1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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 WILL RUN,THIS IS WHAT IT DOES,SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FLASHING UNTIL IT COMES ON FULLY ALL THE TIME,DIES AND REFUSES TO START, SO I DONE SOME LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE ACHIEVA, MALIBU'S,BASICALLY ALL G.M. CARS FROM EARLY 90'S- UPPER 90'S ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN IN SOME CASES, SO I FILL LIKE IF THIS IS NOT TOOK CARE OF IT COULD CAUSE A WRECK,FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT OF SOME KIND BEING IT IS THE # 1 THING TO GO WRONG WITH THIS KIND AND YEAR MODEL'S OF OLDS-ACHIEVA, JUST WAS WONDERING IF MY CAR GOT MISSED ON RECALL OR IF IT SHOULD BE RECALLED, I'M ABOUT HALF WAY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVEN IF IT GETS FIXED, THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND ME BE DRIVING IT NEXT TIME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY HELP FOR MY CAR TO GET RECALLED.. *TR

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 NUMBER 07E015000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

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 CV JOINT. UPDATED *JB

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

Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY REFUSES TO START DUE TO PASS LOCK AND LEAVES US STRANDED. DEALER REPLACED IPC AND IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. SPENT $1000, AND ITS STILL THE SAME. READING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS GM VEHICLES SHOWING, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

PASS LOCK 1 SECURITY SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THE CAR THINKS THAT I AM STEALING IT AND DOES NOT ALLOW GASOLINE TO FLOW TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND COST $500 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WHICH HOUSES THE SECURITY SENSORS. *AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON IN MY 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. I WAS REFERRED TO MY DEALER BY MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A AIR BAG SAFETY MODULE PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED BY GM AS PER "ALL DATA". THE DEALER REFERRED ME TO GM WARRANTY HOTLINE WHEN THE VIN # DID NOT MATCH A RECALL THROUGH THE GM DATABASE. THE ENTIRE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED BY THE DEALER TO BE APPROXIMATELY $3000.00 USING VINTAGE AUTO PARTS ON THE HARNESS FOR THE MODULE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A BODY LEAK THAT COLLECTED WATER AND SHORTED OUT THE SAFETY MODULE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE DO TO THE DANGER OF POSSIBLE INFLATION OF THE AIRBAG WITH OUT WARNING, AS PER THE RECALL NOTICE THAT GM SAYS NEVER OCCURRED. GM WON'T HELP IN THE REPAIR BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND MET THE 10 YEAR MARK ON 10/31/06. I'VE BEEN WARNED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM BY THE GM DEALER, WHILE BEING PRESENTED WITH A $3,000.00 REPAIR BILL ON A CAR THAT IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER OTHERWISE. IT SEEMS GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT A NHTSA RECALL # 96V250000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

WHILE DRIVING MY 1996 OLDS ACHIEVA SOUTHBOUND ON I-271 IN NE OHIO BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. PAVEMENT WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO TYPE OF IMPACT. CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE SEVERE CHEST PAINS. I AM TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS NOW. *NM

1 injured

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION AND PUT ON THE COMPUTER, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT WAS WRONG. THE INTAKE GASKET BLEW TWICE ALLOWING WATER IN THE ENGINE. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP LOWER BALL JOINT DISENGAGED AND TIRE CAME OFF. THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. *AK

CAR WAS AT DEALER ON 8/17/99 WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSOR-OX 3.682 PART DUE TO A SHORTED RELAY AND DAMAGED SENSOR AT A COST OF $337.44. THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED JUNE 29, 2001 AT A COST OF $453.98, INCLUDING TOWING OF THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION. THE SERP BELT WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND REPLACED. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ENTRIES LISTED FOR THE SENSOR, SERP BELT, AND ALTERNATOR REPAIRS. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS OCCURRED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL RECALL ON FEBRUARY 27, 2002 (RECALL FOR DEALER TO INSTALL RELAY KIT TO PREVENT SHORT AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE AND FIRE). THE BUILD DATES INVOLVED WERE 5/1/95 7/31/96, MINE WAS BUILT WITHIN THESE DATES, DECEMBER 1995. WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS PAID FOR PRIOR TO FEDERAL RECALL (791.42). *JB

AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS COOLANT AND NEEDS TO BE REPEATEDLY SERVICED BECAUSE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS WARM AIR. AIR CONDITIONER CHECKED WHEN UNDER WARRANTY 4/1/98 AND DEALER STATED RECHARGED A/C. HOWEVER, COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED 5/28/99, 5/12/00, 4/29/01, 6/9/04 FOR A TOTAL COST OF $482.48. DYE INJECTED AND NO LEAK NOTICED. LEAKAGE OCCURS OVER MONTHS WHERE DYE NOT DETECTABLE. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OVER TIME.*AK

LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.

ALTERNATOR,SERP BELT TENSIONER, SERP BELT, R& R ALTERNATOR,R & R BELT TENSIONER ... THE TENSION ACUTALLY BROKE OFF AND DESTROYED THE OTHER PARTS. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN???? FOR ONLY 43000 MILES ON THIS CAR THATS RIDICULOUS... ANY HELP HERE/?

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

Crash

THERE WAS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. THE DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC

IN REGARDS OF YOUR DEFECT INVESTIGATION# IQ3001, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY CONTROL MODULE, ITS NOT WORKING NOW DUE TO IT GOT WET, NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND I'M JUST WAITING FOR IT TO DEPLOY WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SO MAYBE THEN WHEN IT KILLS SOMEONE A RECALL WILL BE DONE ON IT. IT IS A POOR LOCATION FOR THE MODULE ANYWAYS.*AK

VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND ANY SPEED FOR NO REASON. THEN IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 7 MINS TO GET IT RESTARTED AND THAT IS ONL;Y IF U PUT IT IN "N" AND TURN IT ALL THE WAY OFF, THEN BACK ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH B4 GMC SEARCHES FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY OR STREET.*AK

THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKS COOLANT AND A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM APPARENTLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT. IT HAPPENS TO MANY OF ITS V6 3.1 AND 3.4 ENGINES AND COULD CAUSE SEVER DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S ENGINE WHICH LEADS TO POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T WANT TO PERFORM RECALLS, THEREFORE, WHO WANTS TO PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED TO BE RECALLED? *LA

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL# 02V070000 SUBJECT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE REPAIR, IGNITION SHORT CIRCUITED,CAUSING A FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. *AK

Fire

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL# 02V070000 SUBJECT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER THE REPAIR, IGNITION SHORT CIRCUITED,CAUSING A FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. *AK

Fire

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AND THE BATTERY FAILED AS THE RESULT OF THE DEALER?S POOR RECALL REPAIR PREVIOUSLY IN WHICH WIRING HARNESS AND A RELAY WERE INSTALLED. *YH

PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED. *YH

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

Crash

CONSUMER STATES THAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH. *MR

CONSUMER STATES IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBRUSEMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT *SCC

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT OPERATING AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. WHEN THIS OCCURS LIGHTS DOES NOT COME ON AT KEY UP. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. PRIOR TO REPAIRS CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V070000 RELATING TO FAILURE. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM PREVIOUS REPAIRS PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V07) CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*JB

THE FIRST TIME WAS 09/03/2001 AND THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, SO I HAD TO BUY A NEW MIROR, DUE TO THE GLUE ON THE BACK OF THE MIROR HAD FAILED (THIS WAS THE DRIVERSIDE) NOW IT IS THE PASSAGER' S SIDE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL DONE ON THE VEHICLE DID FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH WHEELS BROKE OFF FROM BUSHING. MY MECHANIC SAID MY CAR WAS THE 15TH OLDSMOBILE THAT THIS HAPPEN TO. HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT CAUSE BY WEAR OR TEAR. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT THAT OCCURS IN OLDSMOBILE HE ALSO SAID MILEAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ., COSIDERING HE HAD TO REPLACE 15 OLDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD.. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON SOME HIGHWAY. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN. MY DEALER TOLD ME BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE I HAVE. NO WAY ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. IT IS A MAJOR DEFECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE THE REPAIR BILL WAS $340.00 TO REPLACE BOTH CONTROL ARMS.I ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMPERSE. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 02V070000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008. GOT RECALL NOTICE. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER INDICATED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. DID NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE IN. *AK *YH

LOWER CONTROL ARMS BROKE AT THE BUSHINGS, VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *AK *MJ

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH SMOKE APPEARING FROM DASHBOARD. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V07000 NOTICE; HOWEVER IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE.*AK

CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WHEN SHE ACTUALLY GOT IT IT VEHICLE STARTED AND MADE A LOUD BUSTING SOUND, SHE THEN CUT IT OFF, TO LET IT COOL DOWN. *AK

CONSUMER STATED BRAKES AND ROTORS KEEPS WEARING OUT AT 5000-6000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS AT LEAST 5 TIMES. DRUMS 3 TIMES DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN#. NLM