2001 Oldsmobile Alero GL review from North America

I bought a 2001 Alero new from a dealership. My first new car. I loved this car when I saw it, I just had to have it. Last time I pick a car purely on the look of it, but I'm a girl so you live and learn apparently. Here's the problems I've had:

- Cylinder replaced (still under warranty)

- Brakes only last about 15-20K including rotors.

- Windows don't roll down all the time (corrosion in the wires within the door), costs $70 to fix so I've left the passenger side up for a couple years now and just keep the driver's side working.

- Two wheel bearings - $200 each.

- Second dome light that hangs now (I just pushed it up above the ceiling liner since apparently replacing it doesn't mean it will work)

- Radio buttons' paint flakes off.

- Blinker problem, with mine the noise never shut off especially on warmer days. I could turn once and the sound would remain on until I got home just a little faster than when the blinker was actually on. Then my steering column started smoking on top of it all. That was over $200 to fix.

- Right now my car has been dying when I come to a stop. The RPMs drop to nothing and the car stalls. It happened once, but it was a really cold day so I didn't worry too much about it. Then it did it again and the third time it wouldn't start back up so it had to be towed. I was told it was the battery so that was replaced (at dealership prices almost $300...nice) and now a week later it did it again. I have it in right now and all they could come up with is to clean the body throttle. We'll see if this $120 helps at all.

I actually have a list from Firestone of the things that will be going out soon. They are honest enough to tell me that I don't need to fix them immediately that they are just wearing out. They are common problems with Aleros and other cars built on that platform. The cost to fix the list of problems is actually almost as much as the car is worth.

I will definitely be taking advantage of the internet and forums such as these when I buy my next car since this one never would have been bought!