1996 Oldsmobile Achieva Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Achieva years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva. That is the most of any Achieva model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (25 complaints, 29%), typically at around 43,000 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 3 fires, 19 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 87owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 25 | 29% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 16 | 18% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 16% | 87,770 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 9 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 5% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3% | 164,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 70,986 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Oldsmobile Achieva recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Fix: 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.
Interior lighting
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with the potential for the interior lamps to come on unexpectedly while the vehicles are being driven. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 101, "controls and displays."
Risk: The interior lamps coming on unexpectedly could startle a driver causing a momentary loss of control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.
Exterior lighting:hazard flashing warning lights
Problem: The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: If these lamps were not flashing, other vehicles would not be aware that this vehicle was stopped increasing the risk of an accident.
Fix: Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: During deployment of the passenger air bag, the air bag fabric can snag on a reinforcement inside the instrument panel, causing the expanding air bag to lift the instrument panel pad and then deploy under the instrument panel instead of through the door in the instrument panel.
Risk: In a crash, the front seat passenger could receive more severe injuries if he or she contacts a broken reinforcement or if the snagging affects the deployment of the air bag.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the instrument panel pads and, if necessary, install a plastic edge protector to the instrument panel pad reinforcement. On certain early-production vehicles, the instrument panel pad will be replaced.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 oldsmobile achieva. While the vehicle was undergoing an oil change, the mechanic stated that the transaxle had an oil leak near the cv joint. The current mileage was 76,000 and failure mileage was 74,000. Updated 07/08/08. *bf the transaxle seal was leaking fluid near the…
Front air bags (driver and passenger) deployed for no apparent reason. *tr
Passenger in vehicle sustained serious eye injury due to a faulty air bag on this particular vehicle - . *tr
Other Oldsmobile Achieva years
← 1995 Achieva · 1997 Achieva →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Achieva | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Achieva | 40 | 1 |
| 1997 Achieva | 63 | 2 |
| 1996 | 87 | 4 |
| 1995 Achieva | 70 | 1 |
See all Oldsmobile Achieva problems by year, every Oldsmobile model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Oldsmobile models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 25 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Achieva model years, the 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.