Two problems related to engine cooling system have been reported for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero based on all problems reported for the 2003 Alero.
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.
Automatic transmission failure at 750 miles. Atained speed of 65mph for a few seconds then acted as if it slipped into neutral, I manually downshifted to 3rd gear at 45mph and proceeded to next safest place to stop. After stopped I shifted to d and then took off and it would not shift out of first gear. I stopped again and waited a few second then took off and it begain to shift normally again. I went directly to the dealer, they did a dianogstic test and it said nothing was wrong. Problem has not happened since. At about 24,000 miles I noticed a pool of antifreeze on my garage floor and evidence of it leaking onto my front right drive shaft. I took it to the dealer they filled my antifreeze level back up and did a test and said they could not find a leak, they said it might of came out of the drain hole where it would normally leak when the bearing in the water pump goes out. . . . Have not noticed any more leaks, sometimes smell burnt antifreeze. Also at about 25,000 miles the numbers and letters on the buttons on the radio were becoming wore off, which seems way too early for that to happen.