OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA · model year

1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA

108 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997OLDSMOBILEACHIEVA carries 108 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 3 fires, 3 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 1997 ACHIEVA is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system (6) and electrical system:ignition:switch (6). 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 1997 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.

108
Complaints
6
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

108 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
AIR BAGS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
STEERING2

Recent Complaints

20141024AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION TO THE FACE AND LEFT HAND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED A CRASH WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ..UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF

Mileage: 150,000

20130424AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BY THERE SELF NO ACCIDENT AND NOT MOVING I WAS AT A STAND STILL .FIRST THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE ARE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR BAGS IN THE CAR? AS I BOUGHT THE CAR SECOND HAND LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE CAR BEING IN A ACCIDENT AND CAR NEVER BEEN TOTALED OUT. I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20120315AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20110307ELECTRICAL 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 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

Mileage: 100,000

20110307ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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

Mileage: 100,000

20070928ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

Mileage: 50,000

20041021SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMERS SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Mileage: 76,400

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA SINCE BUYING IT IN FEBRUARY OF 2001. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE OIL SENDING UNIT. I HAVE REPLACED BUSHING ON BOTH FRONT END LOWER ARM CONTROLS. THE COOLANT HAS STARTED TO LEAK. I JUST HAD A PART THAT HOLDS THE BEARINGS IN THE WHEEL REPLACED AND NOW I AM HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

Mileage: 95,000

20040422WHEELS

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA SINCE BUYING IT IN FEBRUARY OF 2001. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE OIL SENDING UNIT. I HAVE REPLACED BUSHING ON BOTH FRONT END LOWER ARM CONTROLS. THE COOLANT HAS STARTED TO LEAK. I JUST HAD A PART THAT HOLDS THE BEARINGS IN THE WHEEL REPLACED AND NOW I AM HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

Mileage: 95,000

20040422POWER TRAIN

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA SINCE BUYING IT IN FEBRUARY OF 2001. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE OIL SENDING UNIT. I HAVE REPLACED BUSHING ON BOTH FRONT END LOWER ARM CONTROLS. THE COOLANT HAS STARTED TO LEAK. I JUST HAD A PART THAT HOLDS THE BEARINGS IN THE WHEEL REPLACED AND NOW I AM HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

Mileage: 95,000

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

(1)54,971 MILES "LOW COOLANT LIGHT" DEX-COOL COOLANT GUARANTEED FOR 5 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES REPORTED "DIRTY COOLANT" FLUSHED AND REPLACED. STATED NO LEAKS,(2) INTERMITTENT "LOW COOLANT LIGHT" TOPPED UP "DEX-COOL" AS PER MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS. (3)56,000 MILES REPLACED HOSE THAT HAD DISINTEGRATED (4)59,350 MILES "COOLANT LEAK" REPLACED WATER PUMP, REPLACED SERP. BELT SATURATED WITH COOLANT. POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK! ENGINE SHAMPOO BECAUSE OF COOLANT SATURATION.(5)62,370MILES "COOLANT LEAK" REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND GASKET REPLACED DEX-COOL FOR THE 4TH TIME. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DEX-COOL COOLANT CAUSING COOLANT SYSTEM TO BREAK DOWN. (6) POSSIBLE RAD LEAK!!!

20040320ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP IS LEAKING AND MAKING BEARING NOISE THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS $600. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

20040227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

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)

Mileage: 18,848

20030618ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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

Mileage: 99,000

20030618LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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

Mileage: 99,000

20030519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB

20030519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB

20030519FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB

20030519POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE OIL PRESSURE EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL RANGE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR AND CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A HARD SHIFT. *AK *JB

20030505ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I JUST GOT WORK DONE TO IT 9/13/02 THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING CHAIN. WHEN I FIRST START UP THE CAR AND DRIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS THE TEMPERATURE GO STRAIGHT TO THE HALF MARK AND WORK IT'S WAY TOWARDS THE HOT TEMPERATURE. THE CAR GETS HOT TOO FAST. I HAVE SPENT $600.00 ON THIS CAR SO FAR AND I JUST BOUGHT IT. THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. IT WAS A THREE MONTH WARRANTY ON THE CAR. PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767158

Mileage: 5,000

Compare 1997OLDSMOBILEACHIEVA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA have?
The 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA has 108 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA?
The most-complained component for the 1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1997 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.