Most common 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva problems
Share of the 40 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Oldsmobile Achieva complaints by model year
Best Achieva years: 1998. Compare all years →
1998 Oldsmobile Achieva recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the…
What 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva owners say
Electrical system
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 contact GMC about the car and they said , the car engulf in flames had nothing to do with them.
Tl 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 reference to having the ignition switch replaced. Both the dealer and manufacturer stated that because the remedy stated that the ignition switch should only be replaced if necessary, the original recall repair was technically sufficient. The failure still persists. The failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 157,000.
Engine & cooling
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 onto the oil pan, which mixed the two liquids. Coolant also leaked into the air vents. There were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
The vehicle was off and parked when the consumer smelled fuel. It was later determined that the fuel rail, hose and regulator failed. The dealer also replaced the intake nd valve cover gaskets, radiator hose, wheel cylinders and thermostat.
Brakes
1998 Oldsmobile Achieva. I own the above mentioned car. I have been having a lot of problems with the brakes, namely the ABS system. The ABS light continually comes on and my ABS makes a funny noise. The brakes also clunk several times when the vehicle is first started. I have taken this to be repaired at substantial cost and I was told that it was the wheel speed sensor that was not working correctly. Well, it was replaced and the problem stopped for a few days. But, has just started again and it is the same thing. The ABS light comes on, the brakes get spongy and fail at speeds from 5 MPH to 55 MPH. The noise from the ABS started again and the brakes are clunking again when the vehicle is first started. I can seem to get anybody that is able to do a permanent fix. And I can't get any info from GM about this. …
Consumer was traveling 10-15mph to a traffic light and vehicle never stopped. Consumer mashed down on brakes twice and there was an air sound. Vehicle was on an incline, picking up speed consumer exited onto highway. Vehicle never stopped until vehicle got to driveway of consumer's home. There were no pedestrians or vehicle. Consumer pused down emergency brake to stop vehicle. Oldsmobile sent a wrecker to pick up vehicle. Oldsmobile agreed to pay for half of cost. Brake booster vaccum was leaking.
1998 Oldsmobile Achieva engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 30 / 23 |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva a good car?
Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Achieva rates better than average: 46% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Achieva at the same age. It is one of the best Achieva years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva?
The electrical system — 12 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › switch. Next are the engine & cooling (9) and brakes (7).
How many recalls does the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva, the most recent from January 27, 2004 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Oldsmobile Achieva?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998. See the full Oldsmobile Achieva years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 31% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.