Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (2003)

184 consumer complaints on file.

#10137937September 28, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I EXPERIENCED IGNITION FAILURE RECENTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSIVE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THIS VERY ITEM ON 6 OTHER VEHICLES EXACTLY THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MINE WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. (THAT SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT FOR ONE SHOP TO DO.) I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART INCLUDING LABOR WOULD BE $460!! THIS WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE, BUT MUCH LESS THAN THE DEALER WANTED (AS EXPECTED). I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE, YET IT WAS NOT RECALLED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127324July 2, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CAR SHARPLY PULLD TO LEFT AND THEN VEARED OFF ROAD AND STARTED FLIPPING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. HIGHWAY PATROL AND OTHER WITNESSES SAW CAR WHILE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND SAW TIEROD WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN, MENTIONING THAT THIS WAS WHAT CAUSED IT TO SHARPLY VEAR TO THE LEFT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10115896June 20, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE RPM'S INCREASED WHEN BRAKING AT 37-40 MPH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125609June 17, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DT: THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THERE WERE ONLY 37,811 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THE OWNER NOTICED PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT AS SOON AS VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE, A HUMMING SOUND. OWNER HAD THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. GENERAL MOTORS DID REIMBURSE THE OWNER FOR THE REPAIRS. OWNER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND HIS LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE OWNER WAS AWARE OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124906June 10, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 8, 2005 WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE ACCELERATOR! THEN WHEN I TRIED TO STOP MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. I HAD TO THROW THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO PREVENT MY CAR FROM RUNNING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PULLED OVER ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THE ENGINE KEPT RACING. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF, I TRIED SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL TO PARK. NOTHING WORKED. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN TO SEE IF IT WOULD STOP AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES MY CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WHEN I CALLED TO SEE IF THEY WERE FINISHED FIXING MY CAR I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG; SO MY BOSS AND I TOOK IT INTO OUR OWN HANDS. WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALEROS WHERE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS (IT WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES THAT DAY) THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I BROUGHT THE REPORT WE FOUND WITH ME TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT HE REFUSED TO HELP. HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER. HE ALSO COULD NOT FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I LEFT AND CALLED OLDSMOBILE DIRECTLY. THERE WERE JUST AS HELPFUL AS MILLER SUBARU DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD I COULD GET A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER GM DEALERSHIP, BUT IT WON'T GET FIXED UNLESS THE PROBLEM IS DUPLICATED. I KNOW MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT RECALLED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM MUST BE MORE WIDE SPREAD THEN THEY ORIGINALLY THOUGHT SINCE I ACTUALLY HAD THE PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WASN'T RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY, BUT OLDSMOBILE AND MILLER SUBARU HAVE BEEN TOTALLY UNCOOPERATIVE THUS FAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121121May 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS RECALL AT ALL. I WAS ON MY COMPUTER AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE INFORMATION. MY SON AND I ARE CO-OWNER OF THIS CAR, AND WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD ABOUT ANY RECALLS FOR THE CAR. I USE MY CAR TO TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIX. PLEASE HELP ME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118917April 18, 2005
SEAT BELTS
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SLID DOWN AN ICE COVERED HILL, STRUCK A TREE AND THE SEAT BELTS RELEASED.*MR THE REAR SEAT BELTS SECURED TWO CHILD SAFETY SEATS, 1 BOOSTER SEAT AND ONE CHILD SEAT, WHICH WERE THROWN ABOUT DURING THE ACCIDENT. BOTH CHILDREN SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS TO THE FOREHEAD. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
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
#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
#10105154January 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS CAME ON PERIODICALLY, AND THE WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND HAD ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECRICAL WIRING WAS REPLACED BUT WHEN INSPECTED THE OLD WIRE WAS FOUND STILL IN THE VEHICLE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106127January 11, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 750 MILES. ATAINED SPEED OF 65MPH FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN ACTED AS IF IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, I MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR AT 45MPH AND PROCEEDED TO NEXT SAFEST PLACE TO STOP. AFTER STOPPED I SHIFTED TO D AND THEN TOOK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I STOPPED AGAIN AND WAITED A FEW SECOND THEN TOOK OFF AND IT BEGAIN TO SHIFT NORMALLY AGAIN. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER, THEY DID A DIANOGSTIC TEST AND IT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES I NOTICED A POOL OF ANTIFREEZE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AND EVIDENCE OF IT LEAKING ONTO MY FRONT RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY FILLED MY ANTIFREEZE LEVEL BACK UP AND DID A TEST AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK, THEY SAID IT MIGHT OF CAME OUT OF THE DRAIN HOLE WHERE IT WOULD NORMALLY LEAK WHEN THE BEARING IN THE WATER PUMP GOES OUT.... HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY MORE LEAKS, SOMETIMES SMELL BURNT ANTIFREEZE. ALSO AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES THE NUMBERS AND LETTERS ON THE BUTTONS ON THE RADIO WERE BECOMING WORE OFF, WHICH SEEMS WAY TOO EARLY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106040January 10, 2005
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, AIR BAGS
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I-95 IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, THE INSIDE OF HER STEERING WHEEL, FELL INTO HER LAP. LUCKILY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD TO TAPE THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BACK IN PLACE SO WE COULD RETURN HOME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102271December 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR APPROXIMAYTELY 9 MONTHS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT WARRANTY IS OUT BACAUSE OF MILEAGE. I DRIVE ABOUT 700 MILES A WEEK FOR MY JOB, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I SIT AND PLAY WITH MY POWER WINDOW, WITH THE CAR BEING SO NEW, IT SHOULD STILL BE WORKING. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE AROUND $300, MAYBE MORE. I FIND THIS TO BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE CONSIDERING THE AGE OF THE CAR. IS THERE NOT A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY ON SUCH PARTS OR IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORS IN THE DOORS FOR THE WINDOW?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101712November 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE SERVICED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT HELP HIM. HE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO A RICHARDSON OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP. WHEN HE AGAIN TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO GET IT SERVICED, THEY DID NOT FIX IT BECAUSE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING BACK WINDOW MAD E A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. IT SEEMED LIKE THE WINDOW WAS NOT SECURE AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091080September 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSOLE ARE NEXT TO GEARSHIFT GET EXTREMELY HOT WHEN LIGHT ARE ON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080773July 10, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ACCELEATOR HANGS UP ON MY OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE ENGIN REVS UP AND THE BRAKES BARLEY STOPS THE CAR. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT REVS UP AND WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE IT JUST TAKES OFF STILL REVVED. *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
#10064725March 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKE PEDAL DESCENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE BECAME NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FOR STOPPING.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061898March 11, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
THE VEHICLE DIES. WHILE CRUISING AT ANY SPEED, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES & STEERING FAILED DUE TO THE ENGINE DYING. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN, IT MIGHT STALL 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY, THEN TWICE THE NEXT DAY. THEN GO 4 DAYS WITH NO OCURRENCE, THEN IT WILL STALL ONCE A DAY FOR 3 DAYS. THEN GO A WEEK WITH NO OCURRENCE, THEN STALL 4 TIMES A DAY FOR 5 DAYS, ETC., ETC. IN EVERY OCURRENCE, IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START BACK UP. AT HIGH SPEEDS, IT IS EXTREMELY TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE REQUIRED 4 TIMES UNDER THE LEMON LAW PROCESS. THE DEALER CANNOT ASCERTAIN, NOR FIX THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED TO THE DEALER AT LEAST ONCE WHEN WE TOOK IT IN. I DOUBT THEY WILL ADMIT IT, HOWEVER, MY WIFE WAS WITNESS. THE CAR IS A 2003. EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT IT IN JULY 2003, IT WAS CONSIDERED A USED CAR. GM HAS DENIED OUR CLAIM SINCE THE LEMON LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO USED CARS. THE CAR HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY PARKED SINCE NOVEMBER 2003. WE WERE FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. THE DEALER WOULD NOT TRADE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A BADLUCK SITUATION FOR US. WE CANNOT AFFORD 2 CAR PAYMENTS / 2 INSURANCE PREMIUMS, NOR CAN WE AFFORD $300.00 PER HOUR TO SUE GM. I STOPPED MAKING PAYMENTS IN DECEMBER 2003. I HAVE KEPT THE FINANCE COMPANY ABREAST OF THE SITUATION. THEY HAVE NOT REPOSSED AS OF YET. THEY WANT ME TO TRY TO SELL IT. CAN YOU HELP ?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050273December 9, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH IN THE RAIN CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A LARGE ROCK HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF THE ROCK AND HIT THE EMBANKMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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