2001 Oldsmobile Alero GLS review from North America

Windshield leaked at 30,000 (warranty)

Turn signals quit at 31,000 (warranty)

Occasional hard starting at 30,000 and it still does it.

Manifold leaks oil 50,000.

Knock in steering at 75,000.

The hard starting happened while it was under warranty and has been looked at four times now. I have been told by the dealer that they all do it and that none of them do it (including my car) and several times that it has been fixed. It only happens once or twice a week and it always starts by the third or fourth crank so I have not worried to much about it.

Considering it is a four door with sufficient room it handles pretty well.

The V6 has more than enough power for passing and pulling into traffic.

I get a consistent 30mpg doing mostly highway driving, considering the size and power I am very happy with that.

For the price I would have expected it to be a little quieter. My wife's Chrysler was only a few thousand more when new and has the same miles and she always thinks one of my doors is ajar when riding with me.

I am happy with the room inside, and the trunk is impressive for not being a big car.

Cup holders are poorly designed. One is in front of shifter so you can't put anything in it when in Park, and if you leave a drink in there when shifting to Park you run the risk of crushing the cup and shooting it's contents all over. Seems like they think everyone drinks cans of pop and nobody would ever get a tall cup from a fast food place.

A few strokes of genius that this car has and should be on every car; two cigarette lighter outlets up front and an arrow on the gas gauge telling which side to fill up on.

I like it a lot better then the Grand Am it shares so much with.