Oldsmobile Alero Complaints

1,957 consumer complaints on file.

#10076080June 10, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. A RECALL (03V327000) WAS ISSUED VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076084June 10, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL A KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074858June 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. THE BUTTON ON THE AUTOMATIVE GEAR SHIFT BROKE 2000, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BROKE AGAIN 2002. 2. THE TURN SIGNAL WOULDN'T WORK, WORKED ON TWICE, NOW A RECALL! 3. MOTOR ON POWER DRIVER SEAT BROKE. 4.DASH BOARD IS BUBBLING AND PEELING! CHEAP *** GLUE! 5. BRAKE PADS-TOO MANY TO MENTION! 6. CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT...NOW SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL RACE AND I DON'T HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES, YOU HAD BETTER HOLD IT DOWN HARD, OR YOU'LL END UP RAMMING SOMEONE IN THE BACK. IF YOU TRY TO GUN TO GET THE RPMS DOWN, IT'LL SHOOT UP TO 3000 RPMS! 7. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH GMC/OLDSMOBILE!!!! I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074521May 31, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EQUIPMENT
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 ENGINES 2.4L ON MY 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. MY LAST ENGINE LASTED 32 DAYS AFTER I SPENT 1200$ AND NOW I NEED TO HAVE WORK DONE TO IT AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073096May 25, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TURN SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. HAZARDS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS STARTED ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" OLDSMOBILE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072921May 20, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
REGARDING 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO - INTERMITTENT FAILURE/ MALFUNCTION OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP.UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD APPEAR TO WORK FINE. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, INDICATED BY THE "LOW TRAC" LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT BE LIT, INDICATING A PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM SEEMS TO SENSE A SLIPPERY ROAD AND ACTIVATES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE AND THEN SLOWLY RE-ENGAGE, AS IF STOPPING ON SLIPPERY PAVEMENT. HOWEVER, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON DRY, NORMAL PAVEMENT AT NORMAL SPEED AND STOPS. HAVING THE BRAKES DISENGAGE WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP INCREASES THE NEEDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO EITHER TURN TO AVOID A COLLISION OR USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. NOTE THAT THE THE RED BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT IS NOT ON DURING THIS CONDITION. AFTER STOPPING, THE AMBER "ANTI-LOCK", "TRAC OFF", AND "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" LIGHTS ARE LIT AND THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO DEACTIVATE THE ANTI-LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. THE BRAKES THEN WORK FINE, WITH THESE SYSTEMS DEACTIVATED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072864May 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO - NEED REPLACEMENT OF WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLYS ON BOTH SIDES WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES! SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME. ABSOLUTELY THE WORST FRONT SUSPENSION I'VE EVER HAD IN A VEHICLE. ALSO 'MISSES' AT AROUND 2000 RPMS - LIKE IT CAN'T DECIDE WHICH GEAR TO BE IN. BOUGHT IT USED FROM DEALER AND WARRANTY IS OUT, BUT WORKING WITH A GOOD MECHANIC TO HOPEFULLY GET PROBLEMS FIXED AT MY EXPENSE (DEALER WANTED $500 TO REPLACE EACH WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY). SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES WITH A RELATIVELY NEW, WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073926May 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS,BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. P
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074104May 17, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER ABOUT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *LA THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. THERE WOULD BE SEVERAL TRIES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEVER "CRANK OVER." THE ENGINE VIBRATED WHEN THE A/C WAS USED,THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE, THE FRONT WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN, THE REAR HANDLES FELT LIKE THEY WERE STICKING, THERE WAS A BURNT OIL SMELL, AND AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD RUN ROUGH. THE MASTER SWITCH, A/C COMPRESSOR, CRANK SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL TANK, HAZARD SWITCH, AND THE WINDOW REGULATOR WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANICS REPOSITIONED A WIRE HARNESS FROM THE CRANK SENSOR AND REPLACED THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING IN TRAFFIC IN WHICH THERE WAS ALMOST AN ACCIDENT. THE ANTENNA WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE RADIO SIGNAL WOULD GO OUT EVERY TIME THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS USED (THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM). THE BACK WINDOW HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED TO SOLVE THE ANTENNA PROBLEM. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE SEAL FOR THE COOLANT LEAKED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073689May 17, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072690May 16, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY WARNING TO THE EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. UPON RETURNING HOME AT 11 P.M. MAY15, 2004 FROM MY PARENTS HOME, I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE AND I SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE CAR OVER INSIDE AND OUT AND FOUND NOTHING AMISS, ONLY THE SMELL. I RETREATED TO THE CONFINES OF MY HOME AND AFTER A PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES, I HEARD WHAT APPEARED TO BE A GUN SHOT NOISE THEN A HISSING SOUND. I STEPPED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THE HISSING SOUND WAS COMING FROM MY CARS RIGHT FRONT TIRE, WHICH HAD GONE FLAT. DECIDING I WOULD CHECK THE SITUATION THE NEXT MORNING THEN RETURNED TO THE HOUSE. THE NEXT MORNING, I LOOKED TO FIND IN FACT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. MY FIANCE TRIED TO PLACE A SCISSOR JACK UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO JACK IT UP AND REPLACE THE TIRE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. WE PLACED THE JACK UNDER THE REAR TIRE AND JACKED THAT UP UNTIL THERE WAS SUFFICIENT ROOM TO PLACE ANOTHER JACK UNDER THE FRONT TIRE. WHEN THE CAR WAS JACKED HIGH ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THE TIRE, WE NOTICED THE COIL SPRING HAD SCHEARED IN HALF CAUSING THE JAGGED EDGE OF THE SPRING TO GOUGH INTO THE FRONT TIRE CAUSING IT TO GO FLAT. THERE IS AN INDICATION THAT THE MANUFACTURES WELD ON THE SPRING WAS POORLY DONE AS APPARENT BY A RUST SPOT AT THE BREAKING POINT. I ALSO BELIEVE THE STRUT INSIDE THE COIL SPRING IS DAMAGED ALSO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072611May 14, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
1. CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHT 2. #2 INJECTOR ELECTRICALLY FAILED 3. #2 INJECTOR REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073616May 13, 2004
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10073769May 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PROBLEMS WITH HIGH ENGINE IDLES AND SHIFTING THROUGH ALL THE GEARS. *MR THIS WOULD OCCASIONALLY OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM A COLD ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND WITHOUT THE CONSUMERS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED THROUGH ALL THE GEARS. THE ENGINE DISPLAYED A LOUD RUMBLE SOUND. WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR IT SHIFTED FORWARD. A CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED WHICH APPEARED TO BE THE PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS LATER APPEARED. A BROKEN WIRE WAS REPLACED IN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072508May 12, 2004
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE DRIVING AT 60-75 MPH, ON RELATIVELY SMOOTH ROADS. THE VIBRATION CAN SOMETIMES BE FELT THROUGH THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE SEVERITY AND LOCATION (STEERING WHEEL/SEATS/FLOOR) OF THE SHAKING VARIES WITH DIFFERENT ROADS, BUT NEVER GOES AWAY COMPLETELY, EVEN ON NEWLY RESURFACED HIGHWAYS. ON SURFACE STREETS (50 MPH AND LESS), THE SHAKING IS NOT NOTICEABLE. THIS HAS MOST LIKELY LEAD TO A LOT OF THE MINOR SQUEAKS AND RATTLES IN THE INTERIOR THAT MAKE THE CAR SOUND AND FEEL OLDER THAN IT IS. I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, AND RECENTLY HAD THE NEW TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THIS, SINCE I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM $1700 WORTH OF REPAIRS I HAD DONE TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE UPPER STRUT MOUNTS. THIS COULD BE A VERY NICE CAR, IF IT WASNT FOR THE NUMBER OF LARGE (AND EXPENSIVE) REPAIRS NEEDED SO EARLY IN THE CARS LIFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068528May 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON; HAD PROB FIXED BEFORE MECHANIC SAID A WIRE WAS LAYING ON MANIFOLD, REPOSITIONED AND TIGHTENED BUT PROB IS OCCURING AGAIN; SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT STAYS ON ALONG WITH TRAC OFF LIGHT; CAR ENGINE PRESUR IS DECREASED AND MAKES NOISES AND WHEN TURNING WHEELS LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A SOUND LIKE RUBBER RUNNING TOGETHER; PADS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 6 MONTHS AND RORTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068436May 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE 3.4L V6 ENGINE REGULARLY LOST COOLANT, AND THE RESERVOIR HAD TO BE REFILLED ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. ALSO NOTICED THICK WHITE GOO ON THE OIL CAP (BUT NOT ON THE OIL DIPSTICK), AND HEARD A TICKING SOUND AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, WHICH WENT AWAY AFTER THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THE DEALER SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND THE REPAIR COST $1,100. THE ENGINE HAD 53,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND THE WARRANTY, BUT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WOULD HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AGO, BEFORE ANY SYMPTOMS WERE NOTICEABLE. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE MAJOR ENGINE WORK DONE WITH SO FEW MILES (ALSO HAD TO HAVE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED), ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ALERO'S SALES BROCHURE BRAGS ABOUT "LONG LIFE FLUIDS, INCLUDING COOLANT, THAT WILL LAST UP TO 100,000 MILES OR MORE." WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, THEY SAID THAT REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL (GM HAD NOT MADE ANY DESIGN CHANGES TO THE PART), SO THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. OVERALL, IM HAPPY WITH THE CARS DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE, BUT ITS UPSETTING TO HAVE SUCH HIGH COST REPAIRS ON A CAR I PLAN TO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072057May 4, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE SHOOK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $900.00 *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068284May 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOOSING ENGINE COOLENT. NO VISIBLE LEAKING ON THE GROUND.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067994April 28, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
BREAK VIBRATION CAUSED BY DISTORTED ROTORS ON 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO,BREAK ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR DISTORTION,LAST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY APPROX 11,000.GM CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL WARE,REFUSES TO RERAIR UNDER WARRANTY THIS TIME. I FEEL THIS IS NOT NORMAL WARE AND I FEELTHIS CONDITION IS NOT SAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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