Oldsmobile Alero Complaints

1,957 consumer complaints on file.

#10116755April 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DISCOVERED ON 4/8/05. COOLANT LEAK TO THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117693April 4, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY.*MR THERE WERE TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM WOULD STEER LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, STEERING ROTATION SENSOR , HUB ASSEMBLY BEARING WERE ALL REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116343April 4, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE GM RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE HAZARD/TURN-SIGNAL SWITCH ON ITS MALIBU, ALERO, & GRAMAM LINES IS TOO NARROW!. THIS CONCERNS [NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V327/GM AND RECALL NO. 03043]. *AK A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS MANUFACTURED SLIGHTLY BEFORE THE RANGE CONTAINED IN THE RECALL ALSO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. A QUICK SEARCH OF ANY MESSAGE BOARD CONCERNING THESE GM CARS WILL BACK UP THE CLAIMS IN THIS COMPLAINT. EVEN WORSE, LOCAL DEALERS REFUSE TO HONOR THE PROBLEM. EVEN WORSE, FOR CARS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, SOME DEALERS CHARGE FOR LABOR, DESPITE THE TERMS OF THE RECALL.. IN SHORT, GM IS KNOWINGLY AND PURPOSELY NOT EXTENDING THE RECALL TO ALL VEHICLES ACTUALLY AFFECTED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART CAN BE QUITE FATAL -- INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNALS CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, DEATH, AND DESTRUCTION. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN IN MANY "NEAR-MISS" INCIDENTS DUE TO THIS FAULTY PART. (NOTE, WHILE THE DEATHS AND # INJURED ARE SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATED -- THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IS NOT!). DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM, I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, IT IS LESS INTERMITTENT, AND MORE OFTEN IN A FAILED STATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117105March 30, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DURING A 55 MPH COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10116007March 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND BACK IN 2003, WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, MY PASSANGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR CEASED TO WORK. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS WINTER, HOWEVER, AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED TO WORK AND MY WINDOW IS STUCK AND UNABLE TO GO DOWN. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST AN EXCESS OF $400 TO FIX THIS PART, WHICH IT APPEARS, WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I BELIEVE THAT THE INABILITY TO RETRACT MY WINDOW IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IF I WERE TRAPPED IN MY CAR FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN, THE CAR COULD GO UP IN FLAMES OR I COULD DROWN, ETC...BEFORE HELP WOULD ARRIVE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE GENERAL MOTORS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114649March 24, 2005
AIR BAGS
WHILE PARKING MY VEHICLE, I STOPPED THE CAR AND FOR NO REASON THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ATTEMPTED TO GO THROUGH GM AND THEY ADVISE THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRD AS IT WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT.... GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR MY VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114674March 24, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY ALERO'S (2000 3.4 V6 60,000 MILES) COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE COOLANT AND ADDED WHAT WAS NEEDED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I NOTICED A POOL OF COOLANT ON MY DRIVEWAY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - APARENTLY A COMMON PORBLEM AND DESIGN FLAW BY GM IN A NUMBER OF THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS OF YET BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED AND I AM NOT CURRENTLY DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THE GASKET AT THIS POINT - WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GET FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114693March 24, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OUR 2001 ALERO HAD THE LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET FAIL AT 64000 MILES, THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $562.00. THE SHOP TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. THERE WERE THREE 3400'S IN THE SHOP THE SAME DAY MINE WAS REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114497March 22, 2005
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING INTO A GAS STATION IN MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERA AT ABOUT 2 TO 6 MILES AN HOUR MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HIT NOTHING NOR DID I FALL INTO A HOLE IN THE ROAD. SINCE THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE BAGS TO DEPLOY I WROTE OLDSMOBILE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD G ROBERT WAGONER, JR REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. HIS STAFF HAVE STONE WALLED MY EFFORTS TO GET ASSISTANCE. I WAS SENT TO SULLIVAN OLDSMOBILE FOR INSPECTION. THE INSPECTION WAS AT BEST USELESS. THEY DID NOT PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT TO CHECK THE UNDERCARRIAGE YET THEY TELL ME THE BAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF THIS. THEY SAID THEY TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES, BUT WERE UNABLE TO SHOW THEM TO ME. I STOPPED ON MY WAY HOME AT A LOCAL GARAGE HAD THEM PUT IT ON A LIFT AND CHECK THE SENSORS WHICH WERE NOT DAMAGED. OLDSMOBILE WAS STILL NOT INTERESTED SO I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER OLDSMOBILE DEALER WHO ALSO PUT IT ON A LIFT AND TOLD ME THEY HAD NO IDEA WHY THE BAGS DEPLOYED. OLDSMOBILE IN DETROIT CONTINUES TO GO BACK TO SULLIVAN'S INSPECTION IGNORING THE TWO INSPECTIONS THAT SHOWED NO REASON. OLDSMOBILE HAS DENIED ME ANY COMPENSATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115417March 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114163March 16, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
LAST SUMMER MY FAMILY AND I LOADED INTO MY 2003 OLDS ALERO GL FOR A TRIP. THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD CLICK BUT NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT SLID FORWARD WITH MY WIFE IN IT. I'VE BEEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THIS STILL HAPPENS. NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED I DON'T LET ANYONE SIT IN THAT SEAT OR I USE MY WIFE'S CAR WHEN CARRYING PASSENGERS TO AVOID THE REPAIR COSTS.*AK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK AND AND BROKE THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE GLASS, THE REPAIR BILL WAS ALMOST $400. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE WINDOW HAS STARTED SQUEAKING AND RATTLING. I HAVE STOPPED USING IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE REPAIRS. A WEEK AND A HALF BACK I NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION AND A WEEK AGO I HAD TO SPEND ALMOST $450 TO REPLACE MY BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND HAVE MY SUSPENSION INSPECTED. NOTHING WRONG WAS FOUND WITH THE SUSPENSION, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MEINEKE 3 TIMES TOTAL OVER THE LAST YEAR COMPLAINING OF GRINDING AND REDUCED STOPPING POWER. BOTH TOLD ME THAT VISIBLY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND I HAD 15-20,000 MILES OF WEAR LEFT, THAT WAS LESS THAN 6,000 MILES AGO. NEW ISSUE. 3 DAYS AGO MY WINDSHIELD WASHER STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I TRIED TO OPERATE THE WASHER FLUID SHOT OUT OF THE TOP OF THE RESEVOIR AND SOAKED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115633March 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER'S 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. *NM THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE TRAC AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAD DONE REPAIRS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER SHE WAS TOLD THE SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE ENTIRE HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115151March 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD DISCOVERED A COOLANT LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED GM ISSUED AN IMPROVED GASKET TO AVOID FUTURE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHY DID THE EXPENSE HAVE TO FALL ON THE CONSUMER. THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113896March 10, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING A 2000 OLDS ALERO. THE GEAR SHIFT BECOMES INOPERABLE, BECAUSE THE PLASTIC BUTTON THAT IS USED TO PUSH IN TO OPERATE THE GEAR SHIFT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN ON THE INSIDE. THE PEICE HAS EVEN FALLEN OUT OF THE GEAR SHIFT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PLACE THE CAR IN GEAR. HAVE HAD TO PUSH THUMB INTO HEAD OF GEAR SHIFT TO ENABLE "PUSHING OF INTERIOR RELEASE" TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFT IN POSITION. NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY DAMAGE UNDER MY POSESSION, AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD NOT ABUSED THE GEAR SHIFT EITHER. CAN CAUSE A "SUPRISING"MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU CAN NOT ENGAGE THE GEAR YOU ARE INTENDING TO USE. RECENTLY I WAS BACKING UP IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE "BUTTON "CAME OFF, AND ROLLED UNDER MY SEAT. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT THAT WAS NOT EXTREMELY BUSY AT THAT TIME. I HAD TO TRY TO LOCATE THE BUTTON WITH MY FOOT STILL ENGAGED ON THE BRAKE SO THE CAR WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO "BACK UP". THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED BY STICKING MY THUMB IN THE OPEN AREA I COULD THEN ENGAGE MY GEAR SHIFT INTO DRIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112787March 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. FOUND DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112690March 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
ON MARCH 3, 2005 MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO GL V6/3.4L WOULD NOT START. ON MARCH 4, 2005, ALL 3 DISTRIBUTOR COILS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS ALL 6 SPARK PLUGS. THE CAR WORKED FINE UNTIL MARCH 7, 2005 WHEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE CAR SHUT DOWN. IT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT GET IT TO START AGAIN. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CAR SEEMS TO TRY TO START BUT IS UNSUCCESSFUL. IN MY ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN RESOLUTION FOR OTHER OWNERS OF THE ALERO. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, I HAD THE MECHANISM FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REPLACED. IN DECEMBER 2004, THE SAME WINDOW FAILED TO WORK AT ALL. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED AGAIN. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AFTER A SUDDEN COOLANT LEAK COMPLETELY DEPLETING THE SYSTEM IN NOVEMBER 2003, AND THE SAME SITUATION OCCURED AGAIN REQUIRING THE WATER PUMP TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2005, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER. ONE OF THE CIGARETTE LIGHTERS STOPPED WORKING IN JUNE 2004. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT, AND COOLANT LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEM. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT IS TOUCH AND GO, MEANING IF I TOUCH THE CASE, IT MAY OR MAY NOT GO ON OR OFF. THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT ON MY ONE HAND IN THE NEARLY 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING AND BUZZ HIDEOUSLY UNTIL I PRESSED THE HAZARD BUTTON. WATER HAS COLLECTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOORBOARD AND IN THE TRUNK FROM SEAL FAILURE. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BURN OIL QUICKLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114995March 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE STICKING ON 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO GL. *BF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER PRIOR TOT HE ACCIDENT ABOUT THE THROTTLE STICKING. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL FOR THROTTLE STICKING AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112667March 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE COOLANT IN MY ALERO STARTED LEAKING AND THERE WAS NO HEAT IN THE INTERIOR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DETERIORATED. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND WAS NOT KEPT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113600March 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT CONTINUE TO RUN. THE IGNITION SWITCH/THEFT DETERRENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, PER THE DEALER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113748March 2, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE INTAKE GASKET OF THE CONSUMER'S 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. *NM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. THE GASKET LEAKED ANTI FREEZE INTO THE OIL, OIL SENDERS AND THE COILS. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Oldsmobile Alero