2000 Oldsmobile Alero GLS from North America - Comments

Reading these comments was pretty scarey, especially since I just got my Alero yesterday. Luckily, I have family that works at the dealership I got it from so if it turns out to be a lemon I'll just bring it back. The car is a 2000 and everything works great. It has almost 90K miles and all speeds on the fan work. A co-worker of mine has an Alero that she absolutly LOVES! She, plus the awesome deal I got on it, was the reason I got the car. It's GORGEOUS! My grandfather has always driven Olds' and my last car was an Olds' (the Achieve, which I was not found of). I personally thought the foreign cars were ugly on the inside and weren't at all what I was looking for. I like the feel of a solid car, not something that's going to blow me off the road!

2000 Alero with the V6, bought it new and it now has 82K miles. Have replaced the brakes and rotors 3 times, the power steering pump once, the intake valves (?) once, but have been told that they are going bad again. Also the hazard light button disappeared into the dash the one time I had to use it. Worst car I have ever had, and I will never buy another GM product.

The problem with the Intake Manifold Gasket that everyone is having has to do with the design of the 3.1 liter second generation GM motor. GM uses this motor in most of it's full-size sedans. The design uses a technique where the push-rods actually go through the lower intake, and the only thing separating the oil and DEX-COOL is that lower gasket.

I own a '99 Chevy Lumina with the 3.1 motor and noticed that I had water in the oil. At first I thought it was a blown head gasket. After researching it on ALL DATA, I found a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) from GM stating that the gaskets were faulty. I've heard from some people that it stems from the motor "loosening" up and the gaskets sliding. I've also heard the problem has to do with the Orange Anti-Freeze (DEX-COOL).

I know from first hand experience that the problem is DEX-COOL. I've seen gaskets on water outlets that were burnt and should'nt have been.

Everyone here stated that they paid $650-$1000 dollars to fix the intake gasket, it only cost me $50 bucks for the gasket because I did it myself. If you purchase a Haynes manual, it tells you step by step how to perform it. Quite a simple task with the help of the manual.

2000 Oldsmobile Alero GL 4 cylinder.

Bought it used in 2003. First thing to go was the drivers side electric window. Had to have the motor replaced. Second thing at around 70K was my car shaking when idle and sometimes stauling. Pretty embarrasing at a stop light when your car looks like it is having a seizure. Got is fixed for $300. Happened again after taking a 1400 mile trip (don't know if was from using the cruise control or the long trip) Got it fixed again for $250. Then one day I noticed the dashboard had all these bubbles on it from the sun on it I guess. Would not recommend this car!

2000 Alero GX, 2.4 (4cyl. w/5spd)

I bought this car in 2002, silly me signed up for 5yrs of financing, the car has had the same problems as most listed here, the first 2 speeds of the HVAC blower did not work, fixed under warranty, now broke again. The right read window seems loose in the door when all the way up, the wheel bearings, battery, left rear speaker, turn signals, and every other nagging little problem have left me to never buy american again. I use to have a 1990 Nissan 240sx, it was very comparible to this car even though it is 10 yrs older. In my opinion GM is the worst manufacturer in the USA and I will NEVER buy one of their products again. My next car will be a Toyota Camry. I just saw an '07 camry with 2.4 and 5spd and I am in love. Only 1 more year of this heap and then I'm DONE!!!

I have 2000 Olds. Alero and have had to replace more tires than 5 cars should have in their lifetime.

I have a horrible shimmy in the front end and have replaced the ball joints twice in the last year.

The wind noise the car gets is horrible, and the worst and most unsafe thing is the blind spots.

AUGUST 18, 2006.

I have a 2000 Alero too and the dashboard is rippled up from driver side to the middle. Looks horrible and tacky! Also when driving, car dogs out when trying to get speed and even sitting at stop signs. Also, storage area between front seats does not stay fastened. Smells like antifreeze! I think I'll purchase foreign car next time.

I really liked the looks of car when purchased, however, am very dissatisfied with its performance and wear.

I too have a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, I have only had 2 problems with it to date within the 4 or 5 years and 276,000 miles that I have owned it. The current problem is with my cooling system. The thermometer gauge on the left of the display area is broken because of a coolant leak of sometime, but I had my auto-mechanic friend diagnose it and I can fix it for about $20 by myself. The only other problem I've had was that one of my compact discs was stuck in the stereo for a little over a year. That was my fault for breaking the front axle in half by driving up on a curb. I took the stereo apart a couple weeks back, and I pulled my CD out. It has been working perfect ever since. As for everything else, heat, A.C., doors, windows, and everything else is fine. The sound system is by far, up to par for a stock stereo, some of my friends have even asked if I have a ten inch sub-woofer installed, and I haven't blown one speaker to this day. I love this car.

Alero Alero... what a great car! Just got out of winter with this 2001 Alero 6 cylinder that I just bought in 2005 at 70000km on a 5 year financing plan. I had a Mazda Cronos 626 before and something blew while I was on the highway. I got super desparate and opted for my current Alero. Problems seem to be coming up more frequently now than ever. Heating didn't work for half the winter coz I couldn't get the blower to blow hot air. So to remedy that I drove with my back window open partially to force hot air thru the heating system and into the car... Now imagine me in the middle of traffic... CD player stopped working way back, so I had it replaced with another model off the shelf. That was a nightmare coz of the color coding on the wiring that I could not figure out. I have had numerous oil changes, filter changes, disk and pad changes, injector system clean ups and still I seem to be losing power and money. I have about 3 years to go before I payoff this car that I bought at a ridiculous price. Now I just wish I had taken the time to shop around before committing to this lemon deal... What a great car!

I bought a 2000 Olds Alero about 5 years ago for my daughter. Seems to be having the same problems everyone else has expressed in the previous comments. The heater fan does not work on the first three speeds. Thanks to someone for telling me that it is the heater/blower resistor block that needs replaced. We had to replace the trunk weather seal because you could not wash the car without getting a lot of water in the trunk. Now it only leaks a little. The driver window register and motor have been replaced, but now it makes a bad ratcheting noise every time it is rolled down or up. The rear defroster doesn't work. The reverse on the automatic transmission is going out. If the car is driven for some time and gets a little hot, after put into reverse, the vehicle doesn't want to drive forward sometimes. We've had the "vehicle dies on the side of the road" problem too. It's happened three or four times. The last time it happened, I replaced the battery. Hasn't happened since. The worst problem is just like everybody else. The intake manifold gaskets. If we turn on the air conditioner the radiator fans kick on and keep it from boiling water out of the surge tank, but sooner or later we have to fill the tank up with radiator fluid (about every other day). Took into a Chevy dealer and they diagnosed it to be a bad intake manifold gasket. Said it would cost about $1200 to repair. We're having a mechanic (not the dealer) repair it, then we're trading it in for a new Honda Civic or Scion. My family way back has been GM people, but not anymore. Honda is where it's at!!!

I own a 2001 Alero, 4 door, 4 cylinder. I bought it in 2003 with 32,000 miles from a rental car company. It now has 156,000 and still runs like a top.

I've replaced the rotors once, brake pads three times. It is loaded, power windows, electric seat, AC/CD player with the upgraded sound system, and my 18 year old son and friends blare it away with no speaker problems. As a matter of fact, they have been scoping it out to put in his Toyota.

The engine runs great with no repairs whatsoever. I think I put plugs in her at 105,000.

The power steering started to leak about a year ago, but I simply dumped in some Lucas power steering stop leak and no problems since. It can burn the tires every time from a stop, break 120 miles per hour and get 24 miles per gallon (not at the same time :~) )

I have owned dozens of cars, none as dependable and worry free as Ol' Al.

I bought my 2001 Alero 4 cyl 4DR from a little old lady when it was at 76,000 4 years ago. Today she sits at almost 160,000 and RUNNIN STRONG! I have never in my life had such a wonderful, dependable vehicle! I never have to worry that she won't start when I am ready to take off somewhere. I love her so much that just last weekend I treated her to some tinted windows and a fancy remote start so that she can turn some heads! Anyone know of where I can get a bumper sticker "I Love My Lil' Alero"??

I bought my 2004 Alero with 91,000ks. It now has 101,000ks and still runs like a charm.

I did have front front rotors installed; that's not bad for that many ks.

It's been a great car so far and I'm expecting many carefree miles.

I really enjoy the power it has for a 6 cylinder, and the gas mileage is very impressive. So not all Aleros have trouble. Maybe it's the way they are driven?

I have owned my 2000 Oldsmobile Alero for almost 10 years. Most of my problems have been cosmetic. HA! I wish.

The dashboard has peeled up and the paint is missing on my gear shift.

The molding is coming off of my windshield.

The backseats were not attached to the car when I bought it. My brother has to attach them for me.

I have had to replace my tires, brakes, and rotors numerous amounts of time.

I recently had to have new tie rods put on the front, which could be normal wear and tear.

I also have had problems that are not so simple.

My rear defrost doesn't work.

My trunk won't come open with the keyless entry or button on the door. Sometimes my trunk won't even shut.

Water leaks in the front and back of my car, but from where I don't know.

Both my driver side and passenger side windows have had broken motors within a year of each other.

I did have my recall part fixed on the warning signals/blinkers. I still do not have fully functioning blinkers. They are very fickle and make a loud noise that are not normal.

Also my fog lights don't work and they have new bulbs. I am sure this is some sort of electrical problem.

The CD/radio sometimes doesn't work for periods of time.

My tire pressure light stays on regardless of whether my tires are low or not.

My car has never died except for when it needed a new battery until recently. I tried to start my car and it would only turn over and then die. It has been raining for a few days. I took it to an autoshop where they plugged it into the computer and could not find a problem. They are saying the windshield is leaking water into a fuse box. Now my car is at autoglass center where they say water is not leaking anywhere. I have already paid a lot of money to have it looked at and to no avail. I am not sure what to do. I see where other people have complained about water leaking and I'm wondering if this is a huge problem.

I totally regret buying this car. The dealership has been very difficult about fixing small issues and I feel I've been taken advantage of. My car is no longer worth what is takes to have to fix these issues.

The Oldsmobile Alero is a piece of crap, and it's a real shame that it wasn't eligible for the Cash for Clunkers program.