Oldsmobile Alero owners have reported 39 unknown or other related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common unknown or other problems. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's unknown or other (39 problems). For details of each of the problem category, use the links in the table.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other problems |
I have had problems starting this car off and on for the past 3 years. There are some days it won't start, then there are some days that when it starts, as I'm driving it will die. . . . . Sometimes it will start again and sometimes it won't. I've had it in the shop first (gm dealer) they first cleaned out the igniters, that worked for about 2 months, then they said it needs a new fuel pump, had that replaced, that lasted about a year, then my machanic replaced my ignition switch, said something about a sensor gone bad. . . . Guess what. . . Good for about 6 months. . . . . Now I'm stuck with a car with little money to fix it. What should I do?.
The turn signal wont stop ticking noise even if the turn signal was off and it cause to smoke around the steering wheel.
This is the 3rd time I have had this problem the security lights is flashing, car will not start. So go and turn key to on position wait 10 minutes but today it was 20 minutes until lights stop flashing then turn key to off position before trying to start. Today it would not start at all. So I am without transportation until I can get help.
As I'm reading different websites and now this site to find a solution as to what's wrong with my car, I see I share the same problem with a lot of other people. . . I too have a 2004 Alero that will crank but not turn over. . . The security light comes on and stays on. . . When I first noticed it I would turn my car off then back on and it will go off. . . Lately it will come on and stay on, now it won't start! in the morning I will try what everyone else tried with turning the key until the light goes off, but this is really ashame that this many people are having the same problem! I replaced the fuel pump a year in a half ago for this same problem and it was no way cheap! try $1,200 at a gm dealership that only use gm parts on their gm cars! I'm a broke college student that needs my vehicle for transportation between school and work! please just recall these cars so they can have this problem taken care of. . . Should I take my problem to the media to get some sort of results? it seems if that's the only way to get anything done now a days. . .
Car would not start. Security light flashing. Car towed mechanic stated a security defect.
The contact owns a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero which was purchased in 2003. She stated that the dashboard fabric near the passenger side air bag was loose. She was also concerned that air bag would not operate properly. The manufacturer confirmed that there were no related recalls. The current and failure mileages were approximately 135,828. The VIN information was rejected when entered.
The olds Alero has a defective passlock theft deterrent system. It shows up when you insert your key in the ignition, turn it, hear the engine cranking, only to fail to start. The dashboard's red warning light, security, flashes on and off. It believes it is being stolen, thus shutting off the gas to the engine. The problem actually stated 4 months after I bought my car, which I purchase used from a dealer, I believe im the 2nd ower. This issure happens about once or twice every 3 weeks or so. My dad actually thought it was the battery contacts because they were loose, so he tightened them up, then it took care of the problem for about a month. The another strange issue came up, about 3 months ago, as my car sat in park for about 2 hours, just out of the blue the horn started to "blow" like the alarm was set off, but the lights were not flashing so it wasnt that, about 20 minutes it did this til it blew the fuse for the horn. And now im without a horn in my car, which is not very safe. So I changed the fused, the horn worked for 1 day, then blew again, I changed the actual horn and another fuse, and just 3 days ago, I heard in the middle of the night, my horn going off again for no reason, and the fuse blew again, driving with no horn. So im driving my car that has this anti-theft feature and I dont know if its working from 1 day to the next, the security lights stays on my dashboard so I know something is apparently wrong with it, usually that when I know, my car will not start when I see that light come on and I have to do the trick with sitting in the car with the ignigtion on for 10 minutes before starting it. I googled this problem to see if anyone else is having this problem and found hundred of people tht are, contacted gm and olds corp, they say there is not recall on the system because there is nothng wrong with it. Something has to be for all the customers to be having the same problems and apparently is has been goin on for years and they wont help.
90,000 miles on car, need to replace bearings for a second time! the system is set up so that when the bearings fail the anti-lock brake system also fails. I have had many problems on ice/water when my system suddenly fails. This car should go much longer on new bearings - this will be my 3rd set.
The dash had begun pulling away and coming unglued about 2 years ago. I found that this is a problem with this model year. When I spoke with the dealer they said it was not part of a recall. But they would split the cost with me -my end would be $650. I could not afford it and it has continued to rumple and bubble up. I am the only owner. It is a defect that no one wants to address. Especially, since my warranty will be up with in a month or two. I just got tired of fighting with the dealer to do something. I have given up and will not be purchasing a gm car again. Thanks for nothing -my loyalty is going somewhere else.
The dash had begun pulling away and coming unglued about a year ago. I found that this is a problem with this model year. When I spoke with the dealer they said it was not part of a recall. I have the extended warranty called major guard that they said is not covered. It has continued to rumple and bubble up. I am the only owner. It is a defect that no one wants to address. Especially, since my extended warranty will be up with in a year.
In the last six months three out of 4 windows on my vehicle are now held up with duct tape so that they don't fall into the channel and I can't get them up. Luckily, only one of them managed to do that and a friend managed to get it back up for me. That occurred at the end of January 2006. I could understand one- maybe- but three!!! no. This is definitely a safety issue. I suspect the only reason that my one working window, the back passenger side, is still working is because I haven't tried to put it down- or the result would be the same. I am sure that is going to be expensive to repair, so I guess I'll go with the duct tape for a while. I have also had a problem with the intake manifold, the gaskets on that were replaced in January, 2006. I was losing antifreeze from the overflow tank, and having to fill it every day. Took it to the dealer, and they found the water pump leaking and the intake gaskets leaking. They were replaced at my expense. And. . . The intermittent turn signal is also a problem. That has been going on for about a year now. It should be recalled for that, like you did for the 2000- 2001 vehicles. The vehicle has 70,000 miles on it. The interior trim on this vehicle is shoddy, and that is being kind. The car was purchased brand new with 23 miles on it when we got it to our house in June, 1999. In less than a year a door panel had to be replaced because it had come apart. The dashboard has been peeling for about 11/2 years because they used cheap glue to hold the covering on the plastic. I realize that you consider that cosmetic, but it shouldn't be happening: I check every Alero I see in a parking lot and there are a lot with peeling dashboards. Gm should be responsible for fixing that- they caused the problem. Gm caused multiple problems on this vehicle by doing it on the cheap. It is very costly to the people who own them, and it shouldn't be. I don't mind paying for routine repairs, I expect that, but these problems are not "routine".
Vehicle cruise control nor rear defrost works. The front dashboard cover is shrinking and peeling back off of dash and is almost completely off of airbag area and this is seen in almost every Alero but not other gm models.
On Wednesday, Feb 8, 2006 three lights came on in my car at the same time. They are 'service vehicle soon, trac off, & anti-lock'. These lights have continued coming on since. I have had a computer hooked up to my car to check for any codes while the lights were on. There were no codes showing for my car. Yesterday, Tuesday, Feb 14, 2006, I was coming to a stop at a stop sign when the lights came on. I was pressing the brake in and I did not stop. I rolled a little bit and then came to a stop. This is not safe. If there were to be someone ahead of me I would have rear-ended this person or maybe even rolled right into oncoming traffic in the intersection. There are three other people that I work with who have had similar problems with their gm vehicles recently. Only one vehicle was covered under a recall. I was given an 800 number to check for recalls from one of these people. I just called and there was no recall of this sort listed for this vehicle. This is definitely a safety issue that needs to be addressed. It seems off that four people, including myself, in the same place of work have the same problems with their gm vehicle and only one was covered. This is an expensive item to be replaced and since it is a safety concern for all involved, this problem should be covered under a recall and not out of our pocket.
Friday, 7/15/05, I took my 2002 olds Alero to jeff schmidt in fairborn, OH for service of the passenger side power window not working. While at the dealership, I was informed that my intake manifold was leaking and must be replaced. This was covered under warranty as well as the window. Immediately after leaving the lot, the car smelled like something was burning. I park in the garage at home and did not notice any spills on the floor and assumed it was just overflow where the service tech did the repairs. Thursday, 7/21/05, I parked the car in the garage and the smell was really bad. I popped the hood and found a puddle of coolant inside the car down on the frame (I think that's what it is called). I also noticed inside the car the dash at the windshield was ruffled/wrinkled. I thought maybe I had had a fire or something really got hot. I took the car to the same dealership this morning and learned that I had two broken hoses at the intake manifold where the hoses were reattached after the initial repair. I had to pay to have these repaired because it was not covered under warranty. Funny I didn't have any problems with this until they told me I had a problem last week. I was also told that my warranty, I have 6 yrs. 60,000 miles, did not cover the dash. It was considered cosmetic. Well, needless to say, I can't believe this. I've worked for gm/delphi for 28 years, have had 7 vehicles in this time period, new ones, and have never had a dash to come apart. Also, I've never heard of a intake manifold going bad on a car with only 38,000 miles. Gm should be responsible for fixing the dash where the leather has come apart from the frame.
Rear defroster, steering, brakes (3x's), engine, radiator, belt, security systerm, tape deck, power windows.
I have a 2002 olds Alero GLS. The 2001 olds Alero has this recall: hazard warning switches that may experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative. My car has the exact same problem but is not included in the recall. Gm was the wost help ever. They hung up on me. In the past two weeks they have quit working more times than I can reamber. I have also have a problem with my gage cluster. About 2-3 times a month it dosent opperate. No check engine lights ect or spedo rpm ect work there just "dead" until u restart the car. The olds bravada has a recall for it. What I dont understan is how an 01 Alero have recalls and a 03 have recalls but not an 02. I was on the interstate when my turn signals quit. I dont know how long they were out before I they werent working. I did have a frind of mine look at the car who is a certified gm tech and said it was a losse wire up in the dash.
On March 3, 2005 my 2000 Oldsmobile Alero gl v6/3. 4l would not start. On March 4, 2005, all 3 distributor coils were replaced as well as all 6 spark plugs. The car worked fine until March 7, 2005 when while driving the car for about 10 minutes, the car shut down. It coasted to the side of the road and I could not get it to start again. In both instances the car seems to try to start but is unsuccessful. In my online research, this appears to be a very common problem with no known resolution for other owners of the Alero. Additionally, after the window fell into the driver side door, on October 19, 2004, I had the mechanism for the driver side window replaced. In December 2004, the same window failed to work at all. I have not had it fixed again. The water pump was replaced after a sudden coolant leak completely depleting the system in November 2003, and the same situation occured again requiring the water pump to be replaced again in February 2005, a little over a year later. One of the cigarette lighters stopped working in June 2004. The service engine light, tire pressure light, and coolant light come on intermittently with no apparent problem. The interior dome light is touch and go, meaning if I touch the case, it may or may not go on or off. The front brake system has been replaced more times than I can count on my one hand in the nearly 3 years that I have owned it. The signal lights would stop functioning and buzz hideously until I pressed the hazard button. Water has collected in the front passenger floorboard and in the trunk from seal failure. The engine seems to burn oil quickly.
I started having problems in Feb. Of this year(2005). The car would not start. Towed it to a dealer and they replaced the ignition cylinder. 3 days later was having the same problem. Took it back to the dealer and they then replaced the housing. Begining of June had the same problem occure agian. Towed it back to the dealer and they could not find anything wrong with it. Of course it started at the dealer. 2 weeks later and it still will not start agian. The security light was comming on before it stoped running. This is a problem that many people are having and it needs to be fixed. . Read more...
This all started estimated in April 2010. When the security light comes on I know it will not start the next time I get in it. It could not start once or 3 times. It very scary sitting in my car with the key turned on for 10 minutes. Then I can turn it off and turn back on and it will start. I have had it looked at and he put a new fuel pump on it, then it did it again and the next time he firxed it by reseting the computer but it did last. I talked to other people and they say they have the same problem. The way I found out how to fix was I called a tow truck and he told me what to do. Have you had any compaints like this?.
Defective body control module and defective camshaft position sensor and defective window power switch.
I made a long vacation trip in oct. Of 2002 at which time my 2002 Oldsmobile Alero turned over 36,000 miles. By the time I arrived home, it had turned 37,000. I didn't drive the car for a few days upon my return. When I opened the door to drive it next, I saw that the dash and three of the door pads had come unglued and buckled really badly. I took it back to dan cummins in paris, ky as soon as I discovered that the interior was falling apart. The service manager refused to even look at the car since it had gone over the 36,000 mile warranty during my vacation before I returned home. He suggested I call gm and complain to them about it. I did call them and they took my complaint. They gave me an complaint number, but have since refused to answer their phone when I call, or to call me back after I leave them a voice mail on their machine. . Read more...
I have a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. The car has been a continuous problem since I drove it off the lot. The suspension has failed, the fuel injector and alternator have been replaced, the electrical system malfunctions all the time, and problems continue to develop on an almost monthly basis. I contacted Oldsmobile and they could care less, referring me to the "dealer" who has been repairing this vehicle repeatedly. I see why Oldsmobile is going out of business. They're products are inferior, and border on dangerous. I'm just hoping this car does not malfunction seriously while I'm on the highway. The incident date below is the approximate most recent repair date. The dates of various incidents are too numerous to list.
Leaking coolant, uses dex-cool.
Problem malfunction indicator lamp: service engine soon light came on Wednesday 8/20/03 just on the right side. I was returning home after driving approximate 30 miles when this light came on. Call the dealer from which I brought this program car. Call:bacon autoplex in palestine texas . Purchased 7/14/03 with 14, 016 miles. Called them about 3pm on 8/20/03. I filled up with gas ( which gauge indicated 1/2/ full) prior to the 30 miles then light came on. I was told that it wouldn't hurt to drive the car since no one was there(bacon) to test for the cause on 8/20/03. Told(bacon ) that I was going to drive over 140 on 8/21/03. Said that it would not hurt. The light went off 8/21/03 1/2 miles from my home. 8/22/03 about 11 am the light came on once again 15699 miles. Call bacon 8/22/03 regarding the problem once again. They said that I could bring it over for testing which I did. Found a code 440? what ever that was. Bacon said it could be several things. Did not make any attempt to further test. I did talk to the manager of bacon, still no attempt to test it further. Manage did ask if I wanted another car. Why would I want another olds Alero ? iwas more then up set: I do not feel safe with this car. Fail to do the testing for exact cause. Appointment made but I don't think that it will be done at this time since for now they have not found the cause. The light comes on with fuel is 1/2/ full both times.
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.
Consumer will provide information.
The above problems are for the same thing at different times. The rotors on the car have gone out 3 times. The second time they went out I had to argue with Oldsmobile to fix them. They tried to tell me it was my driving making them go bad. I drive interstate to and from work - no hard stops, no stop-n-go traffic. Now they have gone bad again after the 2nd time they changed them - after only 6k miles. They refuse to pay for them. When we called customer care they informed us that they used a "new tool" the last time they "fixed" my rotors - which obviously didn\\'t help. I had a cavalier for 6 years and never once had to change the rotors!! this is just factory defect they they should be liable for.
This car was a lemon replacement/and doing the same thing/rotors are warping.
Wheel bearing wore out at 52000 miles. Battery terminal post broke off. Brake caliper melted at 51000 miles. Two power steering lines burst at 59000. The cost of the repair for the power steering problem is an estimate I got from a mechanic, but I have not yet repaired. I'm hoping for a recall before I take any action. My complaints are based on the fact that there's no good reason for any of those things to need repair that serious. Aren't wheel bearings and power steering lines supposed to last for a while?.
While stopping to get gas at night I pulled up to the pump, my "change oil" light went, on and the power steering assist failed. Close to home, so no danger, and drove to change oil next day at station. They said that it wasn't a loss of power steering fluid , and to bring the car to dealer. Drove mostly straight , slowly, on city streets to dealer repair shop. The car is currently in the dealers shop.
1. Persistant scraping noise from ft end since 10/21/01. Cavendar mechanics evaluted problem 4-6 separate times w/ different prognosis each time, later determined transmission problems on 3/18/02. Currently still having same scraping noise and fluid(redish) leakage from underneath vehicle 2. 3 window motors failed /repaired 3. Twice alternator failure/repaired w/2 seperate alts.
I am seeing a lot of people with complaints about Aleros, and I have set up a website to hopefully get all of them together and do something, as I am also having problems with my 2002 olds Alero. The website is accesswave. Ca/~alero02.
I have had a constant problem with front and rear brakes on my 2000 Alero. Dealer replaced front pads and rotors after I continued to complain of problems stopping. The brake problems still persisted after front brakes were changed the rear brakes were bad. I went to the dealer at least four times for the rear rotor problem they told me they could not fiind anything wrong. I had to take it to a independent mechanic to have it fixed even though it was under warranty at the time. I now am having a front wheel bearing problem which Oldsmobile will not cover even though there is only 48,000 miles on the car and its not quite three years old. Also dealer states they can no longer do warranty work because they no longer sell Oldsmobiles. Dt.
I am on my third pair of brake pads and rotors. The last time this was corrected was in Nov. 2002. The initial set that came on the car was supposedly "bad" and replaced Nov. 2000. I got the car in Aug. 2000. Problem was reported to dealer oct. 2002 as well. Never could identify problem. Grinding light and noises under hood that were finally identified as the brakes taken in again in Jan. 01. The "other" consists of a new alternator in Nov. 2002 as well as new tires in July 2002. I had to purchase two while gm gave me 2. Locks were messed up again April 02. Faulty window regulator in sept. 01. I have documentation of all of the invoices/printouts from the dealer as well as my maintenance papers.
The car has had five complaints issued to the dealer in the past 11 months, regarding driver's side door lock, automatic trunk latch, power failures. The dealer has been very good about attempting repairs, finding in the last two complaints that water is leaking into the fuse panel. The previous complaint resulted in a new fuse box, and computer. The last complaint resulted in another new fuse box. While I do like the car, and my dealer, I am losing faith quickly in the car itself. I am uncomfortable going long distance with it due to its apparent regular power failures. It is a nuisance to have it towed and to be without it for days at a time. I am also concerned about shorts and fires since the electrical system is involved. I am not sure what the next step is, but the car is not reliable to me.
When it rains the electrical system gets fouled. In one case my speedometer indicated 140 mph but I was stopped at a light. In another case evertime I touched the break the automatic door locks would relock (even if they where locked and I was traveling at 65 mph) in the same time the interior dome light would turn on every time I hit the break. When I started the car up again everythign worked but the radio and clock where out. I checked all the applicable fuses but none of them seemed to be burned out. Another time there was alot of rain the car put the speedometer at 0 mph when I was travelling at approximatly 65 mph and the security warning light went on. If this electrical problem persists some of the electrically assisted components in the car could fail and cause death or injury.
No summary.
The material that covers the dash has peeled away and the dash has lifted.
Front lights adjusted. Also interior roof light loose. Seat in second position will not catch. When it rains, it floods my car.