Comments: 1-15, 16-25
Rotors and brake pads needed to be replaced at 6, 10, 18, and 24,000 miles.
Horrible grinding noise when turning corners. Dealer could never fix this problem.
High-powered power steering hose went out at 45,000 and was not covered under the warranty; the cost for the repair was $465.
Serious electrical problems that resulted in the car not starting when it rained heavily.
Leaky moon-roof that the dealer did not fix.
Transmission slipped often, but the dealer could not determine why or what caused the problem. I was told by the dealer that "nothing was wrong."
Gas gage did not work at times.
Approximately once a month while driving the car all gaues would go to 0; this included the speedometer. Again, dealer did not know why this occurred.
Poor suspension that resulted in a very rough ride.
Cheap CD player that did not load very well and often disks got stuck in the feeder.
"Check engine" light would often come on then go off again. Once again, dealer had no reason why this happened.
The dash lights did not work over 75% of the time. Driving at night was dangerous.
Do not buy this car! It may look nice and sporty, but it is a piece of junk. I'd honestly rather walk from place to place than ever have to drive this car again.
I traded it in after having it for 2.5 years and the trade-in value was horrible. I'm just glad to be rid of it.
I have a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero and have had nothing, but costly repairs.
Most recently, the gas gauge, when below a quarter tank, will show the vehicle is full of gas then will drop back down and the low fuel light will go on.
The door locks are not functioning correctly. They only work intermittently. Also the vehicle locks itself if I turn the vehicle on, get out of the car and shut the door. (I think this is because of the remote start though).
The security light comes on, generally when it is raining. Also if I start the vehicle and the engine does not role over, I have to turn the vehicle completely off, take the key out of the ignition, get out of the car, shut the door, then I can try it again. If I try to start the car without doing this, the security light flashes and I have to get out of my vehicle and wait twenty minutes for the security system to reset itself.
When I come to a complete stop or when my car is in reverse, my dome light and courtesy lights come on. This is quite dangerous in my town at night for my interior lights to come on when I am at a complete stop. Also, when I park my vehicle and turn it off, my dome light and courtesy light stays on for about 10-20 minutes. I ended up taking the fuse out so I wouldn't have a dead battery.
When I have the vehicle in reverse, it feels as though I have ran something over or hit something, as the rear of the car makes an awful clunk. I have had it inspected by numerous dealers and repair shops with no fix yet.
I've had the wheel bearings replaced twice since I bought the car.
The manifold gasket has been replace, but I was told this is common in six cylinders. (??)
I've had the lower control arm bushings replaced.
The vehicle has been into the shop about every three months for either new rotors (mostly) or brake pads.
The vehicle has been into the dealer repair shop for replacement of the water pump (at 58000 miles, covered under extended warranty)
The vehicle has also been into the repair shop eight times in four months to repair the air conditioning system. They replaced almost every part in the air conditioning system. It did make it through this last summer though. Although, I only used it about six times.
I currently have to take the vehicle in to try to determine the cause of the electrical problem and again try to get the awful clunk sound repaired. Also, just tonight, it sounds and feels as though I have no power steering.
The seal coat is chipping on my rear driver's side door and the paint is now starting to chip which in turn is causing rust.
I got drawn in to the purchase of this car by its sporty look. I regret buying this car and owe twice as much as I can sell it for. I don't recommend the purchase of this car to anyone. I can't even sell it outright and take the loss because I would feel guilty doing that to someone (as it was done to me). I wouldn't wish this car on my worse enemy.
I am the owner of a 2003 Alero GLS. I am very dissapointed the lack of quality for a $25,000.00 car. Previously I had a 2001 Alero GL1 with a 4 cylinder and had no problems. The 2003 GLS is a 6 cyl and has given me nothing, but trouble. Now with only 30,000 miles I am having fuel system work done and my highway mileage is only runing at about 18 miles per gallon. (could do better in an SUV) there is a horrible rattle and loseness in the front end when driving down the road. The brake rotors began warping at 15,000 miles and are in need of replacement already at 30,000 miles. I had a leaky windshield that took 4 trips to the dealership to get fixed. The water damage stained my roof liner. Power sunroof works when it wants to. Carpet is already soo worn it look like it has 200,000 miles on the car.
My worst issue with this car is the brakes. However gas mileage is a major problem too.
It is terrible that you pay $25,000 for a fully loaded car and one year later the dealership only wants to offer you $9,200 for the car! The BBB should be contacted.
I am the owner of a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero GD2 Sedan 4D. I bought my car in April of 2004. Two weeks after buying my Alero, I had to replace all rotors and brake pads. Two weeks after that I had to replace the engine as I apparently "threw a rod". Given the year of my car and that it had only 65,000 miles on it, my mechanic informed me that that was very odd. So $2,500.00 and 3 months later, I have now started to have another issue that is yet to be named.
When driving my car it chugs, like it's missing gears, and that same day it started that it stalled at a stop sign. I'm thinking fuel pump. Who knows.
Other issues are my driver window won't go down, I need the motor replaced for that too, the dash is peeling and the sides of the doors (where they meet the windows), and the CD player skips over every bump and when the car is cold, forget about playing a CD at all, it won't work.
Over all I have to say that if all these problems were fixed I wouldn't mind the Alero. The pick up and go is great. I love the sporty look. I am attempting to sell my car just to get rid of the financial burden it has caused. I just wish I didn't feel like I am driving a lemon that has now cost me a small fortune.
I bought my Alero used with 30k miles on it. Since then, I've run the odometer to 90k, and had some type of mechanical failure every 5,000 miles, without fail. The failures include the following- Wheel bearings, blower fan resistor, emergency flasher switch, water pump, intake gaskets, and ignition switch. You might notice the list fits a common pattern with other GM N-bodies (Grand Am and Malibu), since they all use the same sub-standard parts.
The basic mechanicals are sound, but this car is a ticky-tack pile of junk. I tried to unload several months ago, but even at below blue-book pricing, no one seems interested in a crappy orphan.
The good news- when it breaks, I can fix it. At this point, I'm planning on driving it to 120k, and giving it to charity- good riddance!
I have a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero GLS coupe (2 door) with the 3.4 V6. I had it just over 2 years now. Bought it with 39,000 miles on it, now has 70,000. I had too replace the lower intake manifold (LIM) gasket, the right rear hub (Wheel speed sensor) and just did the front brakes and rotors yesterday. In all honesty, that's not bad at all. I knew about the LIM gasket issue with GM's 60 degree V6 engines. The other stuff?? Well, parts do wear out. I change the oil ever 3,000 miles and the engine runs strong. Auto transmission shifts well. Out on the interstate, it gets great gas mileage, in town,... not so good. All in all, I'm happy with the Alero GLS.
I have a 2000 4 cylinder Alero with 107k on it. In the past 6 years I have owned this car, it has had one set of tires, front brake shoes and rotors. I would buy another if they still made them!!
I bought my 1999 2 door Alero GLS (V6) new. I now have 96,000 miles on it. The first three months of owning this car it spent 28 days at the dealership. In 96,000 miles it has had the brakes done 9 times. Both front wheel bearings at 48,000 miles. I just did the water pump for the second time, once at 45,000 miles and again at 94,000 miles. It has had 3 fuel injectors replaced. Alternator at 65,000 miles. Two sets of tires. Struts all the way around at 54,000 miles. Drivers power window at 15,000 miles. Turn single flasher at 17,000. Intake and exhaust gaskets at 36,000 miles. Climate control blower motor has been replaced twice. Over all this has been a fairly good car with a lot of problems. I would never recommend anyone buy one of these cars. The only reason I have kept the car is because it is paid for and it is cheaper to keep it than to have another car payment.
I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero sedan and I got it with about 45000 miles. As of now it has 57000 miles. I've pretty much loved it excpet for the fact that the brakes wear incredibly fast and still feel shoddy straight out of the garage with brand new rotors and pads. The windshield isn't properly sealed and water leaks in the bottom of it, and collects on the floorboard. Besides those two things, I haven't had any problems with my alero.
I have a 2000 olds alero, 2 door, 3.4 liter V6 engine. Have had it for 7 years and she purrs like a kitten. Haven't had any major problems. Nothing in the first 2-3 years. Replaced the water pump once, spark plugs twice. Change the oil every 7000 miles. Gets decent gas mileage for a V6. Powerful acceleration. This baby goes! Drives great, handling is tight. I'm a girl and drive it like a crazy guy and I love it!!! My car must have been built on a Tuesday. :)
I have a 2000 Alero GL and have owned it for 7 years. It now has over 200,000 miles and still runs like a champ. If I could keep this car forever I would. I have only replaced the fuel pump and front rotors once and that was two years ago. It still has it's get up and go, rides smoothly and quietly. It has the power when I need it, too. I keep the oil changed and had the spark plugs and boots replace at the 100,000 mark and now it needs it again. I am going to keep driving this car as long as it runs great. I wouldn't trade this car for the world. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!
I bought a NEW 2000 Alero GLS that just turned 55,000k here in Oct '07. I have a had a few of the "usual" problems. But I've had new Hondas, Toyotas, and VeeDubs that have had more frequent, serious, and most expensive problems than this car at the same mileage! Tis the era of cars with lots of stuff that can go wrong IMO! And to be fair sounds like a lot of you folks bought used, and probably off a wholesale lemon lot where ALL the cars are junk! Anyhow the probs... The intermittent turn signal prob just popped up, I found an easy fix for it from someone online. Just hit the Hazard Lights button right quick with the signal lever engaged in either direction, and the problem for me disapears for a good spell! The CD/tape player is garbage, always was! The Sunroof started getting stuck about a quarter of the way open after about 12k. Fan/Blower resistor likely needs to be replaced, as it doesn't kick on as it should till the 3rd & 4th position. It's $2 part! The check engine light started coming on at about 15k... It's a wonky solenoid issue and I just ignore it till it's time for SMOG. Did have to have the manifold gasket replaced at 50k and that was a pricey fix! That's it for the "usual" probs so far... Nothing unique! My experience with brakes were solid! 50k miles till they needed to be replaced. Then again I make it a point to not ride or slam on them unless I have to. I had the uncommon handling package on mine, and the Goodyear Eagles have lasted an amazing 55k and I expect will make it to 60 or even 65k if age doesn't claim them first! The sway bar makes a world of difference, and the car corners like a champ combined with the Eagles! EXPENSIVE tires though! Power-train is strong! Very quick with the TRAC turned off! Interior still looks sweet and I have the high contrast scheme. I had it for the first couple of years in the hot desert of Palm Springs then out in San Diego where it also gets very hot at times... Parked outside without a carport! The leather seats and plastic interior has held up GREAT compared to ALL my other cars! Very impressed with that! Too bad the resale is bad, but unless things get really bad with this one, I have no reason to sell it!
I bought a 2001 Old Alero 2 door 6 years ago. It still has less than 98,000 km on it. Great condition. Sharp looking. Drives fantastic. Love it and hate it.
Since that time, I have had to replace the ignition system, which was already done once at the dealership before car was sold to me. Not disclosed by the dealership. $850.00.
Then I had to replace the intake manifold, which I found out later was already done at the dealership before car was sold to me. Not disclosed by the dealership. $300.00.
The intake manifold went a second time. $300.00 this means it has been replaced 3 times that I know of in the last six years.
The head gasket was leaking into my oil tank. Had to change the oil every 15 kms until it was finally fixed by the dealership. Less than 90K on car. They paid half. My bill $750.00.
The passenger door window regulator was replaced less than 1 yr ago. $500. Now it's broken again. How much? Who knows?
Driver's side window regulator is starting to go. Based on previous estimate, $500 to replace.
The rear window defroster stopped working last week. Complicated schematic, mechanic needs 1/2 day just to find the problem, which is likely a loose connection. Could cost up to $500.
Lousy MPG, city or highway.
Body in good shape, just a little rust spot on the driver's rear quarter panel starting to appear.
Other thoughts... car makes a weird, squeaking .. or perhaps labouring noise in the front passenger dashboard... as if something was rattling around in the glovebox, but is not. Am scared to even find out WHAT that noise is.
When I spoke to the dealership, they told me they were experiencing a lot of problem with the car because gaskets and parts were outsourced to... who knows where? They claim they brought the parts manufacture back to NA in 2004, and haven't experienced any problems since then. Do I believe it? No way.
Will I buy another GM?
After owning GM's my entire driving career, which is going to be three decades soon, the answer is a resounding NO. I'll drive this sucker into the ground cuz I still owe $5800 on it.
Buyer Beware.
2000 Oldsmobile Alero - Our car started having electrical problems at 59,000 miles, our windows don't operate on the drivers side, the cruise control only works if you manually hold the button down the entire time, security light is coming on and every time you start it the clock resets to some weird time. We are taking it in today, $150 just for diagnosing the problem...
Hey, my name is Jeffrey Morrison and I've got a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero 4 door green. My transmission is missing 3 and 4, and no one can tell me why if you have this problem. Please e-mail me at morrison_faith109@hotmail.com
I have a 2000 Alero GL and have owned it for 8 years.
"Check engine" light would often come on then go off again. Once again, dealer had no reason why this happened.
ANSWER: Gas cap loose.
Blower fan resistor:
ANSWER: Passenger side parts on e-bay $11.00 15 min.
Emergency flasher switch:
ANSWER: Dealers will replace the hazard warning switch. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004. Owners should contact Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. GM recall no. 03043 or
pull center vent out three bolts and a lot of bad words and it's out.
The cruise control:
ANSWER: Pulled apart on/off switch left side fixed with a tooth pick don't ask.
Car running bad or stalling, bad weather shutdown, bad mpg
ANSWER: Replace spark plugs and spark plug boots under the ignition coil they go bad after 20 or 30 thou. Big change in power takes about 30 min. This fixes a lot of other things like "service engine soon", "ABS", and "trac off" lights. All all went off as soon as it started to idle right and the alt put out more power.