2001 Oldsmobile Alero review from North America

Car has had very little go wrong.

I had a problem with it not starting, but that turned out to be an aftermarket automatic starter.

At 30,000, the brake pads needed replacing and the rotors were turned.

Then at 40,000, the left wheel bearings failed. My mechanic, who I trust completely, feels that a stuck caliper for many miles caused overheating in the hub which caused the bearings to fail. When the bearings went, it necessitated another set of pads (actually only on the left, but you can't replace just one). So, $400 later, it was on the road again: Major Guard, my extended GM warranty, covered the repair. Symptoms of the bearing failure included: ANTI LOCK, TRAC OFF, and SERVICE VEHICLE SOON dashboard lights, no ABS, and a "droning" sound (like a propeller plane about to take off) from the left front wheel that changed in pitch with the speed of travel.

I really like my Alero. It's not a love match, but I really like it. Plenty of pickup for me, handles well on my country roads, but cruises down the highway pleasantly, too. Very comfortable seats, an interior that makes sense (except for that stupid forward cup holder which can hold just about nothing if you intend to shift gears - what's it for, a little rice wine???), and a sharp looking little beast.

The Sun and Sound package was perfect, and the GLS came with the spoiler and just enough upgrades to justify the price. No leak problems with the sun roof, either, which friends had warned me about.

The release straps that let you fold down the back seat are very inconveniently located in the trunk.