Total Complaints
85 filings
OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA · model year
1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA
85 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994OLDSMOBILEACHIEVA carries 85 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 10 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 ACHIEVA is steering: steering wheel/handle bar with 9 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (9) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 1994 ACHIEVA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
85
Complaints
8
Crashes
10
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20070719FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ISSUED RECALL # 00V287000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY) IN 2001. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,000.
Mileage: 138,000
20050607AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE AIR BAG AND THE HORN WERE HAVING WIRING SENSOR PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE SENSOR ON THE INTERNAL SHORTAGE. THIS WAS HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS. THE HORN WAS GOING OFF WHEN HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE HORN TO SHUT OFF THE HORN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, "AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A N INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBAG. CONSUMER STATED HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. *AK
20050607ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DT: THE AIR BAG AND THE HORN WERE HAVING WIRING SENSOR PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE SENSOR ON THE INTERNAL SHORTAGE. THIS WAS HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS. THE HORN WAS GOING OFF WHEN HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE HORN TO SHUT OFF THE HORN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, "AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A N INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBAG. CONSUMER STATED HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. *AK
20021104SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
CHECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON & OFF MANUFACTURER CAN'T DUPLICATE, WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE USED HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK HAZARD LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT ALL NOW. WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR WEATHER IS DAMP WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR JUMPS/HOPS. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WORKS WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE SWITCH OR THE KEY I HAD TO PULL THE ASSEMBLY OUT SO I CAN PUSH THE KNOB ALL OF THE WAY UP BEFORE YOU CAN GET IN OR OUT. A/C DIDNT WORK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AS IT WAS MID JAN. WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE IN FEB. OF 2001 THE CAR STARTED MISSING REALLY BAD IT STALLED & WOULDN'T START THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS FIRE RED. THERE WAS GAS IN MY OIL, IT JUMPED TIME, FOWLED OUT THE PLUGS, ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE DEAD, IT NEEDED AN IGNITION COIL,TIMING, BELT PLUGS, SOME SENSOR (I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT NOW) BUT I CAN CALL THE MECHANIC & FIND OUT IT COST ME ROUGHLY $600.00 FOR A FRIEND FOR REPAIRS NOW I HEAR WATER SWISHING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN I TURN, I THINK IT'
20021104UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CHECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON & OFF MANUFACTURER CAN'T DUPLICATE, WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE USED HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK HAZARD LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT ALL NOW. WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR WEATHER IS DAMP WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR JUMPS/HOPS. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WORKS WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE SWITCH OR THE KEY I HAD TO PULL THE ASSEMBLY OUT SO I CAN PUSH THE KNOB ALL OF THE WAY UP BEFORE YOU CAN GET IN OR OUT. A/C DIDNT WORK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AS IT WAS MID JAN. WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE IN FEB. OF 2001 THE CAR STARTED MISSING REALLY BAD IT STALLED & WOULDN'T START THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS FIRE RED. THERE WAS GAS IN MY OIL, IT JUMPED TIME, FOWLED OUT THE PLUGS, ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE DEAD, IT NEEDED AN IGNITION COIL,TIMING, BELT PLUGS, SOME SENSOR (I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT NOW) BUT I CAN CALL THE MECHANIC & FIND OUT IT COST ME ROUGHLY $600.00 FOR A FRIEND FOR REPAIRS NOW I HEAR WATER SWISHING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN I TURN, I THINK IT'
20021104VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CHECK OIL LIGHT COMES ON & OFF MANUFACTURER CAN'T DUPLICATE, WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE USED HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK HAZARD LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT ALL NOW. WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR WEATHER IS DAMP WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR JUMPS/HOPS. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WORKS WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE SWITCH OR THE KEY I HAD TO PULL THE ASSEMBLY OUT SO I CAN PUSH THE KNOB ALL OF THE WAY UP BEFORE YOU CAN GET IN OR OUT. A/C DIDNT WORK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AS IT WAS MID JAN. WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE IN FEB. OF 2001 THE CAR STARTED MISSING REALLY BAD IT STALLED & WOULDN'T START THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS FIRE RED. THERE WAS GAS IN MY OIL, IT JUMPED TIME, FOWLED OUT THE PLUGS, ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE DEAD, IT NEEDED AN IGNITION COIL,TIMING, BELT PLUGS, SOME SENSOR (I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT NOW) BUT I CAN CALL THE MECHANIC & FIND OUT IT COST ME ROUGHLY $600.00 FOR A FRIEND FOR REPAIRS NOW I HEAR WATER SWISHING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN I TURN, I THINK IT'
20020912FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE RETURNED HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER OR IGNITION. NLM
20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
20020514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
20020430CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020423CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND WAS TOTALLED. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK DEALER CONTACTED. STEERING WHEEL BROKE DUE TO IMPACT. INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *TT
20020423CrashSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND WAS TOTALLED. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK DEALER CONTACTED. STEERING WHEEL BROKE DUE TO IMPACT. INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *TT
20020318ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE LOST POWER AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY, ABLE TO PULL TO RIGHT SHOULDER, ENGINE WAS NOT HOT, NO CHECK LIGHTS WERE ON, CHECKED OIL & WATER LEVELS, OK, TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE BUT IT WAS VERY NOISY & BACKFIRING, AND WOULD ONLY RUN AT FAST IDLE. SHUT DOWN, CALLED TOW TRUCK. MECHANIC TOOK A COMPRESSION CHECK, NO COMPRESSION IN # 2 & 4 CYLINDERS. THIS ENGINE HAS A TIMING CHAIN, NOT A BELT, TIMING WAS CHECKED, FOUND OK. PULLED HEAD & FOUND THAT VALVES ON THOSE CYLINDERS HAD HIT PISTONS, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO HURT SAME. PRESSURE CHECKED HEAD, GROUND VALVES (WERE NOT BENT), REASSEMBLED ENGINE, STARTED SAME & IT WAS MISSING & BACKFIRING THRU THROTTLE BOBY, SAME AS ON FREEWAY. MECHANIC GOT ON THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR ANSWERS & HAD NUMEROUS REPLIES THAT COIL HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED SAME, HAVE PUT ALMOST 1000 MILES ON ODOMETER WITH NO PROBLEMS....DUE TO THE FACT THAT OLDS HAS COME OUT WITH A REVISED COIL HOUSING & MECHANICS ALL OVER USA REPORTED HAVING SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A PRO
20020318ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE LOST POWER AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY, ABLE TO PULL TO RIGHT SHOULDER, ENGINE WAS NOT HOT, NO CHECK LIGHTS WERE ON, CHECKED OIL & WATER LEVELS, OK, TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE BUT IT WAS VERY NOISY & BACKFIRING, AND WOULD ONLY RUN AT FAST IDLE. SHUT DOWN, CALLED TOW TRUCK. MECHANIC TOOK A COMPRESSION CHECK, NO COMPRESSION IN # 2 & 4 CYLINDERS. THIS ENGINE HAS A TIMING CHAIN, NOT A BELT, TIMING WAS CHECKED, FOUND OK. PULLED HEAD & FOUND THAT VALVES ON THOSE CYLINDERS HAD HIT PISTONS, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO HURT SAME. PRESSURE CHECKED HEAD, GROUND VALVES (WERE NOT BENT), REASSEMBLED ENGINE, STARTED SAME & IT WAS MISSING & BACKFIRING THRU THROTTLE BOBY, SAME AS ON FREEWAY. MECHANIC GOT ON THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR ANSWERS & HAD NUMEROUS REPLIES THAT COIL HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED SAME, HAVE PUT ALMOST 1000 MILES ON ODOMETER WITH NO PROBLEMS....DUE TO THE FACT THAT OLDS HAS COME OUT WITH A REVISED COIL HOUSING & MECHANICS ALL OVER USA REPORTED HAVING SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A PRO
20011116ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
20011116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
20011116ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
20011116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON 12/2001 (00V-287). THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
20010914SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS SOLD A CAR THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETLY WORN OUT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS BROKEN, 1 TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED IN THE SIDEWALL AND WAS FULL OF FIX-A-FLAT CHEMICAL. *AK
20010914PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
I WAS SOLD A CAR THAT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETLY WORN OUT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS BROKEN, 1 TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED IN THE SIDEWALL AND WAS FULL OF FIX-A-FLAT CHEMICAL. *AK
Compare 1994OLDSMOBILEACHIEVA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA have?▼
The 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA has 85 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 10 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA is STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1994 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.