1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva, and owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (electrical system)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Electrical system: front underhood
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…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of the protective cover and, if necessary, install a protective cover to the underhood fuse center.
63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 74,325 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 16 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 24, 2014 · Air bags
“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 ther”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 24, 2013 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 27–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.1 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Oldsmobile Achieva model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Oldsmobile Achieva model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 Oldsmobile Achieva | 0 | 53 |
| 1993 Oldsmobile Achieva | 1 | 38 |
| 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva | 2 | 62 |
| 1995 Oldsmobile Achieva | 1 | 70 |
| 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva | 4 | 87 |
| 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva | 2 | 63 |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva | 1 | 40 |
| 2000 Oldsmobile Achieva | 0 | 3 |
Checking a specific 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva
How do I know if my 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Oldsmobile dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V070000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Oldsmobile models
- Alero1,957 complaints
- Cutlass1,609 complaints
- Intrigue1,140 complaints
- Bravada962 complaints
- Silhouette950 complaints
- 88931 complaints
- Aurora786 complaints
- Cutlass Supreme296 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.