Brake Disc Rotor problems of the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero - part 1

1999 Oldsmobile Alero developed problems with the brake rotors.

Consumer took vehicle to the dealership to be inspected, and mechanic determined that the rotors wore out prematurely. Consumer stated that the rotors were replaced five times within 70,000 miles.

Bad vibration at highway speeds. Had wheels aligned,tires balanced, tie rods ,both front axles, both front bearings, front disc brakes(rotors and pads), both front struts replaced. Vibration at times gets bad enough to lose control. None of the above solutions fixed the problem.

I bought my car with 14 miles on it. In the first year, I had to have the molding on the doors replaced because they leaked. The drivers side window fell into the door. I've been told that it is my regulator that needs to be replaced. I also found a broken clip just sitting inside my door. You can't buy just a regulator or clips so I will need to buy those parts plus the motor which will cost at least $280. My rotors also needed to be shaved down because they were warped and my brakes needed to be replaced and now, only 5 months later, they need to be totally replaced because they are warped again and my brakes will have to be replaced as well. This is the worst car I've ever owned! my first and last experience I will ever have with gm!! I realize things happen to cars, but I would expect Oldsmobile to acknowledge these re-occurring problems and be held accountable to fix them.

Warped rotors caused noise in the rear of the vehicle when the brakes were applied.

Rotors warped, violent shaking on hard braking. Despite related service bulletin (00-05-23-002) olds refuses to repair under warranty - considers "wear" rather than defective part or design. Olds policy changed from full 36,000 mi. Coverage of this repair (rotor replacement) to 12 mo. Warranty due to number of repairs being made.

At 4,571m on 01/13/2000 dealer machined rotors to remove shimmy from frontend. I was told by dealer new cars are not designed to be driven in the city for any length of time. Problem occurred again on 06/19/2000 at 8,725m. Second time around dealer installed new front brake rotors and pads per TSB from gm. I was told problem will not occur again. On 06/15/2001 at 17,064m the dealer replaced front rotors and pads again. Now absolutely guaranteed to never happen again or they'll contact the main engineering of gm to rectify situation.

This is the second time the rotor on the front right side has warped. I had it replaced at around 34000 miles (January 2000) and now, at 63,500 miles, it is needing replacing again. The steering wheel shakes when lightly applying pressure to the brakes at 55-70 mph, the same as what brought me into the dealership the first time around. I am no longer under warranty (3/36) so I will probably have to pay for the replacement (estimate was $270+ from a local shop) for the replacement. There needs to be more investigation on the '99 Alero, maybe even a recall to fix what is causing the problem.

Rotors have been replaced 2 times,resurfaced 1. Still not fixed,uncontrollable shaking when brakes applied and awful noise. Rotors too thin keepwarping havent had car but for 8 months still same problems with rotors.

Within 47000 miles consumer has had rotors replaced four times due to warping. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.

Steering and brake pedal vibrated when applying brakes. Rotors were serviced under warranty once. Dealer put rotors on a machine to smooth them out. But, problem happened again. Dealer said they were warped. First time was at 23000 miles.

While driving about 65 mph sudden deacceleration while gas pedal was still pressed, and rpms were between 5 and 6000. That had happened to other vehicles, but they did not know what was the cause. Consumer had fixed the rotors at that time.

The front brakes and rotors were replaced due to vibration problems.

The brake rotors have been replaced twice @ only 40,000 miles. They are now needing replacement again. This vehicle needs to be recalled and someone needs to find out why the rotors keep warping.

Dealer informed that all rotors were rusted at 1,330 miles. Dealer made necessary repairs. The customer quoted an "outo doctor" article that states too small brake rotors cause steering wheel shaking.

There was noise while driving coming from transmission. Dealer replaced with rem transmission. Consumer is still having the same problem and leakage. The vehicle has torq axis hydralic transmission motor mount defect. Vehicle makes noise due to transaxle faiure. . Brakes making noise due to rotors failure.

While driving about any speed would steep on brake pedal, but brakes will not work as they should, resulting in extended stopping distance. Also, rotors had to be replaced a couple of times.

Manufacturers rotors are not built to the specifications of the car. They continually warp and fail and have been replaced three times and need to be done once again.

The car trembled horribly upon deceleration from high speeds and/or upon a hard stop. I took the car to the dealer at approximately 16k miles, complaining of this problem. They didn't find anything. Now that the problem is more severe, and I took the car back to the dealer (at 20k miles) and told them to check the rotors. Viola, they found the problem. It's warped rotors. Now I have to replace the front brakes! consumer complaints via the edmund's town hall conferences indicates that I am not the only consumer having rotor problems on the 1999 Alero. I'm beyond the warranty so I have to pay for the repair. I think there is a manufacturer's defect and more investigation is needed. Thank you.

Front rotors turned 3 times in first year of ownership, then replaced by dealer. Approx. 3,000 miles later, new rotors are doing the same thing. Rotors are made of defective material, or front brakes are working too hard/getting too hot and warping rotors every few thousand miles. Shocked to see so many similar problems with this vehicle. Hoping for a recall.

Twice I have had get my rotors resurfaced or replaced, my gas gauge everytime I fill up it bounces up and down and the clear coat on the hood of the vehicle is coming off. This vehicle needs to have a recall on the brake system due to a lot of people that I have talked with and many on the internet complaining about having to replace there rotors or get them resurfaced way before the manufactured time limit. I bought my car with 29, 000 miles on it and have had to resurface or replace the rotors twice. Is this normal???.

Brakes worn, rotors scored, dealer turned rotors, in August 2000 dealer replaced rotors, now June 2001 brakes and rotors bad again. Dealer says not a problem with car, lucky I'm getting that much use out of the brakes.

Experienced violent vibrations while braking. Dealer is replacing both front rotors. I bought this car new 5 months ago and feel that the brake system should last more than 1800 miles.

The rotors on my 1999 Alero have had vibration problems beginning in February 2000. At 12458 miles, the front rotors were replaced. At 24664 miles, all four rotors were resurfaced. At 30964 miles, the front rotors were replaced again. I now have just over 38000 miles and there is severe pulsation in the brakes again.

Brake rotors went bad in less than a year!.

Front rotors warped every 5000 to 10000 miles. Dealer has replaced front rotors on 3 different occasions. Manufacturer has issued bulletin. Consumer states vehicle shakes very badly when trying to stop, braking distance is much longer because of brake defect.

The car's brake rotors warp every 1500 miles resulting in a loss of braking. The rotors have been machined and/or replaced on 3 occasions but the problem reoccurs. When braking with the warped rotors, the abs wheel speed sensors hit the "bad" spot on the rotors and assume a lock-up is emminent. The abs system then releases pressure on the brakes and braking distance exceeds safe levels.

Brake rotors and pads caused increased stopping distance and heavy shimmer.

While operating vehicle at any speed there is vibration that emerges during activation of brake system. Dealership has replaced brake rotors nine times because of warping.

When applying brakes steering wheel vibrates, mostly at high speed. Rotors were turned at 13000 miles, replaced at 16000 miles. They were warped. At this time rotors need to be replaced again.

When driving at any speed and applying brakes vehicle is jerking and lurching forward. Also, when taking key out of ignition all other electrical items keep coming on, and brake rotors continue to wear out. Dealer can't determine the cause of problems.

Brake rotor problems\when brakes are pressed, car jerks.

When pressing on the brakes the steering wheel vibrates;mechanic said, the rotor is warped and that happens sometimes under normal were. /powersteering makes noise when car is idling; mechanic said the engine oil is low. /I find water on the back seat floor after it rains.

Warped front disc brake rotors---had to be turned---starting to reoccur prematurely.

When applying the brakes vehicle vibrates excessively and takes longer to slow down. Dealer has seen vehicle several times, and has replaced rotors several times. But problem still exists.