Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (2000)

557 consumer complaints on file.

#10055136January 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2000 ALERO (64025 MILES). MY MECHANIC SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET, A COST OF $600.00 TO FIX. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS REPLACED MANY OF THESE MOSTLY IN ALEROS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2000-2003. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY CAR. THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR ABOUT 1 YR. THE OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A QUOTE OF JUST UNDER $400.00 TO REPAIR IT. NOT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS AND BRAKES REPLACE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CAR (ABOUT 1 YR AGO) AND ABOUT EVERY 3-5 MONTHS I HAVE TO GO IN AND HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED. IT COST ME CLOSE TO $800.00 TO HAVE THE BRAKE AND ROTORS REPLACE AND THE TURNING OF THE ROTORS ARE UNDER WARRANTY...BUT I HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO DO THIS AND IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT. NOT TO MENTION THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD...OLDSMOBILE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS COSTING THEIR CUSTOMERS TIME AND MONEY!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054933January 26, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
REGARDING 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO: EXPERIENCED STEERING FAILURE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. STEERING WOULD COMPLETELY LOCK WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN MAKING SLIGHT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHT EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON SEVERAL OTHER GM VEHICLES (DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION UNIT, COSTING OVER $950. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GM VEHICLES, THEN WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054814January 24, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION ON 2000 ALERO WITH 67,000 MILES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#10054015January 14, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL #03V327000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT PRIOR TO THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH HIMSELF AT A COST OF $28.00. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053909January 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
ENGINE COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS FAULTY, AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053001January 12, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE ALEROS IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053011January 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
GENERAL MOTORS CONSIDERS A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A WARRANTY DEFECT. WARPED ROTORS CAUSE UNDUE VIBRATION AND SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE ROTOR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 24,000 MILES, BY TURNING THE ROTOR IN APRIL 2002. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE RECURRED AND GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT REPAIR THEM UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDS THEIR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. MR. EVAN DOEL (1-866-952-4368) AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION ALSO EXPRESSED THE FACT THAT A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR ON THE ALERO IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" AND THAT HE HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION DEMONSTRATES CORPORATE IRRESPONSIBILITY IN KNOWING THAT REPEATED OCCURRENCES OF A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR ON THE OLDSMOBILE ALERO IS CATEGORIZED AND SIMPLY CONSIDERED A "COMMON PROBLEM." A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE VEHICLE, ITS DRIVER AND ITS OCCUPANTS ARE PUT INTO JEOPARDY THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR DEATH. I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN A LETTER DIRECTLY TO G. RICHARD WAGONER, JR., CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION ON DECEMBER 1,2003 AND CARBON COPIED TO .MR. PAUL WHITE, GENERAL MANAGER OF CREST AUTO GROUP IN PLANO, TEXAS 75075, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048766January 8, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TURN SIGNALS OPERATED POORLY. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED, THE CONSUMER HIT THE HAZARD BUTTON AND THEY BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. THE CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE HE WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER AND WHEN HE TOOK IT TO THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK WHERE HE PURCHASED IT. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH AT $28.00 NOW THE HAZARDS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK FINE. *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052153December 30, 2003
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REGULATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS BROKEN. IT WAS REPLACED FOR $309.74. THE CONSUMER SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER/MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THESE THINGS AT THE RATE OF 4-5 PER MONTH. HE STATED THAT HIS JUST SNAPPED AND THE WINDOW FELL DOWN COMPLETELY, BECAUSE IT OPERATES ON A PULLEY TYPE SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051020December 23, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
HAZARD LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER FLORIN ROAD KIA HAS LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND STILL NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOTOR. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR, I JUST BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY!!!!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051793December 18, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS. AT ANY SPEED THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRICAL WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049785December 16, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BEGAN TO FAIL EARLIER THIS YEAR. STARTING IN SEPT. 2003 I HAD TO ADD DEXCOOL EVERY TWO WEEKS TO MY RESERVOIR; BEGINNING IN OCT. 2003 I HAD TO ADD EVERY 7 TO 10 DAYS. MY CAR WAS NOT QUITE YET TO 50000 MILES. GM CLAIMS THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY DEXCOOL AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD MY COOLANT SYSTEM SERVICED AT 30000 MILLES BUT I HAVE THREE PIECES OF GM DOCUMENTS THAT SAY THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SERVICED UNTIL 150000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY ONE GM SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PART I HAD TO REPLACE WAS A PIECE OF JUNK. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO CRASHES OR FATALITIES. I HAD TO ADD TWO MONTHS TO MY CAR NOTE IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE PART COST $58 AND THE REPAIR COST $540. I HAVE READ COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS PART HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS AND THAT GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Oldsmobile Alero