Oldsmobile Alero Complaints

1,957 consumer complaints on file.

#10068013April 28, 2004
SUSPENSION
THIS CAR HAS MANY PROBLEMS BUT THE WORST OF THEM IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPRING THAT BROKE IN HALF WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BEFORE HITTING ANY OTHER DRIVERS. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 70K ON IT AND THE SPRING SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THAT. THE STRUTS ARE ALSO SHOT AND THE MOUNTING PLATES ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ALSO VIBRATES AND PULSS TO THE LEFT IF YOU HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING OVER 50MPH. SOMETIMES THE POWER WINDOWS ALSO QUIT WORKING FOR NO REASON. ALSO WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF IN THE CAR IN THE MORNING THERE IS A LOUD GRINGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOBODY CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. SINCE HAVING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 1/2 YEARS OLD. I REMEMBER WHEN A CAR WOULD LAST YOU A GOOD 15 YEARS IF YOUR TOOK CARE OF IT. WHAT HAPPEN TO QUALITY. NO WONDER THE JAPANESSE ARE DOING SO WELL!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067834April 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO GLS. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT LIGHT KEPT GOING ON. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR INITIALLY AND DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKAGE. I ADDED 50/50 DEX-COOL TO THE RESEVOIR. ALL WAS WELL FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT MONTH. I STARTED NOTICING LEAKAGE. AFTER REVIEWING WHERE THE LEAKAGE IS COMING FROM, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS RIGHT ABIVE WHERE THE THERMOSTAT WHERE THERE IS A BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO THE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067790April 25, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ALL 4 WINDOWS IN MY1999 ALERO ARE DEFECTIVE. 2 PASSENGER WINDOWS ARE ETCHING THE GLASS EVERYTIME THEY GO UP AND DOWN. DRIVER WINDOW INSIDE MECHANISM EXPLODED AND SHATTERED THE GEARS INSIDE. WINDOW FORTUNATELY IS STILL ON TRACK BUT NOT FUNCTIONING. BACK WINDOW HAS TO BE TAPED UP BECAUSE IT WILL NOT STAY UP AND WILL FALL INTO DOOR. I USUALLY AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR. HAVE NEVER HAD WINDOWS MALFUNCTION LIKE THIS. HELP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071470April 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 70 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT REAR AXLE BROKE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067740April 23, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1. BLINKERS ARE BROKEN 2. EMERGENCY LIGHTS DO NOT WORK 3. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ~57500 MILES 4. MOTOR UNDER SEAT WENT OUT; LOCAL DEALER ORDERED IT WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NEVER NOTIFIED ME IT WAS IN 5. CLEAR COAT WAS PEELING ON HOOD - LOCAL DEALER FIXED 6. DASH BOARD IS PEELING UP 7. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING SINCE ABOUT ~31000 MILES 8. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK MUST I GO ON? I HOPE GMAC WILL FIX SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071505April 23, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE SWITCHES FAILED EVERY 30,000 MILES. WHEN THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS FAILED THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO BECAME INEFFECTIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067625April 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
DUE TO GM DEFECT TO DATE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, SERPENTINE BELT AND AM NOW LOOKING AT REPLACING GAS TANK AND HEATER CORE. . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064933April 20, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND A GENTLEMAN THAT HAPPENED TO BE A MECHANIC TURNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL BUT IT WAS FOR 200-2001 VEHICLES. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061640April 20, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066453April 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER :03V327000 FOR 2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE IT MY SELF. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 1999 MODEL YEAR? IF NOT WHY NOT?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10066483April 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOWS REGULATOR & POWER WINDOW MOTORS BOTH SIDES BECOME INOPERABLE,HIGH COST OF REPAIR. ALSO THE WHOLE WIRING SYSTEM. WIRES LOOSE,GET PINCHED BY GEARSHIFT. NOW THE RADIOS VOLUME TURNS UP WITH HIGHER RPM OR DOWN AT LOW RPM.WHEN BACK WINDOW DEFROSTER IS ON RADIO CRACKLES OR COMPLETELY TURNS OFF.SAME HAPPENS AT TIMES WHEN PUTTING GEAR INTO PARK. THERE IS REALY NO INCIDENT DATE, THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 6-8 MONTH.*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
#10067324April 16, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE ROLLING UP THE WINDOWS CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER, DRIVER, AND REAR WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO THE FRAME OF THE WINDOWS, CAUSING ALL THE WINDOWS TO BREAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067125April 14, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAZARD WARNING SWITCH PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS CURRENTLY ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *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
#10059770April 8, 2004
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER STATED PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FASTENED, IT RETRACTED , HOLDING PASSENGER TIGHTLY AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. *AK *JB
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
#10064520April 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2001 ALERO AND I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY INTAKE GASKET LEAKING, AND CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH MY WHEEL HUB BEARING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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