPPORT, RESULTED IN HERNIATED DISK. POSSIBLE THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM.