Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (2000)

557 consumer complaints on file.

#744418April 23, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT LOCK, AND IS EASY TO KNOCK OUT OF GEAR (DRIVE TO N+1+2+3 AND REVERSE TO N+1+2+3). THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR TURNS SO HOT U CAN FEEL IT THROUGH YOUR JEANS. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFTER UNTIL IT POPS JUST TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION EVERYTIME I CUT MY CAR OFF. THE CAR WAS ON WITH KEY IN THE IGNITION (OF COURSE) WHILE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING ME OUT ON MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THERE IS ALSO A REAL SLIGHT KNOCKING IN THE FRONT AXLE. --- THE DETAILED STORY -- WHILE MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS WERE TRAVELING BACK DOWN TO COLUMBUS,GA. I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE, AFTER CHECKING THE MIRRORS. AT THAT TIME I REACHED OVER TO GRAB THE MAP, WHILE BARELY TIPPING THE GEAR SHIFTER WITH MY FINGERTIPS. THE GEAR SHIFTER POPPED INTO NEUTRAL...(ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN LESS THEN ABOUT 10 SECONDS)... WHICH DROPPED THE CAR FROM 70 MPH TO 50-55 MPH, WHICH IN TURN MADE THE SUV THAT JUMPED INTO MY LANE BEHIND ME TO ACCELERATE WAS AWARE ENOUGH TO HIT HIS BRAKES AND THEN VERE OFF TO THE OTHER LANE...THANK GOD THAT THE ONLY THING I GOT FROM THE OTHER DRIVER WAS AN UPSET FACIAL EXPRESSION INSTEAD OF HIS FRONT BUMPER ON TOP OF MY KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT....WELL AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO AN DEALERSHIP IN VA BEACH, VA. FOR SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS, ALL I WAS OFFERED WAS WRITTEN EXCUSES---BUT NOTHING WAS FIXED...SO I DECIDED TO CALL THE OLDSMOBILE COMPANY, AFTER THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY JUST REPEATED THE EXCUSES OF WHAT WAS THE WRITTEN EXCUSES THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME THE FIRST TIME....SO I TOLD THE MAN I UNDERSTAND THAT HE JUST WORKS THERE AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HE ( I GUESS) TRIED TO HELP ME. BUT WHAT IF THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TURN FOR THE WORST. ALL HE SAID WAS "WELL IT'S NOW DOCUMENTED, IN CASE OF A FUTURE FATALITY" ----IF YOU ASK ME, THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOT EVEN 18,000 MILES ON IT. I'M TRUTHFULLY LOST BECAUSE THIS MY 1ST NEW CAR AND I USUALLY OUT TO SEA. CAN U HELP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#885293April 6, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FIRST SET OF ROTORS AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. ON SECOND INCIDENT, CONSUMER WAS REQUIRED TO COVER PART OF COST SINCE COMPONENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. REAR ROTORS NEEDED TO BE "TURNED DOWN" DUE TO WARPING FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *AK THE DEALER STATES THAT REPAIRES WERE DONE WHENEVER THE CONSUMER BRINGS IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD NEVER BEEN SOLVED. ALSO, THE ROTORS FAIL EVERY 4 MONTHS. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743476April 3, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING. GOING DOWN HILL WHEN FRONT PADS GAVE OUT AND ASSEMBLY DUG INTO ROTORS. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF PADS, ROTORS AND MISCELLANEOUS COMPONENTS. DEALER (BURNE OLDS IN SCRANTON, PA) TOLD ME ALERO BRAKES WERE UNDER RECALL, BUT NOT MINE. I HAD TO PAY THE $400 FOR REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED GM TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY PROBLEM. IF THERE HAD BEEN A WARNING, I COULD HAVE HAD THEM SERVICED BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE AND RESULTANT DAMAGE (FRONT RIMS WERE SCORCHED FROM THE HEAT FROM THE FAILED BRAKES). I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR STOPPED AND TO SERVICE BEFORE BEING INVOLVED IN SEVERE ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#884759April 2, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION IN BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743131March 27, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
CAR CONSISTENTLY WOBBLES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED STRUTS, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743002March 25, 2001
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
MY REAR GLASS SHATTERED AFTER TURNING ON THE REAR DEFOGGER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#883139March 15, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKES WERE MAKING GRINDING SOUND. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS. BUT, GRINDING SOUND STILL COMING FROM REAR BRAKES. ROTORS WERE GROOVED. DEALER STATED BRAKES WERE NORMAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#742356March 13, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN HAS A VERY SMALL "SWEET SPOT" AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE IT IN AN EMERGENCY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#882603March 9, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
EVERY 4000-6000 MILES ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN WET CONDITIONS BRAKING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#881456February 26, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
INTERMITTENTLY TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SIX TIMES, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#880682February 15, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; BRAKES PULSATE, METAL TO METAL NOISE. ABS BRAKES/ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO GEAR, NO SHIFTING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740835February 13, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT, 3 WKS AFTER PURCHASE IS WHEN THE PWR STEERING WENT OUT AND I WAS 400 MILES FROM HOME W/O ASSISTANCE. CREFUSES TO RECOGNIZE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS AND I FEEL THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740847February 13, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I AM BEING CHARGED FOR BRAKE REPLACEMENT AT 23,000 MILES BY A DEALER,SO I CALLED FOR ANOTHER OPINION. WHEN I CALLED TWO OTHER DEALERS AND OLDSMOBILE THEMSELVES (BRUCE) I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THIS IS COMMON WHY AM I PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE WARRANTY, THEY SAID BRAKES ARE CONSUMABLE AND IF THIS PROBLEM REOCCURS THEY WOULD COVER IT THAN BUT FOR NOW I MUST PAY TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AND ROTORS REPAIRED $207.50. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879912February 6, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
PREMATURE WEAR OF ROTORS RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS FOUR TIMES AND BRAKE FAILED PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879694February 2, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THERE IS AN EVAPORATION LEAK DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL HOSE WHICH WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND FUEL NECK AND IT WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. DEFECT WAS CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. ALSO SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO DEALER 7 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740084January 29, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FOR THE THIRD TIME I AM HAVING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED BECAUSE THEY ARE WARPED. IF I BRAKE SHARPLY AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS OF 60MPH AND ABOVE I GET A VIOLENT SHAKING TRANSMITTED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE WARPED ROTORS. I SENT OLDS AN E-MAIL ASKING IF THERE WERE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH SOFT (INSUFFICENTLY HARDENED) FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON THE ALERO AND THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND TO MY REQUEST IN WRITING (VIA E-MAIL) THEY SUGGESTED I CALL THEIR 800 NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPEN A COMPLAINT, WHICH I DID. IT WASN'T UNTIL I SEARCHED YOUR DATABASE, SEEING A NUMBER OF SIMILAR BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEMS THAT I DECIDED TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO YOU. I NEVER TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED IT FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ONLY BEGAN AFTER ABOUT 13,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY). I BELEIVE THAT THERE IS A MATERIALS QUALITY PROBLEM HERE PROBABLY WITH THE ROTORS NOT BEING SUFFICIENTLY HARDENED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879009January 25, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AXLE FELL OFF AND CAR LEANED ALL WAY TO THE RIGHT, WHEEL AND AXLE CAME OFF, AND CONSUMER ENDED UP IN A FIELD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878863January 23, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH REAR AXLE FELL OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM TO HAPPEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877247January 2, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WATER IS LEAKING IN THE SEALS, AND WINDOWS KEEP FOGGING UP. DEALER CORRECTED THE LEAK, BUT WINDOWS ARE STILL FOGGING UP. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY WATER LEAK. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738549December 31, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1. REAR, OUTBOARD SHOULDER/SEATBELT LOCK-UP MECHANISM WOULD NOT LOCK UP WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH VEHICLE OWNER MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. SEAT INSTALLATION NEXT ATTEMPTED AT REAR, CENTER LOCATION. SAFETY SEAT BASE COULD NOT BE SECURELY ATTACHED BECAUES OF APPARENT CONFLICT BETWEEN BELT LATCH LOCATION & SAFETY SEAT LOOP PASS-THRU LOCATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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