Five problems related to horn assembly have been reported for the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero based on all problems reported for the 2001 Alero.
Horn of the car did not work after service for replacement of flasher unit. No trauma or injury to car. Inspection of car, it was found to be cracked steering wheel at the base and it damaged the horn ring. We were told that we could not drive the car until fixed as unsafe to drive. The dealer stated they had only ever seen 1 other such case in 37 years of service. Car must have had a defective steering wheel which may have caused an accident, injury or death.
Horn may or may not sound when button depressed. Problem is random. I have inspected fuse, swapped horn relay with a known good unit of same amperage, and checked connection at the horn itself. Button for horn in center of steering wheel is apparently the problem. Horn sounds roughly half the time when button depressed.
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).
In Feb. 2003 I had surgery and did not drive my car for about a week. When I finally drove my car, my drivers side window would not roll down. A couple of days later it started working and now has a grinding noise to it. Recently my horn stopped working completely. I replaced the relay switch and it still will not work. Now, my turn signals work whenever they want to. The only way I can get them to work is to press my hazard switch and now it is getting to where it will not work. And last but not least my air conditioner is not blowing properly. On the 2 first settings it barely blows, if I press on my brakes it feels as if it completely quits. I have also noticed that when I roll down my windows the interior lights will dim and the car engine power will decline. I have had my car for 1 yr. I purchased it used with less than 25,000 miles. I feel these issues should be addressed because they can lead to safety issues. I was changing lanes and my blinkers failed and was almost hit by another car, at that time and still do not have a horn to blow to warn them that I was changing lanes also. The dealer I purchased the car from thinks that I am crazy. That I am a hypocondriac. They are uncooperative and basically refuse to help me. I feel I should not have to pay for something that apparently a lot of Alero owners are going through.
Consumer states that he has to take one hand off the steering wheel to blow the horn, consumer feels this is unsafe. Consumer states that the alarm is acting erratic, on one occasion it would not shut off.