2002 Oldsmobile Alero GL review from North America

I leased my 2002 Alero at the end March '02. I was so happy that I had a safe and reliable car to get me to work. One of the reasons that I had opted for an Olds is that it had a reinforced frame and traction system (I travel a lot in the winter).

I live an hour in each direction away from the nearest GM dealer. I loved my car and took care of it and maintained it regularly... Aside from only loaning my car to relatives a few times, my husband and I were the only ones driving my car.

Here is a list of my problems:

1. May 2002: the shifter that locks in reverse when you turn the car off was broken, and I couldn't go in reverse. This was covered under warranty.

2. By the end of May 2002, both of my windows had fallen out of their tracks and I was back at the service department again.

3. September 2002 - My mother-in-law borrowed my car for a week or two and she had told me that the CD player would only work when it wanted to.. I thought that to be strange.

4. By the time the snow fell I had noticed that my tires were worn down, didn't think anything of it, because as it turned out, I didn't use it all that much that winter. By this time, my kms were only 40,000.

5. In February 2003, my husband, my niece and I were caught in a flash snow storm and had overturned in an accident, luckily, other than whiplash, we were fine, but my car however suffered over $7000 in damage. The insurance corporation covered the damages (or at least the ones they found).

6. After the accident, the GM Goodwrench mechanics had told me that my brakes were shot before that accident and would not be covered... I had those fixed.

7. The problems with the stereo came back so I brought it in. The mechanics looked at it, and low and behold - it was my fuse box, which was corroded... They also told me it was a fire hazard!!! By this time I was shocked because I often have my neices and nephew with me!!! This was covered under warranty.

8. Later that spring, I found a new surprise... My front and rear windshields were leaking, isn't that wonderful?!?!?!

9. The summer and autumn when on without incident, but as soon as winter came, I purchased myself some brand new winter tires... the cost of the tires was the least of my problems... by January of 2004 I had noticed an increasingly loud noise coming from the front end. I promptly brought my car to the nearest GM dealership. To my shock, the mechanic told me that he would not let me leave the shop with my car that night. It was my bearings and brakes!!! Again, in shock, the nice gentleman arranged a rental vehicle. This was covered under my extended warranty, and by this time, my car was nearing the the end of my 100,000km 'bumper to bumper'.

10. May 2004: I had loaned my mother-in-law my car for the day. By that evening we were informed that the car was broken down about 15kms outside of town. We had it towed to GM again, and they figured it was the timing belt! It had snapped and bent some of the inner-workings of the engine. This time the cost would be $3200 CAD. We asked the mechanic if it had to do with the accident we were in. It turns out that it could be, but they don't know for sure. We called the GM customer service centre and they do not want to help us. Later today, the GM mechanic called us back and told us that there was a bulletin on their computers that has a concern for this problem. Hopefully we can get some answers from them.

I am getting more and more frustrated with my car. I have owned 4 other GM brand vehicles and 1 Honda since I learned how to drive. Firebird, Lumina, Tracker, and Silverado... none of these vehicles have given us nearly as much trouble. If things don't improve with the customer service with GM, I will be forced to boycott. Its kind of a relief that Oldsmobile will be phased out this year. It will save the rest of the world from the infamous Alero.