Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (2003)

184 consumer complaints on file.

#10207985November 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES ON DASH BOARD. VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL 10 MINUTES,AFTER THE LIGHT STOPS. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM A YEAR AGO IN HAD IT FIX AT A GM DEALER FOR ABOUT $360.00. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206841October 25, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOW FALLS DOWN, AND WON'T ROLL UP EXCEPT BY HAND. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING, AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO I'M STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. IF I GO ON LONG TRIPS, I HAVE TO TAPE THE WINDOW UP AND THE WINDOW IS AN EYE-SORE BECAUSE OF IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206296October 19, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE VEHICLE INSPECTION TWICE WHEN THE WEATHER WAS 50 DEGREES; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS MUCH WARMER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,848.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199597August 14, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN HAD NEVER BEEN EASY TO USE, NOR DID IT ALWAYS FUNCTION, BUT SUDDENLY IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THEN IT COMPLETELY DIED. ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSED A SHORT-CIRCUIT AND PRONOUNCED THAT IT WOULD COST $1,390.00 + TAX TO REPAIR, AS THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG IN ADDITION TO THE 2 HORNS THAT THE CAR APPARENTLY HAS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196725July 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ACTIVATED WITHOUT PROVOCATION AND HE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO SHUT IT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HORN WIRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL PAD WAS STUCK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE CONSUMER STATED GM EXPLAINS THE HORN CONTACT IS INTEGRAL TO THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WHICH MUST BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE HORN AT THE SUM OF $800. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INFORMATION FROM A WEBSITE PERTAINING TO THE SAME DEFECT AS THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION. UPDATED 08/20/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193740June 19, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190600May 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
OUR 2003 OLDS ALERO GL 4-DR WITH 3.4L V-6 AND 75,000 MILES HAD A BLOWN INTAKE GASKET. WE WERE HAVING TO ADD COOLANT TO THE CAR ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS, BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AND FIGURED WE HAD SOME KIND OF A LEAK IN THE RESERVOIR. IT BEGAN TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE, WHICH WAS WHEN WE TOOK IT TO OUR CAR DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT COOLANT HAS BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE ,AND WILL NOW HAVE TO SPEND $1300 TO REPLACE THE GASKET. THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187797April 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF, INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT BEING RESET. I HAVE TRIED UNLOCKING AND LOCKING THE CAR REPEATEDLY. I TRIED CLEANING THE IGINITION SWITCH, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER, ETC. THE KEYS DO NOT HAVE THE MICRO CHIP IN THEM, SO I KNOW IT IS NOT THE KEY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177016December 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2003 OLDS ALERO. AT 35K MILES, BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WORK, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES ALSO NEEDED REPLACING. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE WERE BILLED $400+ FOR BRAKES AND ROTORS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND OLDS (AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS) REIMBURSED US FOR HALF OF THE BRAKE WORK. I WAS LATER TOLD BE A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT WHEEL BEARING, ROTOR AND PAD FAILURES WERE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ALERO AND GRAND AM. APPARENTLY GM DID NOT FEEL IT WAS WORTH STANDING BEHIND. NOW WE HAVE ADDED 15K MILES SINCE THE REPAIR, AND THE NEW FACTORY REPLACEMENT ROTORS ARE ALREADY WARPED AND CAUSING UNEVEN BRAKING AND STEERING SHIMMY. STAY AWAY FROM THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176234December 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR DASH LIGHTS, CD PLAYER, AND AC UNIT DO NOT TURN ON WHEN CAR STARTS. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND IS WARM. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND THEN STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS. THE DELAY FOR THE STARTING OF THE DASH AND ACCESSORIES IS ANYWHERE FROM 5 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169052September 8, 2006
STEERING
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED A BROKEN MOUNT ON THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BROKEN MOUNT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A SHARP JOLT SUCH AS HITTING A CURB OR A POTHOLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167282September 3, 2006
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2003 OLDS ALERO IS BUCKLING AND PEELING IN SEVERAL PLACES. I AM TRYING TO OBTAIN PROOF OF OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD. GM HAS BEEN OF NO ASSISTANCE TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163410July 25, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB AND A FLOWER POT BEFORE IT WAS STOPPED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK AND FULLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE FOR REPAIR. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 04V528000 WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158097May 23, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
AT ABOUT 43,000 MILES MY 2003 OLDS ALERO BEGAN EXPERIENCING GRINDING OR HUMMING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END THAT GOT LOUDER WITH ACCELERATION. AFTER INSPECTING THE FRONT BAKES AND DETERMINING THE BRAKES MAY NEED REPLACING I VISITED MY LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP. AFTER A TEST DRIVE I WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY. THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF NEARLY $300. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153971March 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
AUTO STALLED OUT TWICE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO YIELD, STOPPING COMPLETELY IN TRAFFIC AREAS SO THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED ASIDE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND THE CAR STARTED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS TESTED AT THAT TIME AND INDICATED EXCESS CURRENT FLOW. DURING THIS PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY, THE PARKED VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. EACH TIME, WITH NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND WOULD PERFORM FOR A DAY OR SO THEN REPEAT THE PROBLEM. INSPECTIONS INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE FINE AND THERE WERE NO OTHER INDICATORS OF CAUSE. FINALLY, WHEN BROUGHT TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND THE PASS LOCK SECURITY SYSTEM WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR BECAUSE IT DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND NEW KEYS CREATED, BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE IGNITION MODULE HAS FAILED ALSO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150967February 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER BUYING MY 2003 ALERO, I NOTICED A LAG IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD THEM KEEP IT FOR 3 DAYS. NO PROBLEM FOUND, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. SO I LIVED WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT NOW MY CAR IS RANDOMLY ACCELERATING WHILE I AM DRIVING IT DOWN THE ROAD OR SITTING IN PARK. IF YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS JUMP UP TO ALMOST RED LINING. IN PARK THE RPMS GO UP TO 3.5-4.5 RPM, AND IN DRIVE IT IDLES AT AROUND 50 MPHS. WITHOUT EVEN HITTING THE ACCELERATOR MY CAR DRIVES AT 50 MPH! AFTER MONTHS OF THIS OCCURRING I FOUND OUT THAT MY SPECIFIC CAR'S VIN WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT REASON. I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TELL ME TO BRING IT IN. AFTER 1 1/2 HOURS OF WAITING THEY TELL ME THAT GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE RECALL FIX. I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE PHONE AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. I AM READING AND THIS IS HAPPENING TO TONS OF PEOPLE. HOW CAN THEY LEGALLY GET AWAY WITH THIS??? I NEED HELP. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO DRIVES HER 6 YR OLD DAUGHTER AROUND IN THIS DEATH TRAP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149372February 3, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR SEEMED TO BE FINE..ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE.. TOOK IT TO A CLOSE SHOP AND HE SAID A SLEEVE WITHIN THE DRIVEN SPROCKET ASSEMBLY HAD SHIFTED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT, BLOCKING THE OIL FEED HOLE FOR THE SECOND CLUTCH....HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING!ESTIMATE WAS 1500-2000!!!I HAVE A CAR THAT I STILL OWE 7000 FOR THAT I CAN DO NOTHING WITH!MAYBE GOD WILL SEND ME 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148670January 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
2003 ALERO IGNITION SHORTED CAUSING CONSUMER NOT BE ABLE TO START VEHICLE, ALSO FOUND A LEAK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *TS THE PASSLOCK SENSOR IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER SHORTED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE INTAKE GASKETS AND OIL DRIVE O-RING LEAKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, ROCKER COVER GASKETS AND OIL PUMP DRIVESHAFT COVER SEAL. THE AIR BAG COVER WARPED. THE TOP OF THE DASH WAS WRINKLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAN WAS PEELING FROM IT'S BACKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY AND TRANSFERRED ALL COMPONENTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140263October 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED MY WINDOW HAD (3) OTHER OLDSMOBILE ALEROS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR - IT COST ME $500 TO FIX-I CAN'T GO WITHOUT A WINDOW!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140034October 17, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I OWN A 2003 OLDS ALERO. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED, BOTH BACK WINDOWS FELL AND WONT' STAY UP. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY WANTED $620.00 TO REPAIR THEM. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND DECLINED REPAIR. I WAS THEN CHARGED $90. FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY PUT TAPE ON THEM! NOW ALL THE CAR THIEVES CAN SEE THE TAPE OR THE WINDOW DOWN AND HELP THEMSELVES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! I OWN 3 GM AUTOS AND HAVE A GM REWARDS CARD WITH REWARDS DISCOUNT TOWARDS MY NEXT PURCHASE THAT I WAS PLANNING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT AFTER THE POOR QUALITY AND POOR SERVICE PRACTICES, I FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I EXPECT GM TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND WILL NOT BUY ANYMORE AUTOS FROM THEM UNTIL THEY DO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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