1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Achieva years
- About as many complaints as other years 3rd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva. That ranks 3rd out of 5 Achieva model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (18 complaints, 29%), typically at around 74,081 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 63owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 | 18 | 29% | 74,081 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 27% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 13% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 11% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 6 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 5% | 76,400 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 3% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 3% | 58,950 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Oldsmobile Achieva recalls (2)
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.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: The protective cover for the underhood fuse center was omitted. Without this cover, the positive terminal bolt on the fuse block is exposed and can contact the insulated negative battery cable. If the insulation on the negative cable becomes sufficiently worn, an electrical short circuit can occur between the positive terminal and negative cable resulting in extremely high current flow.
Risk: This high current flow can cause arcing and result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of the protective cover and, if necessary, install a protective cover to the underhood fuse center.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Oldsmobile Achieva years
← 1996 Achieva · 1998 Achieva →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Achieva | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Achieva | 40 | 1 |
| 1997 | 63 | 2 |
| 1996 Achieva | 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 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 18 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.