Oldsmobile Alero Complaints

1,957 consumer complaints on file.

#10143431November 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THERE ARE SEVERAL DEFECTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST STARTED IN 2004. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK, WILL NOT SHUT OFF, OR START AGAIN WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CREATES A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY - STARTLES YOU, THEN BLOCKS VISION. NEXT, THE SECURITY FEATURE IS MALFUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND PROBLEM IS FIXED WITH LEAVING THE CAR IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 TO 20 MINUTES (RESETS THE SECURITY). THIS DRAINS THE BATTERY AND IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE NOW BEGUN TO WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS OBVIOUSLY. THE WINDOW CONTROLS SOMETIMES DON'T WORK, THE SIDE-MIRROR CONTROLS ALSO DO NOT WORK SOMETIMES. THE HEAT/AC CONTROLS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY - MOST OF THE POSITIONS DO NOT BLOW. YOU CAN HEAR THE MUFFLED SOUND OF THE AIR WHEN ON HIGH, BUT AIR DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE VENTS. THESE ARE THE COMBINATION SETTINGS, THE INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS WORK, SO IT CANNOT BE CLOGGED VENTS. LASTLY, THE REAR DEFROST RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AND, WHEN TURNED ON, EMITS A BURNING SMELL. THIS CAR IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND DRIVEN DAILY OUT OF NECESSITY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143427November 22, 2005
STRUCTURE
THE VINYL ON MY CAR IS FALLING OFF THE DASHBOARD AND THE SIDE PANELS OF MY VEHICLE. THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH OLDSMOBILE ALEROS, OF WHICH GM TAKES LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS DUE TO ALL THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS. IT IS IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. I CONTACTED VICTORIA AT GM, CASE #1-358478228 - THE BEST SHE COULD DO FOR ME WAS 30% OFF THE REPAIR PRICE OF $1,900, WHICH WOULD STILL EQUAL $1,330 + TAX. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE - IT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH AT THIS POINT DUE TO THE DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP. I THEN CONTACTED DAVID AT SYMDOM CHEVROLET, BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY MORE SATISFACTION FROM GM. I THEN CONTACTED BRIAN AT BURTNESS CHEVROLET. HE SPOKE TO HIS REP, BUT I STILL HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE FROM HIS REP. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS AN EXPENSE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IT'S AN OBVIOUS DEFECT ON THAT PARTICULAR COLOR AND TYPE OF VINYL/LEATHER. THE OTHER COLORS OF THE VINYL/LEATHER ARE FINE. THERE'S HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET - NO ONE THAT KNOWS WOULD EVER BY AN ALERO! THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IF THIS ISN'T RESOLVED, I DON'T THINK OUR FAMILY WILL CONTINUE TO BUY GM CARS - WE HAVE 4 IN THE FAMILY RIGHT NOW, AND HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT GM. NO WONDER GM IS HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS - THERE'S NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143266November 19, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
MULTIPLE INTERMITTENT TURN-SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONS IN 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SINCE PURCHASE IN 2003. MALFUNCTION CAN SOMETIMES BE CONTROLLED BY LIGHTLY PUSHING IN ON HAZARD WARNING SWITCH LOCATED ON DASH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142797November 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT: CONTACT STATES THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHERE THEY FOUND THE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR IS OUT ON THIS VEHICLES WINDOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE REPAIRS WILL BE AT OWNER'S COST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142577November 14, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V327000 CONCERNING HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142355November 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FRONT TIRE AREA WAS MAKING LOTS OF NOISE. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE TO CHECK IT OUT - THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE BRAKES. I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP TO CHECK THAT. HE HEARD THE NOISE AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE WHEEL BEARINGS. WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SAID THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - THAT THEY USUALLY LAST OVER 100,000 MILES (I ONLY HAD AROUND 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR). THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING FAN SWITCH DOES NOT WORK ON THE FIRST TWO SPEEDS - ONLY ON THE MIDDLE AND HIGHER SPEEDS. I WORK WITH A MAN WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AS MY CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142382November 10, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE TURN SIGNAL IS FLASHING IN AND OUT OF USE. SOMETIMES IT WORKS WHEN YOU TURN THE SIGNAL ON, AND OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT WORK. SOMETIMES IT STOPS WORKING AFTER IT HAS STARTED WORKING, AND IT GOES OUT BEFORE THE TURN IS COMPLETED. THERE HAS BEEN NO CRASH YET, BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN MAKING A TURN AND THE SIGNAL STOPS WORKING. I HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE I THOUGHT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED AND I WAS WAITING ON THE LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142315November 9, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A COMPUTER COMPONENT TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 03V327000/ INVESTIGATION NUMBER RQ04005. THERE WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN BEING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141313October 31, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK AND ENDED UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. IN THE PROCESS, THE CLIPS WHICH HOLD THE GLASS ON BROKE OFF, THE GLASS BROKE, AND THE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS WINDOW, BUT BY FAR THE MOST EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141238October 30, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2000 AND 2001 MODELS, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 2002. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141142October 28, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON AN EARLIER MODEL YEAR, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141090October 27, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. NHTSA RECALL 03V327000 WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. *AK UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140693October 25, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AS WELL AS THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER OFFERED NO DIAGNOSIS TO THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL 03V327000 ON EARLIER MODEL YEARS. YET HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140680October 24, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SAW ON TV THAT THE BLINKER SWITCHES IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WERE TEARING OFF. HE WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH LIGHTS ON BRIGHT BECAUSE OF THE BLINKER SWITCH NOT WORKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136402October 20, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
DT: 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO - CONSUMER'S CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE HUB ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS THE REAR PASSENGER STRUTS SHEARED OFF. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE CAR TURNED SIDEWAYS AND WENT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, BUT THE CAR DID FLIP SIDE WAYS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO BREAK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PART. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS ONE INJURY.*AK *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10140263October 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED MY WINDOW HAD (3) OTHER OLDSMOBILE ALEROS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR - IT COST ME $500 TO FIX-I CAN'T GO WITHOUT A WINDOW!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140164October 18, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO -- VIN #1G3NL52E02C21167 TURN SIGNAL FAILURE: THIS IS A USED CAR WITH 27,000 MILES OWNED BY DARCARS -WILSON-POWELL LINCOLN MERCURY. I WAS TEST DRIVING THE CAR ON SATURDAY AND THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED FOR A WHILE AND RESUMED WORKING. THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED COMPLETELY ON OCTOBER 18, 2005, AFTER I RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO PICK UP THE CAR TO HAVE IT TESTED FOR EMISSIONS AFTER THE CAR FAILED THE VIRGINIA EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO A COMPUTER PROBLEM. I DO NOT OWN THE CAR. IT IS OWNED BY DARCARS -- WILSON-POWELL LINCOLN-MERCURY, INC. OF TEMPLE HILLS, MD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140034October 17, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I OWN A 2003 OLDS ALERO. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED, BOTH BACK WINDOWS FELL AND WONT' STAY UP. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY WANTED $620.00 TO REPAIR THEM. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND DECLINED REPAIR. I WAS THEN CHARGED $90. FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY PUT TAPE ON THEM! NOW ALL THE CAR THIEVES CAN SEE THE TAPE OR THE WINDOW DOWN AND HELP THEMSELVES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! I OWN 3 GM AUTOS AND HAVE A GM REWARDS CARD WITH REWARDS DISCOUNT TOWARDS MY NEXT PURCHASE THAT I WAS PLANNING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT AFTER THE POOR QUALITY AND POOR SERVICE PRACTICES, I FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I EXPECT GM TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND WILL NOT BUY ANYMORE AUTOS FROM THEM UNTIL THEY DO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139772October 15, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
IN MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, MY TURN SIGNALS BECOME VERY INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES FAIL TO FUNCTION ALL TOGETHER CAUSING ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART MY VEHICLE TO GET THE TURN SIGNALS WORKING AGAIN. SOMETIMES I NEED TO HOLD IN THE BUTTON FOR THE HAZARD FLASHER BUTTON WHILE PUSHING MY TURN SIGNAL DOWN IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO WORK FOR A SHORT TIME. I HAVE SEEN THAT THE 2001 ALERO HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM THE RECALL NUMBER IS 03V327000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139498October 12, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I DISCOVERED MY TURN SIGNALS WEREN'T WORKING WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY. SINCE THEN I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT; SOMETIMES THEY WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES NOT. GENERALLY I CAN MONKEY WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON AFTER I'VE TURNED THE CAR ON BUT BEFORE I START DRIVING TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE IN WORKING CONDITION. BUT IT'S NO GUARANTEE THEY'LL BE WORKING AT THE END OF THE TRIP. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE I SEE THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IT AND THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING. I PLAN ON HAVING IT REPAIRED AS SOON AS I GET A CHANCE, BUT IT'D BE NICE IF THERE WAS A RECALL OUTSTANDING ALREADY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Oldsmobile Alero