Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Oldsmobile Achieva, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 18 | 20% |
| Air bags | 8 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 9% |
| Power train | 7 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 3% |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY APPROXIMATELY 4-5 YEARS AGO, UNBEKNOWNST OF THE 2000 RECALL FOR IGNITION ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITC
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
STUPID PASSLOCK ISSUE . EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT NO FIX FROM GM. WORTHLESS CAR THAT WILL NOT START ONE TIME OUT OF EVERY 10. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. CAR MUST BE SOLD OR GOTTEN RID OF TO FIX CAUSE THERE IS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. SHE WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OCCASIONALLY IN ORDER FOR IT TO START. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH,
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ADJUSTED FOR BETTER VISION. THIS CAUSED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS, AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
1995 OLDSMOBILE AURORA, GM'S REAL WINNER HERE!!! WHERE DO I START? WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH OVER HEATING PROBLEMS, AND HAVE CHANGED WATER PUMPS, RADIATOR, RADIATOR FLUSHES, THERMOSTATS, A HANDFUL OF ALTERNATORS, TWICE T
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE GM#04014 NHTSA #04V110000 FROM GM SEPT. 2004. SEPT. 14, 2004 SHOTTENKIRK, FORT MADISON, IA DID INSPECTION FOR RECALL-"NO REPLACEMENT REQUIRED". JUNE 2005 MYSELF/PASSENGERS (ONE WAS 2) WERE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, THEN A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CONSUMERS HOME AND HE STATED THE FIRE WAS NOT A DIRECT RESULT OF THE FUEL RAIL. NHTSA RECALL 04V110000. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Oldsmobile Achieva. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
Risk: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN D
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 48 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 18 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.