Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (1999)

462 consumer complaints on file.

#10067376April 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
FRONT HUB BEARING WORE OUT PREMATURELY. AS A RESULT, A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066490April 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILURE CAUSES NEAR COLLISION ON FREEWAY. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A BUSY DAY MY COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ENGINE STARTED PULSING STRANGELY. TRYING TO PULL INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE CAUSED SEVERAL CARS TO NEARLY SLAM INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT WAS FOUND TO BE A COMMON FLAW IN THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET ON 3.4L (3400) GM ENGINES. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I'VE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM YET GM IS DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067163April 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE FRONT HUBS AND WHEEL BEARINGS. ALSO, VEHICLE USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND COOLANT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065712April 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LOSS OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION INTO AN INTERSECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064566April 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT 50K MILES, LOW COOLANT LIGHT WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF SO PER THE MANUAL DEXCOOL/WATER MIXTURE WAS ADDED. THIS ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM ONLY TEMPORARILY HOWEVER. LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, AND LATER AT 61K, OIL LEAK WAS NOTICED ON THE SIDE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME WEEK, DURING WHICH THE SECURITY DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON (FOR NO APPARENT REASON). ALSO DURING THIS WEEK, THE "CHANGE OIL" DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON 100 MILES BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE WAS DUE (AT 2900 MILES). THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX PER ITS APPOINTMENT, AND NOT ONLY WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE, BUT THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. IN ADDITION, ON ITS WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO FLASH FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS BEFORE TURNING TO A STEADILY LIT DUMMY LIGHT. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GIVEN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K OR AS NECESSARY, SO THIS PERFORMANCE AND OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW ARE VERY DISAPPOINTING. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR/3.4L V6 ENGINE TO ANYONE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AND CONSIDERING THIS MAKE/MODEL/ENGINE TYPE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060584April 1, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
I OWN A 1999 OLDS ALERO. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE PLUG GOING INTO THE REAR DEFOGGER/RADIO MODULE WAS MELTED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. I CHECKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I ASKED IF THEY HAD A REPLACEMENT PART SO THAT I COULD REPAIR THIS AND THEY SAID NONE WERE AVAILABLE. I WENT TO MY LOCAL SCRAP YARD AND WAS ABLE TO GET A REPLACEMENT END FROM A WRECKED ALERO. THIS WAS ONLY AFTER FINDING MELTED PLUGS IN TWO OTHER ONES THEY HAD. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY DUE THE DANGER OF A FIRE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB - 3/17/04- CONSUMER CALLED WITH THE CORRECT VIN#. COMPLAINT HAS BEEN UPDATED. *RP *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064301March 31, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LAMPS ARE INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064957March 26, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED FIVE TIMES WITHIN 70,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062527March 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I BOUGHT MY ALERO IN MAY OF 2003, AND IT IS NOT MARCH 2004 AND I AM REPLACING THE MOTOR. STARTED OUT WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS, THEN WENT ON TO THE LEATHER UNDER THE WINDOWS AND ON THE DASH "BUBBLING" UP IN THE SUN. NEXT, I HAD COOLANT/OIL LEAKS AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON ALL THE TIME, LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT STAYS ON, THE FAN FOR THE A/C OR HEAT ONLY WORKED IN THE 3-5 POSITIONS. (IT'S FULL BLAST OR NOTHING.) COOLANT LIGHT FREQUENTLY CAME ON, TRANSMISSION FLUID VANISHES, COOLANT LEAKS, YET NO ONE KNOWS WHERE FROM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER GOES BELOW HALFWAY, AND IT RAN HOT A LOT. HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT CAP AND OVERFLOW RESEVOIR. THE GAS HAND STICKS, THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS, THE LEATHER SEATS ARE TEARING, HAD TO REPLACE THE FACTORY RADIO BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT PICK UP ANY CHANNELS, REAR DEFROST WORKS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO, AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON ABOUT HALF THE TIME. I TOOK THIS CAR TO 7 MECHANICS, HAD IT HOOKED UP TO DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTERS, HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED-YET NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. FINALLY, I LEFT THE MECHANIC SHOP AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS "GOOD TO GO" (WHICH I WOULD NEVER PUT IN THE SAME SENTENCE WITH ALERO AGAIN.), AND IT STARTING SKIPPING. I HAD IT TOWED, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD A CRACKED BLOCK AND CRACKED HEADS. (NEW MOTOR NEEDED-FINAL PROGNOSIS) MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD TO PUT A MOTOR IN IT BECAUSE IN 2 YEARS-THE NEW MOTOR WILL DO THE SAME! OLDSMOBILE SHOULD BE ASHAMED THAT THEY WOULD RECALL A GLOVE BOX LATCH, YET NOT THE MOTOR. AFTER READING THE REVIEWS THAT I HAVE READ IN THE PAST WEEK, I AM SEEKING LEGAL ACTION IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. I DID NOT PAY $17,000 FOR A LEMON, WHICH IS ALL I GOT!! DON'T BUY!! BUYER BEWARE!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063342March 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062230March 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
1999 2 DOOR OLDS ALERO HAD BROKEN POWER WINDOWS. BOTH BROKE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. TOOK TO AUTO SERVICE AND IT COST $616 TO FIX. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060200March 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WITH A 3.4L ENGINE. AT A COST OF $652.01, ON 28-OCTOBER-2003 I HAD SERVICE PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS LOOSING COOLANT AT REGULAR INTERVALS AND IT WAS NOT LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE SEVERE CAUSE FOR CONCERN WAS AFTER I HAD REFILLED MY COOLANT RESERVOIR, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES, AND ALL OF THE COOLANT WAS GONE. THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE SHOT UP TO THE RED ZONE, AND I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET AND I WAS ON MY WAY. A FEW WEEKS LATER I NOTICED THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AGAIN, AND I HAD TO ADD MORE COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 25-NOVEMBER-2003. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NO LEAKS. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. CONSISTENTLY, EVERY 2 WEEKS, I WAS REFILLING THE COOLANT RESEVOIR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING UNTIL RECENTLY (FEBRUARY 2004). IN LATE FEBRUARY 2004 I STARTED LOSING COOLANT AT A MUCH FASTER RATE, ABOUT 3 DAY INTERVALS. ON 2-MARCH-2004 MY CAR DID NOT START THE FIRST 2 TIMES I TRIED, ON THE THIRD IT CAUGHT. I DECIDED TO INSPECT THE OIL, USING THE DIP STICK, AND FOUND THAT THE OIL WAS A THICK GOO. THIS PROMPTED ME TO CALL GM AND THE DEALERSHIP TO IDENTIFY MY OPTIONS FOR HAVING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. I AM FRUSTRATED, AGGREVATED, ANNOYED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND I FEAR THAT HAD THIS GONE UNDETECTED, THE OIL WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO A STATE WHERE IT WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO FUNCTION, PERHAPS LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. NOT ONLY DO I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT HAVING A SEVERE PROBLEM LIKE THIS "FIXED" ONLY TO FIND THAT IT HAPPENS AGAIN WILL ONLY LEAD TO THE SAMETHING HAPPENING YET ANOTHER TIME. HOW MANY TIMES WILL I HAVE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED? IS THIS A RECURRING SAFETY CONCERN?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059867February 26, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID, THAT STOPPED THE NOISE. ALSO, CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING SOUND WHEN RIGHT TURNS WERE MADE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056986February 11, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
OLDS ALERO 1999 TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CAN GO TO NUETRAL FROM DRIVE WITHOUT PUSHING SHIFTER BUTTON.THE SHIFTER SHOULD HAVE A LOCK IN DRIVE SO YOU CAN NOT BUMP IT OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING.THE TRANS. IS AN AUTOMATIC FLORR MOUNTED SHIFTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056608February 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET AND MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK ON A 1999 OLDS ALERO WITH 55000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055157January 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. UPON CHECKING THE COOLANT LEVELS, IT WAS LOW. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSIS IS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH AN $800+ REPAIR COST. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, THE PARTICULAR TYPE OF COOLANT, DEXCOOL, USED IN GM CARS IS LINKED TO CORROSION TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055042January 28, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ALWAYS FLASH OR CONTINUE TO FLASH WHEN ACTIVATED! I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER DURING THE FIRST YEAR (1999) THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. THE FLASHER IS SEALED UNDER THE DASH AND IS NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE AS IN MOST VEHICLES WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT CAN BE REPLACED OFF THE SHELF AT ANY LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. TODAY, I WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY WHEN THE FLASHERS STOPPED FLASHING. THEY CONTINUED TO FLASH WHEN I PUSHED AND RELEASED THE HAZARD SIGNAL BUTTON. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT RELIABLE AND NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVING PART OF THE DASHBOARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071291January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAME AFTER 5 MILE DRIVE TO A SHOPPING MALL. CAR WAS CRUISING PARKING LOT LOOKING FOR SPACE WHEN FIRE ERUPTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069253January 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
LEAKING FUEL FROM/AROUND FUEL REGULATOR SPRAYING ON ENGINE
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

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