1999 Oldsmobile Alero Coupe review from North America

This is my first and last experience with an Oldsmobile. The main reason is I don't want to support a car dealership that doesn't respect my business, but I'm not happy with the product either.

After the first week of ownership, I had to return to the dealer to investigate a noise generating from the front end of the car. Covered under warranty, I don't believe they really fixed anything, they claimed they lubricated a bushing, which means they sprayed WD-40 on the thing...

After the first month of ownership, I had to return to the dealer to replace the fuel pump. This experience took them over a week to repair, and was the experience that caused me to never give the Oldsmobile Company (GM) my business again! I will never own another GM product, after the experience this dealer put me through.

After the 1st year of ownership, I lost speeds 1-2 on my climate control fan. Turns out this is a $25 part that I could order from an online dealer (Blower Fan Resistor Pack) and took me about an hour to install, but after reading numerous reviews, I understand that this is a common problem with this car.

After 3 years of ownership, I started experiencing the brake related problems that I'm seeing posted here. Pedal pulsations, and brake pads that seem to wear prematurely. I do all my own work on the car, and I know the brakes are properly installed, I think it's an engineering design flaw.

During this time, I also started experiencing the problems with the dash lights coming on in particular the Track Off and Anti-Lock lights... they come on sporadically, sometimes go out, I'll need to take to an auto electric specialist to troubleshoot, hopefully, I'm not wasting my time.

I love the look of this car, and the engine problems I've seen here, are beginning to worry me, I'm seriously considering on selling this car before I start to experience these engine problems.

In comparison to the Eclipse, I'd take the olds, but that's not saying much. It is a good looking, stylish car, and if you could afford to park it in a garage and take it out on sunny Sunday afternoons, then it may be the car for you. If you need it to function like a CAR? Try a Toyota!