1994 Oldsmobile Achieva S 3.1 SFI from North America

Summary:

Economy luxury and performance

Faults:

The battery needed replacement in march of 2002 (8 years of life!)

The front brake rotors have warped. I think this was due to the uneven wheel torque when I had the tires replaced.

My car is equipped with the 4T60E 4 speed overdrive transmission. There is a gear whine in the differential housing that will need to be corrected by rebuilding the transmission with updated parts. this only affects the 1994 4T60E transaxle so a good road test between 25-60km/h is essential. Even better if the previous owner has had it fixed.

General Comments:

The person who owned the car before me had a large dog because there was white dog hair on everything. the driver's door panel is broken at the top and there are some large scratch marks on the top surface. I think their dog broke it by pulling at it with his front paws. that is abuse not a defect.

Excellent engine power and economy (I've had 42MPG on the highway)

Nice interior and features for a reasonably priced used car.

Full instrument cluster is handy and back lit by blue/aqua light (very cool)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st May, 2002

1994 Oldsmobile Achieva S 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Junk

Faults:

The first head gasket cracked at 70,000 miles. Oldsmobile recognized that the 1992 and 1993 Achieva's had faulty head gaskets, but felt they fixed the problem in the 1994 model. Oldsmobile did not help with the $1,400 bill to replace the cracked head gasket. Now two years later, the second head gasket has a crack. Both head gaskets have cracked in the same exact location. The head gasket that we put into the car was a new head gasket for our 1994 Achieva, not a rebuilt part. That head gasket only lasted for 25,000 miles. So, now only two years later we are needing to put in the third head gasket. Oldsmobile should realize that they did not fix the faulty part for the 1994 model. They should cover the cost of having to put in two head gaskets in to our Achieva.

General Comments:

Faulty head gaskets for 1994 models.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 27th March, 2002

29th Jun 2003, 19:04

I wonder if the head gasket failure the first time might be from over heating. Low coolant, this would cause the head to warp.There's no comment noted about the head being checked for flatness. I believe this head to be aluminum, which warps more than cast iron heads. Also if the head gasket blows in the same place each time that sounds like a low spot in the head. I own a small automotive machine shop and seen several heads that show flat and when I surface them have imperfections you can't see with the eye. I always suggest surfacing on aluminum heads just as a precaution. Hope this will help.

1994 Oldsmobile Achieva S 2.3L Quad 4 OHC from North America

Summary:

This is an average car with a piece of crap engine

Faults:

Door panels and vents are loose.

Windshield wiper arms keep stripping and the hose for the washer fluid keeps falling off the wiper.

I have gone through 5 sets of brake pads in four years and 1 set of rotors.

Other than these minor problems the car did not give me any problems until this year. That problem was the head gasket blowing, filling my engine up with coolant and destroying my engine. Apparantly this is a common problem with the quad 4 engine and the only way to stop it is to use synthetic oil and change it every two months or so.

General Comments:

I will not buy from GM again. Next car...2003 Tiburon!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th January, 2002

8th Feb 2002, 08:17

The only problems that I have had out of my Achieva are the door panels and the vents. It has been a spectacular car for me so far.

29th Apr 2004, 09:55

This car was an excellent performer until this year. the head gasket went and now the car overheats all the time. the dealer is at a loss for a solution and I'm at a loss to the tune of $2,000 so far. does anyone have a suggestion?