2000 Oldsmobile Alero from North America - Comments

My 2000 Alero has left me stranded at work a few times when the security light came on and it wouldn't start. After going through this a few times, I found that I could start it after waiting 10-15 minutes, but still do not know how I can get this problem resolved. I also have the window problem. Right now my driver's side window does not work at all (I've had it repaired 4 times) and my passengers side window only goes down about 3 inches. My gas gauge does not work. My air conditioner broke last year. My rear defroster stopped working a month ago. The car itself has a strong motor, but all the other things mentioned above make me question GM's quality commitments. If everyone is having the same problems, why are they not recalling faulty equipment?

Had it all as well...

Lower intake manifold leak - $1200.

Front driver coil spring break - $300.

Turn signal issues - hazard light defect.

Fan blower resistor problem.

Dashboard peeling.

Driver side window broke... now passenger side window fell in and I am considering ordering clips and doing it myself.

This car has been a headache... maybe its time to get a nice cheap honda/toyota/nissan/mazda that will only have half the problems.

Major issues with my '00 oldsmobile alero (84,000 miles) :

Transimission rebuilt at 40k miles for $900.

Power steering tube replaced at 50k miles for $400.

Throttle Control in peddle replace at 60k for 100.

Both back windows are off track.

One back speaker blew out 3 times (same one).

Fan does not work at low speeds.

Blinkers work when they want to.

Leather peeling off dashboard.

Rear defroster hasn't worked in years.

I have a 2003 2 door Alero that is a very good car, but both window motor/regulators have broken again for the second time a piece! Both were covered under warranty the first time. We were surprised when the passenger side window went down again. We have been getting along without it being an operational window for nearly 4 months and now to top it all off, yesterday the driver's side window broke to keep it's brother company.

It's either an unintentional or intentional design flaw. One or the other... It is not my job to figure out which one it is, but it is one of the two. Everyone who is on this website knows it is no coincidence. I didn't have time to read all the replies initiating a GM company recall if one been issued, but I doubt that seroiusly!. I actually think the car is well engineered and one of the best sub-compact cars Oldsmobile has EVER put out. But, the day we test drove the car the fuel filter went out (25K). Those things happen and it turned out to be a good buy for us. But having to deal with the broken windows of your car two times PER window for weeks on end while commuting 50 miles each way to work with no ventilation, way to get fast food, or drive-up prescrips etc. seems harsh to me.

GM is "sweeping it under the carpet" with this addressing the problem.

If anybody has any information regarding how to initiate this recall, please post it so we can join together and make an appeal to GM. it would be greatly appreciated.

Travis from WA.

Alright - I have been living without an operation driver side window for 5 years now on my 2000 Alero, mostly because I am too cheap to spend the $400 to have it fixed. I feel justified in my cheapness now that I see the replacement parts continue to have problems. I think I am content to open my door at McDonald's, the bank, toll roads, saying hello to someone at the gas station,...Overall I am just running it into the ground (118K and counting). I bought it new and way overpaid.

Other problems - yep the blinker randomly stops working, head gasket stops working, door mold randomly pops off, and most recently the power steering blew. I have been driving with no power steering for 6 months. Yes, making sharp corners is a work-out, but who couldn't use a little exercise. - Thanks you GM!

TB - Iowa

I purchased my 99 Olds Alero in 2001. I have replaced both front driver and passenger window motors. My driver window died yesterday - at least it was in the up position. I will not be spending the money to replace this again. I have had to replace the box that operates the rear defroster, had work done 2 times to the fan (still sometimes shuts off and only works in highest position - then mysteriously works with a few clicks back and forth in all positions). My sunroof motor died 3 years ago. I refuse to pay the $400 plus to have this repaired. I lost all brake lights last year - another electrical problem. Also, there is a constant rattling of wires behind my dash--very annoying. I have had work done to brakes and rotors on a routing basis. I am nearing 100,000 miles. I have to keep this horrible car for 1 more year. Then I will get rid of it and most likely buy a foreign car. Don't tell my dad - he's retired from GM.

I purchased a new Alero in January 2002. Since then, the following has happened:

The timing chain broke

One of the remote entry keys broke

Then the other remote entry key broke

Both front struts had to be replaced

Ignition switch had to be replaced

Radio had to be replaced

Calipers had to be replaced

Ignition cylinder had to be replaced

Fuel pump had to be replaced

Passenger window regulator had to be replaced

Hazard light flasher was replaced

Radio speaker was replaced.

All of the above happened prior to reaching 53,071 miles.

Yesterday, the driver's window regulator crapped out. Of course, the warranty is up now. I will not be purchasing a GM product ever again!

2003 Alero here. Mostly cosmetic problems such as windshield molding came off, CD's don't eject half of the time, stereo lettering rubbed off, and a couple of other things on the inside of the car. But I also am driving around with a rear driver side window falling down, and brakes squeaking after they've been replaced. I took the car back to where the brakes were replaced the first time and they said they were still like new! I'm trying to block out the awful noise the AC makes when its on too. Miles are around 66K and I bought it used in 2003. Have yet to see a recall notice on at least the window problem.

I have a 2000 alero that I bought used in Jan. 07. When I bought it there were 119,000 miles on it. Since then we have had a few problems with it. I've had a new fuel pump put on it, there are problems with my turn signals and hazard lights. The cruise control only works when pressing down on it. Also we have lights randomly come on. As far as the check engine light, I just went to Advance Auto parts and had it hooked up to their computer. The guy told me that there's probably a hose loose, but he said it's nothing major wrong there. We also have problems with my brakes. We had them replaced back in July and they are squeaking already. Overall I love my car and all cars have their problems, I'm just lucky nothing very expensive has happened to it. Feel free to contact me Cranberrygrl06@aol.com if anyone has any answers for me about my problems.

Good god, I must be the lucky one out there, and this will most likely doom me, but my 2000 alero I bought second hand has been the best car ever/...hope to all heck it stays that way...

We have a 2002 Alero and we just got the same problem most of you have got, with the driver side window just falling down into the door. Of course it was one of the coldest morning of the season. Never the less, I would like to consider myself pretty good with cars. So before I jumped on the dealership band wagon, I took off the door panel and checked it out myself as I didn't want to endure any extra cost.

So low and behold my power window motor was fine, but GM thought it would be a good idea to make the clip that pull your window up and down out of plastic (smart on GM) so both these clip were scattered. I thought okay, very quick and easy fix. Just to plastic parts and I'm good to go. After 3 hours going to various parts places, all lead me back to GM. And what do they tell me (we only sell the whole Power Window Regulator, not just the clips) A 280 dollar part. And with labour close to 500 bucks! B*****. I refused to pay that much for a new motor which I don't need. so I rigged up something that will last longer then their stupid plastic clips.

What you need to do is take out the Power Window Regulator from your door and you will notice there are 2 tracking panels on the left and right side, which hold your steel wire pulleys. There are 2 L brackets that are attached to your window with a 3/4" bolt. Remove these brackets. Once removed drill 4 holes in each bracket. 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom.

Now you will need to buy some thin steel wire. With the Power Window Regulator out you will notice on each tracking on the steel wire are steel clip. So what you have to do is wrap the steel wire you bought around the bottom and top on this pin, and then run the wire through your bracket, then tighten and clip it off with a crimped nut. Then place Power Window Regulator back into boor and put 3/4 bolts back onto brackets. And there you have it!! It will never break. Cost me 5 bucks to fix and 1 hour of time!

Wow...am I glad now I opted for the crank window when I bought my 2000 Alero! However I have a serious problem that they cannot seem to fix. My 2000 Alero will just shut itself down while driving it. It looses total power. This has happened on the highway... back streets...city streets... it doesn't seem to matter. If I put it into neutral I can restart it immediately and continue on. Has anyone else had this problem??? It is becoming hazardous to drive, but no one can seem to fix it because they can't recreate it. I would greatly appreciate anyone's help!

I had a similar problem with my 2000 Alero; it would cut off while I was driving, but mine wouldn't crank right back up. I was on the side of the road a lot for a few days, but came to find out that my problem was I needed a new fuel pump.

I too thought that I had purchased a lemon when I purchased a 2000 Alero brand new off of the lot.

Early on in the game I had brake problems; took the car numerous times to a Oldsmobile Chevrolet dealership to repair the problem, and while the car was there, another problem was created by the dealership and then blamed on me.

Took the car to my personal mechanic paid to have new master cylinder put in. Radio was also replaced within the first three months of buying car.

I have had to replaced the radiator and components because the cars was running hot on a constant basis. Car used to stall whenever it wanted to while driving, but, this problem went away on its own.

Passenger window was the first to go, opened up the door panel and found the cable to be totally thrashed. Disconnected the motor and have not had a working passenger window in three years.

Last year I rolled down the driver side window, and when rolling it back up the back of the window came up in the middle of the window. Clip broke in half so now I do not have any windows that open.

Hazard light button has fallen inside of the dashboard.

Cruise control only works when the button is held down.

Radio buttons have worn out.

Back speaker is blown.

Have replaced the rotors on the car both front and back at least three times.

I want to thank GM for making my mind up for me on my next car purchase. I will never again buy another American Car. For this I gave up my Nissan.

I have a 2002 Alero gls with approx 118000km on it too has the window problem.. I called GM's 1-800 # and expressed my concern with the problem with the windows (both of my windows broke within days of each other) they expressed that they have never heard of this problem and that it must be individual to me...??? I reccommended them to go on-line and read some blogs. I took my car to a GM dealership and they said it would be about 1000.00 per door to fix.. so I have not fixed them as of yet I don't have $2000.00 laying around just for my window to stay up! Thank God for Tape!!!