OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA · model year

1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA

52 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998OLDSMOBILEACHIEVA carries 52 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 1998 ACHIEVA is electrical system:ignition:switch with 4 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine (3). 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 1998 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.

52
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

52 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
INTERIOR LIGHTING2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1

Recent Complaints

20160404FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IDLED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECK THE OIL WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING LIQUID LEAKED ONTO THE OIL PAN, WHICH MIXED THE TWO LIQUIDS. COOLANT ALSO LEAKED INTO THE AIR VENTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

20150209FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVE ALONG UNION STREET IN GREENVILLE, MISS WHEN I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I SUDDENLY PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CAR BECAME ENGULF IN FLAMES. THE FIREMAN WAS CALLED TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE.THE CAR WAS LOST DUE TO THE FLAMES AND I LOST WAGES DUE TO THE CAR. I CONTACT GMC ABOUT THE CAR AND THEY SAID , THE CAR ENGULF IN FLAMES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20110217ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS BEEN GOING ON THE FRITZ FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. EVERY FIX WOULD LAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WEEKS THAN GO RIGHT BACK TO NO WORKING. I KEEP GETTING LOCK OUT OF OF THE CAR WITH THE ANTI THIEFT. I HAVE A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF AT TIMES DURING THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I HATE GM AND THEIR CRAPPY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT IT THAT U WOULD THINK THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20100901ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH). THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY THE VIN BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 13,000

20090608ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED A RELAY KIT. YEARS LATER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE REMEDY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD ONLY BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY, THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR WAS TECHNICALLY SUFFICIENT. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20071112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007, HAD ALREADY HAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 AT YARK AUTOMOTIVE IN TOLEDO, OHIO. FREQUENTLY FAILS TO START. HAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2007. DEALERSHIP WORKING ON THE VEHICLE NOW CLAIMS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

20050909SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. I OWN THE ABOVE MENTIONED CAR. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, NAMELY THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON AND MY ABS MAKES A FUNNY NOISE. THE BRAKES ALSO CLUNK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO BE REPAIRED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR THAT WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. WELL, IT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED FOR A FEW DAYS. BUT, HAS JUST STARTED AGAIN AND IT IS THE SAME THING. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE BRAKES GET SPONGY AND FAIL AT SPEEDS FROM 5 MPH TO 55 MPH. THE NOISE FROM THE ABS STARTED AGAIN AND THE BRAKES ARE CLUNKING AGAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. I CAN SEEM TO GET ANYBODY THAT IS ABLE TO DO A PERMANENT FIX. AND I CAN'T GET ANY INFO FROM GM ABOUT THIS. I NOTICED THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD FILED A COMPLIANT ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MY CAR. AND, SINCE IT PRESENTS A CLEAR AN

Mileage: 11,700

20050502EQUIPMENT

I PURCHASED A 1998 ODLSMOBILE ACHIEVA AS A PROGRAM CAR IN 1998 FROM BENDER CHEVY/OLDS/CADILLAC IN CLOVIS NM. SINCE THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT I HAVE HAD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AT SPEEDS LESS THEN 5MPH. THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT MADE NO EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THE TRUE SORCE ON THE PROBLEM. I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON SHORTLY THEREAFTER TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL. HE JUST INFORMED ME YESTERDAY 01 MAY 05, THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL INTERMITTENTLY DOING THE SAME THING AS THEY HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. SPECIFICALLY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AND THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD REQUIRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. I HIGHLIGHT THIS BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES LOOKING INTO BY AN AGENCY LIKE THIS.

Mileage: 37,000

20041014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #04V036000 (IGNITION SWITCH). THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON 10/11/04. THE MECHANIC REPLACED RELAY SWITCH BUT NOT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED BUT WILL NOT TURN OFF PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT PART THE RECALL. *JB

20040510ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AFTER TIRES WERE INSTALLED. *PH THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED ALL INVOICES FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT THE PART REPLACED WAS NOT THE PART COVERED BY THE RECALL OR THAT THE DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED DID NOT SUBSTANTIATE THE REQUEST. *NM

Mileage: 116,952

20040429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIR THE DEALER AGREE TO TOW THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED THE DEALER REFUSED TO TOW THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER WITHOUT CHARGE. *PH THE RECALL WAS FOR AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE RECALL. *NM

20040427ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO KNOCK. THEN , ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. *AK

Mileage: 73,000

20040426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20040122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR - 2ND TIME THAT GOES OUT IN 3 1/2 YEARS. CAR BOUGHT IN 1999 WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES, ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING AT 37000 MILES IN 1999, AND NOW AGAIN IN JAN 2004.

Mileage: 139,000

20031112SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

THE VEHICLE RESTRAINTS IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA ARE NOT COOPERATIVE WITH CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. THE SEAT BELT LATCH IS LOCATED TOO FAR FORWARD ON THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT NOT ALLOWING A SECURE FIT WITH CHILD RESTRAINTS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF A LATCH RETROFIT KIT WAS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE SO YOU COULD JUST BYPASS THE VEHICLE RESTRAINTS ALL TOGETHER.

20030925STEERING:COLUMN

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND WHEN KEY WAS PUT IN STARTER, IT WOULD NOT START. AND I COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WHEN I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE CAR DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL ON WAS MISSING, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS HALF WAY OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD IT FIXED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING!! WHEN I HAD DRIVEN IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, IT WAS FINE. I CALLED GMAC YESTERDAY, AND THEY CHECKED INTO IT AND DECIDED THAT SINCE IT WAS A 1998 VEHICLE AND HAD 120,000 MILES ON IT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGES OF $372.96 THAT IT COST TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MECHANICAL DEFECT, THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR KILLED SOMEONE IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF!

Mileage: 101,483

20030811VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I OWN A 1998 OLDS ACHEIVA. MY THROTTLE IDLE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS AS THE CAR PICKS UP SPEED ON ITS OWN, AND IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THESE REPAIRS ARE EXCESSIVE AND EXPENSIVE. *NLM

Mileage: 24,000

20030519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, FUEL PRESSURE VALVE, MASTER CYLINDER, ABS BOOSTER, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND BRAKES, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB

20030519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, FUEL PRESSURE VALVE, MASTER CYLINDER, ABS BOOSTER, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND BRAKES, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB

20030519SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, FUEL PRESSURE VALVE, MASTER CYLINDER, ABS BOOSTER, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP AND BRAKES, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB

Compare 1998OLDSMOBILEACHIEVA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA have?
The 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA has 52 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA?
The most-complained component for the 1998 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1998 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.