Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (1999)
462 consumer complaints on file.
- #10122493June 20, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
ON 5/27/05, THE FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE, CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON DASH TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THERE WAS A CLANKING IN THE FRONT END AS THE DRIVER APPROACHED A STOP SIGN, THEN TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. THERE WERE NORMAL DRIVING AND WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED FRONT WHEEL BEARING ISSUES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED AS A RESULT OF THE SPRING BREAKAGE. THE DRIVER NOTICED A WORN PATTERN ON THE TIRE WHERE THE SPRING HAD BEEN RUBBING. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. UPON THE LAST INSPECTION THERE WHERE NO REPORTS OF A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. *AK THE FRONT COIL SPRING SURROUNDING THE STRUT BROKE AND THE SHARP STEEL EDGE FROM THE BRAKE GOUGED THE TIRE WEARING A GROOVE IN IT AND AFTER A SHORT TIME CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE CAUSED SMOKE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10124720June 3, 2005SEAT BELTS
1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS NOT FASTENING. *MR THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *SC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121671May 20, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: 1999 WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PUSH THE HAZARD SWITCH IT SUNK INTO THE DASHBOARD. AND COULDN'T GET THE FLASHER TO GO OFF. CONSUMER TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING BROKE BEHIND THE SWITCH, WHEN THE SWITCHED WAS PUSHED. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD REPAIRS DONE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120235May 9, 2005VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
ON THE WAY FROM WORK ONE DAY AFTER A RAIN SHOWER, I USE THE POWER DRIVER WINDOW TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW FOR SOME FRESH AIR. WHEN I POWER ROLLED UP THE WINDOW, THERE WERE DEEP SCRATCHES ON VARIOUS PLACES ON THE WINDOW. TSB#98831520 TOOK TO DEALER SERVICE DEPT TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS FIXED BUT THREE DAYS LATER IT WAS SCRATCHED AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER. TOOK BACK TO DEALER SERVICE TO REPAIR...OKAY. LATER OTHER THREE WINDOW HAD SCRATCHES DUE TO USE. ALL REPLACED, BUT NOW THREE OF THE FOUR WINDOWS (PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR AND DRIVER REAR) HAVE SCRATCHES. THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. NOW THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURE FOR ASSISTANCE BUT NO HELP OFFERED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120236May 9, 2005STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN FLORIDA...FROM DAY 1 THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE A WINDOW IS LEFT OPEN. TOOK TO VARIOUS SERVICE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN OF THIS PROBLEM...VARIOUS THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE SERVICE DEPT., BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY...HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURE WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO HELP OFFERED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120233May 9, 2005STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AT A FLORIDA DEALERSHIP ON 11/1998. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER THE MATERIAL ON THE DOOR PANELS WAS COMING OFF...DETACHING...THE VINYL LIFTED OFF THE UPPER DOOR PANEL. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO REPLACE ON 09/2002 UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. MATERIAL ON DOOR PANEL IS NOW COMING OFF THE DOOR PANEL AGAIN. MANUFACTURE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120234May 9, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE NEW IN 1998 IN FLORIDA. LESS THAN 5 MONTHS LATER, THE POWER DRIVER SEAT BECOMES LOOSE...MOVES WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. AFTER SERVICE VISIT, DRIVER SEAT IS STILL LOOSE. MANUFACTURE WARRANTY IS NOW EXPIRED ON THIS VEHICLE...CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE, BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120239May 9, 2005POWER TRAIN
OCCASIONALLY, VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR...VEHICLE WILL TRY TO START...TACHOMETER WILL FLUCTUATE, BUT THE ENGINE ENDS UP STALLING. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY HAS TO BE HELD IN THE START POSITION LONGER THAN USUAL...ABOUT 5 SECONDS. TOOK TO VARIOUS DEALER SERVICE DEPT. SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NOTHING WRONG COULD BE FOUND BY THEM. VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY...CONTACTED MANUFACTURE FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT NONE GIVEN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120241May 9, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DISCOVERED DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION THAT OIL WAS LEAKING AROUND THE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE...NEAR THE HEAD AND INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA. PLUS HAVE BEEN SMELLING BURNING OIL THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM...OCCASIONALLY. AT THE TIME, VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY...CONTACT MANUFACTURE FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT ASSISTANCE WAS DENIED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10120238May 9, 2005PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN FLORIDA...FROM DAY ONE, THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT...WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A HILL WHEN PARKING BRAKE LEVER FULLY ENGAGED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER SERVICE CENTERS SEVERAL TIMES...PARKING BRAKE WOULD WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT WOULD RETURN TO PREVIOUS STATE OF NOT WORKING...INEFFECTIVE. FINALLY FIXED MYSELF...PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE ADJUSTER SCREW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10118504April 26, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
MY CAR WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT, AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE STALL, I HEARD A BANG. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR, I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT FRONT END WAS SITTING ON THE TIRE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD JUST BROKE. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME. IT COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY FATAL HAD THE SPRING BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I NOTICED THAT THIS SAME SPRING HAS BROKEN ON SEVERAL ALLERGY AND 26 GRAND AMS, BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED. I HAVE THE PART, IF FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. GM COULD BE EXPOSED TO STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY BECAUSE THIS DEFECT IS UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED GM, FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM, AND AM WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK. I LEFT 2 ADDITIONAL MESSAGES, AND NO ONE IS RETURNING MY CALLS. I AM ALSO GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10116795April 12, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
OCTOBER OF 2004 I WAS PARKED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS WAITING FOR MY DAUGHTER TO FINISH SCHOOL.WHEN I HEARD A BIG BANG. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR ,AND WALKED AROUND IT. I COULD FIND NOTHING. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT THERE WAS A CRUNCHING COMING FROM THE FRONT END. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING SNAPPED. I REPLACED IT THINKING IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT. THEN THIS WEEK APRIL 10,2005 I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND AGAIN HEARD ANOTHER BANG. THIS TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. I CAN SEE ONE BREAKING AS AN ACCIDENT , BUT WHEN BOTH GO. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. MY LAST CAR WAS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. THEY TOO HAD A FRONT COIL SPRING ISSUE. FORD RECALLED OUR CAR AND REPLACED THE SPRING AT NO CHARGE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107914January 25, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON JAN 17 I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROSTER. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, TWO TO THREE, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND. JUST ONE TIME, SO I STARTED LOOKING AROUND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. I NOTICED A HOLE BETWEEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW AND THE REAR WINDOW. MY ALERO WAS A 2 DOOR. WHEN I GOT WHEN I COULD PULL OVER THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOLE. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THEM OUT. I CALLED 911. BY TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS BEYOND SAVING. THE ONLY THING LEFT OF IT WAS THE BODY AND THE ENGINE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106325January 14, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK ONTO ENGINE BLOCK AND TRANSMISSION HOUSING. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3400 V6 ENGINE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106349January 14, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE HAD 3 OF THE 4 REGULATOR MOTORS GO OUT ON MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE, BACK DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE REPAIRED AS THE DEALER QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $400 TO FIX EACH ONE. THE FRONT ONE BROKE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO THAT WAS FIXED. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED AS THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN OR UP. THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE WINDOW JUST FELL DOWN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY ANNOYING SINCE I HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS AND THEIR WINDOWS WON'T STAY UP. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT, SINCE I'VE READ A NUMBER OF REPORTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING, AND SINCE IT'S HAPPENED TO 3 OF MY 4 WINDOWS. I HAVE A FEELING IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TOO, AS THAT WINDOW WON'T ROLL DOWN. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106184January 12, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS AGO I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUBS. ON 12/29/04 I HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT BEARING HUB REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DO NOT RECALL THE MILEAGE THE FIRST TIME. I HAD ABOUT 129,000 ON THIS TIME.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106096January 10, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SIGNS, THE CAR ENGINE DIED AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MI. CAR WAS DRIVEN LOCALLY AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IT COST $1,700.00 TO REPLACE (WITH AN ENGINE THAT HAD 43,000 MILES.), AND SEEMS THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE LASTED FOR MORE THAN 65,000 MILES.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104773December 30, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FAILURE OF HEAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO DUE TO DEX-COOL ENGINE COOLANT / FAULTY GASKET DESIGN.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104065December 18, 2004SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE AND ALSO MY BACK COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED MY BACK TIRE. I SPENT ALMOST A 1000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS FOR THESE REPAIRS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10103568December 13, 2004VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDOW HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0