1999 Oldsmobile Alero GLS review from North America
"A sporty reliable luxury economy car wrapped into one. Just be weary of the braking system"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Soon after buying the vehicle I could hear a grinding sound whenever stepping on the brakes. All four rotors were rotted. Had them replaced at ~27000 miles. This was covered under warranty.
The grinding returned about 18 months later at ~52000 miles. The front rotors had rotted out again, and needed to be replaced. This was not covered under warranty.
The heater/ac blower only worked on the highest setting,#5. Mechanic found and replaced a resistor which had shorted out, leading to the power for blower motor. Replaced under warranty.
The rear speakers blew. Replaced under warranty.
Cruise control failed. Bent pin found in dash behind air bag. Replaced under warranty.
Clicking noise heard coming from the transmission only when driving in reverse. Mechanic loosened all engine and transmission mounts, and let sit for one hour, then torqued all mount bolts. This fixed the noise. It never came back. Covered under warranty.
General comments?
Other than the brake problems this car has been good. They must make those rotors out of cheap, cheap metal. This problem should be corrected by the manufacturer.
The car handles beautifully, and has a lot of power. Its fun to drive and reliable. The leather package is sharp and the seats are really comfortable. Great factory sound package.
Recommended reviews
| Cheap in more ways than one |
| If you can get past the problems, Alero has potential: MUCH better than the Achieva it replaced! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | V6 3.4L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 23705 miles |
| Most recent distance | 55702 miles |
| Previous car | Oldsmobile Alero |
| Date of Entry | 8th November, 2003 |