Oldsmobile Alero Complaints

1,957 consumer complaints on file.

#10069291January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IF LEFT ALONE, THE LEAK WOULD HAVE RUINED THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD HAVE COST 2000.00 OR MORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069523January 15, 2004
STEERING, STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WITHIN MY 36,000 OF DRIVING FROM 50,222 TO 86,119 MY INTAKE GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. MY RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT THE RACK WAS REPLACED WHILE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CAR. RECENTLY I REALIZED WHY WATER WAS GETTING INTO MY PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW SEAL IS SHIFTED CAUSING THE WINDOW TO LEAK IF THE CAR IS PARKED AT CERTAIN INCLINES. THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY MY PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WARRANTY. ALL MAJOR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MY WARRANTY AND ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS HAVE BEE QUOTE "EATEN" BY REPAIR FACILITIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069735January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ABOVE PROBLEMS ARE FOR THE SAME THING AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE ROTORS ON THE CAR HAVE GONE OUT 3 TIMES. THE SECOND TIME THEY WENT OUT I HAD TO ARGUE WITH OLDSMOBILE TO FIX THEM. THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY DRIVING MAKING THEM GO BAD. I DRIVE INTERSTATE TO AND FROM WORK - NO HARD STOPS, NO STOP-N-GO TRAFFIC. NOW THEY HAVE GONE BAD AGAIN AFTER THE 2ND TIME THEY CHANGED THEM - AFTER ONLY 6K MILES. THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR THEM. WHEN WE CALLED CUSTOMER CARE THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY USED A "NEW TOOL" THE LAST TIME THEY "FIXED" MY ROTORS - WHICH OBVIOUSLY DIDN\\'T HELP. I HAD A CAVALIER FOR 6 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE HAD TO CHANGE THE ROTORS!! THIS IS JUST FACTORY DEFECT THEY THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069916January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 OLDS ALERO GL 3.4: FOUND COOLANT DROPS ON GARAGE FLOOR. TOOK IN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. THIS DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE AT 3 YEARS OLD AND ONLY 47,088 MILES. GM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE. TOO MANY OTHERS I FOUND ONLINE HAVE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT SAME MILEAGE. COST TO DO WORK $843.85 (REPLACED INTAKE AND OTHER GASKETS DRAINED COOLING SYSTEM AND CHANGED OIL ETC.) TOLD THIS WAS ALL NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE LEAK FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ON JANUARY 10, 2003, I SPOKE TO A MAN AT OLDS CUSTOMER SERVICE...HIS NAME GARRITT BATES. AFTER PUTTING ME ON HOLD HE CALLED THE DEALER AND CAME BACK TO TELL ME THIS PROBLEM WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". HE GAVE ME A FILE # AND TOLD ME TO HANG ON TO MY RECIEPTS IN CASE THERE EVER WAS A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069930January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
2 DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, DASH PULLED TO CORRECT CORR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, NO DASH LIGHT, NO HIGH BEAM LIGHT, ALL WITHING FIRST 6 MONTHS, 1-03 WATER PUMP REPLACED, AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. ONLY 21000. MILES ON THE CAR..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069953January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, WHEELS, TIRES, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I AM ON MY THIRD PAIR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE LAST TIME THIS WAS CORRECTED WAS IN NOV. 2002. THE INITIAL SET THAT CAME ON THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY "BAD" AND REPLACED NOV. 2000. I GOT THE CAR IN AUG. 2000. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER OCT. 2002 AS WELL. NEVER COULD IDENTIFY PROBLEM. GRINDING LIGHT AND NOISES UNDER HOOD THAT WERE FINALLY IDENTIFIED AS THE BRAKES TAKEN IN AGAIN IN JAN. 01. THE "OTHER" CONSISTS OF A NEW ALTERNATOR IN NOV. 2002 AS WELL AS NEW TIRES IN JULY 2002. I HAD TO PURCHASE TWO WHILE GM GAVE ME 2. LOCKS WERE MESSED UP AGAIN APRIL 02. FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR IN SEPT. 01. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OF THE INVOICES/PRINTOUTS FROM THE DEALER AS WELL AS MY MAINTENANCE PAPERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070204January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE: 3.4L V6. THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND WATER PUMP FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THE DEALER PICKED UP THE COST OF THE PARTS UNDER THEIR "GOODWILL" POLICY, BUT OUT OF POCKET COST TO ME WAS STILL OVER $800. THE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS, VIN [XXX] ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 18,000 MILES. THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY AT NO COST TO ME. THIS WAS ALSO THE 3.4L V6 ENGINE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A PROBLEM GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND HAVE NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION IN A TIMELY MANNER. AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS ENGINE IS CERTAINLY CALLED FOR. I HAVE ADVISED MANY FRIENDS TO AVOID PURCHASING A GM CAR WITH EITHER THE 3.1L OR 3.4L ENGINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070336January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY CAR HAD SOMETHING GO WRONG WITH THE INTAKE GASKETS TO WHERE THE PLASTIC MELTED TO THE ENGINE, THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT AND CLEANED AND ALL OF THE INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP SPEED OR CLIMB A HILL THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT AND AT TIMES LOOSES SPEED. THIS CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, THE DEALER STATES NOTHING IS WRONG. THE GAS NEEDLE WILL READ FULL AND THEN THE CAR WILL RUN OUT OF GAS THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY LEAVING ME STRANDED AND SEVERAL TIMES AROUND TOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE GAS SENSORS. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY WITH LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS. THE DEFROSTER, AIR CONDITIONER AND HEAT STILL AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS IN DO NOT HEAT UP OR COOL DOWN THE CAR. ONE DAY I HAD STARTED THE CAR HALF AN HOUR BEFORE LEAVING AND ON THE WAY TO WORK THE WINDSHIELD FROZE UP, THE DEFROST HAD BEEN AND STILL WAS ON HIGH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070657January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING LEAKAGE OF COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND ONTO PAVEMENT. THIS TYPE OF GASKET FAILURE IS UNACCEPTABLE AT SUCH LOW MILES. AUGUST UPDATE: SINCE FILING THE COMPLAINT, I HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED (ALONG WITH THE OTHER GASKETS, SEALS, AND RINGS THAT ARE TYPICALLY REPLACED IN THIS PROCEDURE) BY THE OLDS DEALER HERE IN MY AREA. THIS WAS DONE AT MILEAGE 51947 ON 2/11/03 FOR MY 2000 OLDS ALERO THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 7/6/2000. AS FOR COST, I WAS ABLE TO DO SOME NEGOTIATING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. ABOUT ONE MONTH EARLIER, I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO GET THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED. IT HAD FALLEN OUT OF TRACK (FOR THE SECOND TIME), AND I RAISED THE ISSUE THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THAT THEIR COMPETITOR CARS DO NOT DO THIS (NON GM VEHICLES). HAVING NEGOTIATED A LOW PRICE ON THIS WINDOW REPAIR, THE SERVICE MANAGER REMEMBERED ME FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIR. I RAISED A NUMBER OF ISSUES AND FACTS SURROUNDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE ENTIRE REPAIR DONE FOR $276.75, ALONG WITH AN OIL CHANGE AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACEMENT, INCLUDED. I HAVE NOT NOTICED AND PROBLEMS WITH COOLANT LEAKAGE SINCE THE REPAIR WAS PREFORMED. ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS, SINCE MY REPAIR WAS DONE IN FEBRUARY 2003, BUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN IS DATED MARCH 2003, WERE OLD PARTS USED IN MY REPAIR AND WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070691January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2001 WITH 30K MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO CARRY ME OVER TO 75K MILES. I FIRST HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. THEN I HAD TO GET A NEW FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS APPROX 4-5 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. THE ROTORS TWICE. THEY BOTH NEED CHANGED AGAIN. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD TO BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE SWITCH WAS BROKE AND IT WAS BLOWING AIR AT ALL VENTS INCLUDING THE FLOOR AND WINDSHIELD. THEN, THE MOTOR WENT OUT. AT APPROX 65K MILES. A USED MOTOR WAS PAID FOR BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND INSTALLED AFTER SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH. THIS WAS IN JANUARY. AT THAT SAME TIME THE EXHAUST HAD WENT OUT. I WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS A PIECE THAT HOOKED ONTO IT. FINALLY AFTER THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR THE PUT A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN. THEN COMES THE CD PLAYER. IT EJECTS AT RANDOM AND SKIPS. IT ALSO GIVES ERROR CODES FREQUENTLY. THEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHT STAY ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS TOLD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. WELL, YESTERDAY I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING AND FLUSH. I ALSO HAD A TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE, TIRES ROTATED, AIR FILTER INSTALLED, NEW FUEL FILTER, AND NEW SPARK PLUGS. STILL I AM HAVING A FUEL PROBLEM OF SOME SORT. THE CAR IDLES AND MISFIRES VERY BADLY. IT SHAKES BADLY ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU NAUSEOUS. IT ALSO MISFIRES WHEN YOU SPEED UP AND SOMETIME SPUTTERS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. THIS WAS AFTER EVERYTHING WAS DONE. THEN I AM TOLD IT SOUNDS LIKE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS GOING OUT AGAIN AFTER ONLY 8 MONTHS. THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I WOULD NOT SAY THAT BUT I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT EVERY SINGLE COMPLAINT MENTIONED THE BRAKE SYSTEM BUT 50% OF THEM MENTION THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SEVERAL MENTIONED THE ENGINE PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070700January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PROBLEM MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON WEDNESDAY 8/20/03 JUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATE 30 MILES WHEN THIS LIGHT CAME ON. CALL THE DEALER FROM WHICH I BROUGHT THIS PROGRAM CAR.CALL:BACON AUTOPLEX IN PALESTINE TEXAS . PURCHASED 7/14/03 WITH 14, 016 MILES. CALLED THEM ABOUT 3PM ON 8/20/03. I FILLED UP WITH GAS ( WHICH GAUGE INDICATED 1/2/ FULL) PRIOR TO THE 30 MILES THEN LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE NO ONE WAS THERE(BACON) TO TEST FOR THE CAUSE ON 8/20/03. TOLD(BACON ) THAT I WAS GOING TO DRIVE OVER 140 ON 8/21/03. SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT HURT. THE LIGHT WENT OFF 8/21/03 1/2 MILES FROM MY HOME. 8/22/03 ABOUT 11 AM THE LIGHT CAME ON ONCE AGAIN 15699 MILES. CALL BACON 8/22/03 REGARDING THE PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN. THEY SAID THAT I COULD BRING IT OVER FOR TESTING WHICH I DID. FOUND A CODE 440? WHAT EVER THAT WAS. BACON SAID IT COULD BE SEVERAL THINGS. DID NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO FURTHER TEST. I DID TALK TO THE MANAGER OF BACON, STILL NO ATTEMPT TO TEST IT FURTHER. MANAGE DID ASK IF I WANTED ANOTHER CAR. WHY WOULD I WANT ANOTHER OLDS ALERO ? IWAS MORE THEN UP SET: I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR. FAIL TO DO THE TESTING FOR EXACT CAUSE. APPOINTMENT MADE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WILL BE DONE AT THIS TIME SINCE FOR NOW THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE CAUSE. THE LIGHT COMES ON WITH FUEL IS 1/2/ FULL BOTH TIMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068721January 15, 2004
WHEELS
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM LUG BOLTS. ALL LUG BOLTS BROKE OFF BEHIND THE WHEEL HUB.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068787January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, WHEELS
WHEEL BEARING WORE OUT AT 52000 MILES. BATTERY TERMINAL POST BROKE OFF. BRAKE CALIPER MELTED AT 51000 MILES. TWO POWER STEERING LINES BURST AT 59000. THE COST OF THE REPAIR FOR THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS AN ESTIMATE I GOT FROM A MECHANIC, BUT I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED. I'M HOPING FOR A RECALL BEFORE I TAKE ANY ACTION. MY COMPLAINTS ARE BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO GOOD REASON FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS TO NEED REPAIR THAT SERIOUS. AREN'T WHEEL BEARINGS AND POWER STEERING LINES SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR A WHILE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068827January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. PERSISTANT SCRAPING NOISE FROM FT END SINCE 10/21/01. CAVENDAR MECHANICS EVALUTED PROBLEM 4-6 SEPARATE TIMES W/ DIFFERENT PROGNOSIS EACH TIME, LATER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 3/18/02. CURRENTLY STILL HAVING SAME SCRAPING NOISE AND FLUID(REDISH) LEAKAGE FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE 2. 3 WINDOW MOTORS FAILED /REPAIRED 3. TWICE ALTERNATOR FAILURE/REPAIRED W/2 SEPERATE ALTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069066January 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FIRE MARSHALL STATED DEFECTIVE PART @ THE FUEL PUMP/FUEL TANK SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED FIRE AND COMPLETELY TOTALLED THE CAR. FUEL TANK EXPLODED QUICKLY. LUCKILY MY BABY WAS NOT IN THE BACK SEAT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I LOST A LOT OF MY BELONGINGS THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE AS I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069179January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ENGINE: INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO ENGINE. $846 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. GM DEALER WILL NOT COVER REPAIR. BRAKES: 2ND SET OF BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED, THIS IS FIRST ONE OUT OF WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069184January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
LEAKING COOLANT, USES DEX-COOL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069185January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
COOLANT LEAKING FROM ENGINE AREA, TOLD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS NEEDED REPLACING. 3.4L ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053252January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE OLDSMOBILE ALERO IS A PILE OF CRAP. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT AT 70,000 MILES, I HAD A WARRANTY AND THEY DIDN'T FIX IT. MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL WENT OUT AND MY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HASN'T WORKED SINCE ABOUT 60,000 MILES. I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY THIS CAR JUST BURSTS INTO FLAMES. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053291January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR OVERHEATED. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. REAR OF INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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