Owners have filed 66 complaints
about the 1993 Oldsmobile Achieva with NHTSA between 1995 and 2005.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 37
Against the median year of the Oldsmobile Achieva. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 70
13.6% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1993 compares with every other Oldsmobile Achieva
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 11Jun 2005
Recalls on the 1993 Oldsmobile Achieva
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
93V153000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION.
Risk: A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION.ALSO, A VEHICLE WITH A FRACTURED SWITCH CAN BE STARTED IN GEAR, CAUSING THEVEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1993130103 units in Canada
Electrical
THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES WAS FRACTURED AT INSTALLATION. OVER TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION. A VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO BE STARTED IN GEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES AND INSPECT/REPLACE THE MANUAL SHAFT ASSEMBLY.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 109,000 milesWilloughby, OHCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKES, AND HIT A CORNER OF A HOUSE. HAD NO FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THERE WAS A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE WHEEL. CONSUMER PUT FLUID IN THE CAR AND THEN VEHICLE HIT A TREE.
NHTSA complaint #10124287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,000 milesWilloughby, OHCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DT: CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKES, AND HIT A CORNER OF A HOUSE. HAD NO FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THERE WAS A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE WHEEL. CONSUMER PUT FLUID IN THE CAR AND THEN VEHICLE HIT A TREE.
NHTSA complaint #10124287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nashville, TNCrash1 injured
SEATS
WAS STOPPED BY SCHOOL BUS SIGN. VEHICLE WAS REARENDED & WAS THROWN FORWARD. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE & THEN THREW DRIVER BACKWARDS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #858856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilmer, TXCrash
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO ROAD HIGHWAY WITH A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT. ALL OF SUDDEN THE TRUCK STOPPED, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND SLID INTO THE VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. BUT THE OTHER CAR, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH FAILED TO STOP AND HIT THE ACHIEVA. THREW THE CONSUMER FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS, AND THE SEAT COLLASPED. HASN'T CONTACTED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #854446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simthtown, NYFire
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE POWER LOCKS. THIS INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE CONSUMER'S FIRE DEPARTMENT. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #832263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #820307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 109,000 milesWilloughby, OHCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKES, AND HIT A CORNER OF A HOUSE. HAD NO FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THERE WAS A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE WHEEL. CONSUMER PUT FLUID IN THE CAR AND THEN VEHICLE HIT A TREE.
NHTSA complaint #10124287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,000 milesWilloughby, OHCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DT: CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKES, AND HIT A CORNER OF A HOUSE. HAD NO FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THERE WAS A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE WHEEL. CONSUMER PUT FLUID IN THE CAR AND THEN VEHICLE HIT A TREE.
NHTSA complaint #10124287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
POWER TRAIN
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
SEAT BELTS
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
STEERING
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
SUSPENSION
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK, MY BACK WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN,THE ROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE,MY SPRING BROKE, MY BRAKES HAVE WENT NUMEROUS TIMES, MY STEERING LINE SPLIT. MY REAL CONCERN IS MY SEATBELTS DON'T WORK I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM FIXED I NEED INFO ON HOW MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON.
NHTSA complaint #10069810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakehiawatha, NJ
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW KEEPS FALLIING OFF THE TRACK , CONSUMER HAS REPLACED WINDOW 5 TIMES WITHIN 4 YEARS. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #887332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florence, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH FRACTURED, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 93V153000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #885745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minot, ND
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR DOES NOT HEAT DUE TO COOLANT LOSS CAUSED BY CRACKED HEAD.I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE QUAD 4 ENGINE IN GM "N" CARS SUCH AS THE ACHIEVA.
NHTSA complaint #738833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
REPEATED INCIDENTS OF OVERHEATING; HEATER CORE REPLACED TWICE; INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; RADIATOR CORED OUT TWICE; WATER PUMP REPLACED TWICE; PROBLEM PERSISTS
NHTSA complaint #726134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REPEATED INCIDENTS OF OVERHEATING; HEATER CORE REPLACED TWICE; INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; RADIATOR CORED OUT TWICE; WATER PUMP REPLACED TWICE; PROBLEM PERSISTS
NHTSA complaint #726134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REPEATED INCIDENTS OF OVERHEATING; HEATER CORE REPLACED TWICE; INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; RADIATOR CORED OUT TWICE; WATER PUMP REPLACED TWICE; PROBLEM PERSISTS
NHTSA complaint #726134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
REPEATED INCIDENTS OF OVERHEATING; HEATER CORE REPLACED TWICE; INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; RADIATOR CORED OUT TWICE; WATER PUMP REPLACED TWICE; PROBLEM PERSISTS
NHTSA complaint #726134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
REPEATED INCIDENTS OF OVERHEATING; HEATER CORE REPLACED TWICE; INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; RADIATOR CORED OUT TWICE; WATER PUMP REPLACED TWICE; PROBLEM PERSISTS
NHTSA complaint #726134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
N. Bellmore, NY
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING HEARD NOISES COMING FROM STEERING, SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING SEPARATED FROM THE FIREWALL, AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOT REPARABLE. THERE WAS A STRUCTURAL FLAW, AND CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #862787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madawaska, ME
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #720990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nashville, TNCrash1 injured
SEATS
WAS STOPPED BY SCHOOL BUS SIGN. VEHICLE WAS REARENDED & WAS THROWN FORWARD. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE & THEN THREW DRIVER BACKWARDS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #858856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilmer, TXCrash
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO ROAD HIGHWAY WITH A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT. ALL OF SUDDEN THE TRUCK STOPPED, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND SLID INTO THE VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. BUT THE OTHER CAR, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH FAILED TO STOP AND HIT THE ACHIEVA. THREW THE CONSUMER FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS, AND THE SEAT COLLASPED. HASN'T CONTACTED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #854446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mechanicsburg, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICE DOES NOT STOP INSTANTLY. THE ABS KICKS IN AND LETS THE VEHICLE ROLL A COUPLE OF YARDS BEFORE STOPPING. ALSO ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #847547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn Hills, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR IGNITION SYSTEM LOCATED UNDER GLOVE BOX WAS CORRODED. THE RESULTING HEAT DUE TO THE ADDED RESISTANCE IN THE CIRCUIT MELTED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT CORRECTED. ALSO CAUSES INTERMITTENT ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING, ETC.
NHTSA complaint #706798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT EXCEED 30 MPH GOING UP HILL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #826919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simthtown, NYFire
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE POWER LOCKS. THIS INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE CONSUMER'S FIRE DEPARTMENT. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #832263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.