1996 Oldsmobile Achieva Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 18%of 87 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva, 18% of the 87 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10171666, filed 2006-10, 129,970 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10050626, filed 2003-12, 130,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10180659, filed 2007-01, 70,986 miles“My wife was involved in a motor vehicle accident in which the vehicle in question never deployed the air bags. If they opened my wife would not have sustained any injuries.I'd like to know why.”
NHTSA complaint #754939, filed 2001-11“Driving home approx 3:30 p.m. , clear day, dry pavement when the airbags deployed for no apparent reason. Car is currently at reagan olds - omaha, ne. Their service dept. Could not find any reason why the bags deployed. Currently waiting for investigator from GM to perform vehicle inspection, and access a computor the dealer can't to try and find out why. I was not in an accident, to be the best of my knowledge, the vehicle has never been in a accident. I don't think I ran over anything in the road, unless it just fell off the car ahead of me.”
NHTSA complaint #719057, filed 2000-02Related recalls
- 96V211000Oct 28, 1996During deployment of the passenger air bag, the air bag fabric can snag on a reinforcement inside the instrument panel, causing the expanding air bag to lift…Covers: Oldsmobile Achieva 1996, Buick Skylark 1996
Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva
25 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsInterior lighting
3 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology