Oldsmobile Alero Complaints

1,957 consumer complaints on file.

#10025981July 13, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
BREAKS ON OUR 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAVE BEEN CHECKED/FIXED 3 TIMES IN 39000 MILES. IN AUG 2002 NEW FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED AT 31810 MILES. IN JULY 2003 AT 39448 MILES FRONT INSIDE PADS WERE OVER 50 % WORN AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TURNING. BACK BRAKES ALSO NEEDED REPARE. THIS LAST INSTANCE ONLY HAD 7638 MILES ON THE 'NEW' ROTORS AND PADS.THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ONE THAT THE CUSTOMER MUST SWALLOW HUGE REPAIR BILLS EVERY 8,000-10,000 MILES, WELL OUT OF THE NORMAL RANGE.*AK NHTSA MUST DO SOMETHING TO FORCE GM TO CORRECT THE ISSUE BEFORE A LOSE OF LIFE HAPPENS AND TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS WITH HUGE COST IN BREAK REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022902July 11, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE TRYING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK PH. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE, BECAUSE THEY SHORTED OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023783June 25, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
FRONT BRAKE PAD PREMATURE FAILURE AT 20K MILES. BRAKE COMPONENTS FROZEN UP CAUSING ONE PAD TO WEAR TO METAL. INADEQUATE LUBRICATION AT FACTORY? *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023707June 24, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:RACK AND PINION, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS START WHEN I TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO TURN OVER. DRIVER SIDE MIRROR SHAKES. THE NUMBERS ON THE RADIO BUTTONS HAVE RUBBED OFF. REAR DEFROST DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. ROTORS ARE ALWAYS WEARING OUT. USED TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE EVERY TIME I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL - HAD THE STEERING RACK REPLACED. INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FALLS OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023489June 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT. AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AS WELL AS THE CLOCK ON THE CD PLAYER GO OUT BRIEFLY. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GAGE. IT GOES UP TO FULL AND THEN DROPS TO E AND DOES THIS OVER AND OVER QUITE RAPIDLY. I HAVE ALSO BEEN UNHOOKING MY BATTERY EVERYTIME I GET OUT OF MY CAR BECAUSE IF I DON'T, MY HEAD LIGHTS COME ON AND WON'T SHUT OFF CAUSING MY BATTERY TO DRAIN. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024410June 19, 2003
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS PEELING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024381June 18, 2003
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS PEELING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024140June 16, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
BRAKE PROBLEM, BRAKES WENT OUT ON VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40000 MILES ON IT. CONSUMER CONTATED MANUFACTURER AND A DEALER, AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT NHTSA WAS THE ONE WHO KNEW THE TYPE OF BRAKES THAT A VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023086June 15, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL TWICE DESPITE THE FUEL GAGE SHOWING 1/4 FULL. FIRST TIME, AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THE CAR WAS TOWED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO A SERVICE DEALER. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE SPENT TWO HOURS OF DIAGNOSTICS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG EXCEPT THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THEY THEN PUT IN SOME FUEL AND THE CAR WORKED FINE. THEY SAID THEY NEVER CHECKED THE FUEL GAGE. THEY CHARGED ME $200 AS "DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES". THEY SAID THAT THE CHARGE WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AS THEY HAD NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY IMPLIED THAT MAYBE I HAD JUST MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT NOTICING THE FUEL GAGE WAS EMPTY (DESPITE SPENDING AN HOUR ON THE PHONE WITH GM ROADSIDE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE - WE CHECKED ALL THE GAUGES). THEIR MECHANIC HAD NOT BOTHERED TO LOOK AT THE GAGE WHILE STARTING TO WORK ON THE CAR. GM REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE $200. THE SECOND TIME THE FUEL GAGE WAS STILL ABOVE EMPTY BUT THE CAR WENT DEAD. WHEN I PUT IN 1.5 GALLONS, IT STILL DIDN'T START. WHEN I PUT IN AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 GALLONS, THE GAGE WENT UP AND THE CAR STARTED FINE. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS - BUT I NOW FILL UP AS SOON AS IT REACHES ANYWHERE NEAR THE 1/4 MARK. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023083June 15, 2003
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE AN OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2000. SOMETIMES THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS WILL FAIL TO FUNCTION. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT SEEMS TO FIRST OCCUR DURING RAINY WEATHER, BUT PERSISTS EVEN AFTERWARDS. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SOMETIME IN 2001 AT 16,800 MILES AND THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE HAZARD/TURN LIGHTS RELAY/UNIT OR SOME SUCH DEVICE NEAR THE DASHBOARD AND IT HAD WORKED ALRIGHT TILL ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. MY CAR IS NOW AT 40,000 MILES (PAST THE FULL WARRANTY) WHEN I CALLED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO COMMENT ON WHETHER IT MAY BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS I HAD IT CHECKED BY AN OLDSMOBILE DEALER (MY LOCAL DEALER CHARGES $100/HOUR FOR "DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES" WHETHER OR NOT THEY FIND ANY PROBLEM AND I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THEM WITH AN INTERMITTENT COMPLAINT THAT IS PROBABLY NOT UNDER WARRANTY). I NOW NOTICE ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HAZARD SWITCH IN CHEVROLET'S AND OLDSMOBILE'S. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023023June 13, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE THE BRAKES WEAR VERY FAST REPLACED BRAKES 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2001 EVEN IF THERE THE LIFETIME WARRANTY BRAKES. THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. DRIVER WINDOW KEEPS COMING OFF TRACK CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL. THE INTERIOR LIGHT FELL OUT AND HAD TO BE PUT BACK. THE LOW TIRE AIR PRESSURE LIGHT, AND OTHERS KEEP COMING ON AND STAYING ON EVEN IF THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE. THE BACK WINDOW HAS A WIRE TYPE DEFROST IN THE WINDOW ITSELF THAT HAS BURNED IN ONCE PLACE ONLY LEAVING A BURNED LOOK ON THE BACK WINDOW. THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT A WEEK AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE WHICH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT 30, 000 MILES. THE PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR SHATTER GOING THE A ROADWAY ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR, ALMOST CAUSING EYE DAMAGE TO A VERY YOUNG CHILD IF I HADN'T ROLL THE WINDOW UP IN TIME DUE TO CHILD BEING SEATED IN THE BACK SEAT IN A CHILD SEAT. THE MIRROR SHATTERED IN VERY TINY PIECES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021410June 11, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, WHEELS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
ROTORS BAD, BRAKES BAD, WHEELS LEAK AIR, WINDOWS LEAK AIR IN, WINDSHIED SHAKES, ENGINE RUNS HIGH TEMPS AND KNOCKS, PAINT IS STARTING TO RUST. CD PLAYER IS ALWAYS SHUTING OFF. DEALER HAS NOT DONE A THING TO HELP AND MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS. I NEED HELP SOON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022751June 10, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
TURNING SIGNAL CONTINUOUSLY FAILS TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021342June 10, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, EQUIPMENT
AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN FRONT END COLLISION. CAR TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10022768June 10, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021301June 9, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, TIRES
I BOUGHT MY OLDSMOBILE ALERO NEW IN JULY OF 2000. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I STARTED TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO A GRINDING NOISE THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS OR TURNING. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT SUGGESTED I MAY NEED NEW BRAKES. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS RESPONSE SINCE THE CAR WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD AND I DON'T DRIVE ANY MORE THAN THE AVERAGE DRIVER. I THEN STARTED TAKING IT TO A CLOSER DEALER (THIS ONE WAS A GM DEALER AND NOT SPECIFICALLY OLDSMOBILE). AFTER SEVERAL VISITS THEY TOLD ME MY BRAKE PADS WERE WORN DOWN AND NEEDED REPLACED. BY THIS POINT IT WAS 2002 AND MY CAR HAD ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT. I STILL WASN'T SURE I AGREED WITH IT, BUT I LET THEM REPLACE MY BRAKES. STILL HEARD THE NOISE. I CAN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY TIMES MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE TWO DEALERSHIPS FOR THE SAME GRINDING NOISE. THE LAST TIME I HAD IT IN WAS IN MAY OF 2003. THEY FINALLY TOLD ME ABOUT A BULLETIN REGARDING TIRE SIZE AND TOLD ME THIS WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. THIS BULLETIN CAME OUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THIS SERVICE VISIT AND THEY HAD LOOKED AT MY CAR NUMEROUS TIMES. NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ROTORS AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE TOO. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS JERKING TO A STOP. I THINK OLDSMOBILE OR GM NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE DEFECT AND REPLACE THE ROTORS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO OWN ONE OF THEIR ALEROS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021130June 6, 2003
SUSPENSION
STRUT BRACKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH UNDER 45,000 MILES. DEALER WAS UNCOORPERATIVE IN RESOLVING NECESSARY REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021002June 4, 2003
EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKES ON THE OLDS ALERO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BRAKES. THE ROTORS TEND TO OVERHEAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING USE. IT WEARS THE PADS DOWN FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD, WARPS THE ROTORS SO THAT THEY HAVE TO BE TURNED EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU REPLACE THE PADS... AND I DO MEAN HAVE TO BE. THE ROTORS WILL QUICKLY LOSE THICKNESS, AND THE THINNER THEY ARE AFTER EACH TURN THE QUICKER THEY WILL WARP UNDER NORMAL USE. CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS HAS ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING... DESPITE THE FACT THAT UNDER THE 2000 MODEL THEY HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (FRONT DISC BRAKE PULSATION (NEW ROTOR RUN-OUT SPECIFICATION AND CORRECTION METHOD) #00-05-23-002A) ISSUED FOR THE CAR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE GENERAL MOTORS HASN'T ALTERED THE DESIGN OF THE CAR SINCE IT'S INCEPTION WITH EXCEPTION OF COSMETIC CHANGES. THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THERE'S A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BRAKES THAT FORCES THE CONSUMER TO EITHER PAY OUTRAGEOUS PRICES EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY NEED BRAKE PADS... OR DISCARD THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY AND PURCHASE AFTERMARKET BRAKE SOLUTIONS TO ELIMINATE THE ISSUE ENTIRELY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022096June 3, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020947June 3, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SEVERAL PROBLEMS ON THE 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO THAT OTHER OWNERS SEEM TO BE HAVING AS WELL. TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT/ GAS GAUGE WENT OUT/ COOLANT GASKET BROKE, AND HORN WOULD SOUND RANDOMLY (HAD TO EVENTUALLY PULL THE FUSE). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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