Oldsmobile · 1992–1998
10 known recalls affecting the Oldsmobile Achieva (1992–1998). Enter your VIN to check if your specific vehicle is affected, or browse by model year below.

On certain vehicles, if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "Start" position for an extended period, high current flowing through the ignition switch may produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts. If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. Correction: Dealer will install a relay kit to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch.
Certain vehicles, after being exposed to substantial amounts of water, may experience deployment of either the driver or passenger front airbag without a crash. The owner’s manual for these vehicles does not provide specific information about this situation. Inadvertent deployment of the driver and / or passenger front airbag in a non-accident (non-impact) situation may cause damage to the surrounding vehicle environment (windshield / instrument panel), and create expensive vehicle repair, including replacement of the airbag module(s) and the Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM). In some instances, inadvertent deployment could cause minor injuries to vehicle occupants. Correction: GM will notify the owners of these 1996 and 1997 vehicles of the potential affect of water accumulating in the vehicle interior on the function of the airbag system (as included in the owner's manuals of 1998 and later model years vehicles).
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. If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. Correction: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch.
On certain vehicles, the electrical current through the ignition switch is above design capacity. Over time, this excessive current damages the ignition switch and may result in a fire in the vicinity of the steering column ignition switch which could spread to other parts of the vehicle's interior. Correction: Dealers will install a relay kit and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch and steering column tilt lever.
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 101 - CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION. THE INTERIOR LAMPS MAY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, FIVE TO THIRTY MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BY THE SWITCH. THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE WILL TURN THEM OFF AFTER THIRTY MINUTES. IF THE INTERIOR LAMPS TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT NIGHT, THE INCREASED GLARE COULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. CORRECTION: LAMP CONTROL MODULE WILL BE TESTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTRE MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED ON THESE VEHICLES. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED, AND MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. PROLONGED CONTACT MAY RESULT IN ABRASION OF THE NEGATIVE CABLE INSULATION AND COULD CAUSE AN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND THE NEGATIVE CABLE. THIS CURRENT FLOW COULD CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. CORRECTION: A PROTECTIVE COVER WILL BE INSTALLED IF NECESSARY.
THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING EQUIPMENT. VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND HAZARD LAMP SWITCH REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG FABRIC MAY SNAG ON A REINFORCEMENT INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING THE EXPANDING BAG TO LIFT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEN DEPLOY UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE DOOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE REINFORCEMENT MAY ALSO FRACTURE. IN A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF HE OR SHE CONTACTS A BROKEN REINFORCEMENT OR IF THE SNAGGING AFFECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BAG. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PADS AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PLASTIC EDGE PROTECTOR TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD REINFORCEMENT. ON CERTAIN EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD WILL BE REPLACED.
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 301 - FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. REAR COMPARTMENT PAN WELDS MAY NOT MEET MANUFACTURING STANDARDS. CORRECTION: DEALERS ARE TO INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE SUSPECT WELDS MAY HAVE OCCURRED.
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.
Check recalls for specific Oldsmobile Achieva model years