1998 Oldsmobile Achieva Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Achieva years
- Fewer complaints than other years 4th of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva. That ranks 4th out of 5 Achieva model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (12 complaints, 30%), typically at around 77,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 40owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 | 12 | 30% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 20% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 18% | 11,700 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 10% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 5% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 3% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 101,483 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Oldsmobile Achieva recalls (1)
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. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Oldsmobile Achieva years
← 1997 Achieva · 2000 Achieva →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Achieva | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 40 | 1 |
| 1997 Achieva | 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 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.