Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-63
The history includes records from date sold new. I purchased at end of my partner's lease.
12,808 miles (2-29-96) seal, lower crankcase replaced.
34,603 miles (11-25-97) diagnose electrical problems - replace radio.
44,513 miles (8-19-98) diagnose electrical problems, replace alternator controller, PCM/VCM (computers)
49,098 miles (12-30-98) diagnose electrical problems, again replace alternator (alternator is causing computers to fail)
63,420 miles (3-1-2000) - I purchase at end of my partner's lease and he leased a new Aurora - dealer never advised him the electrical problems would be reoccurring. Dealer peeformed major 60,000 service and indicated the car was fine.
65,777 miles (7-9-2001) The car backfired while wife was crossing busy intersection and was not very responsive (it was also missing).
I was just able to get to local garage next to the intersection to try to at least get it repaired enough to drive. I had no idea it would require a major repair since it had only been 2,357 since it had a complete major 60,000 mile dealer service.
The repairs ($2,480) included the ignition module, ECM (computer), electrical brake control module (ABS system), and alternator. The diagnostic showed the alternator malfunction was damaging the above components. This is the third alternator in 21,264 miles (and second EMC). There is a manufacture design problem and the manufacture appears not to be able to fix it.
70.090 miles (5-28-2003) The car was taken in to the dealer because it slams into gear when shifting from park to reverse and shifts rough during normal driving. I was advised that the ECM (computer) was causing the problem and would have to be replaced.
After getting the complete car history, I found that it has been an on going problem that GM has not solved.
The current dealer was just going to replace the computer until I advised him he needs to check alternator since it appears from past experience it has involved in taking out the computers.
I contacted GM 800# customer services and was advised it was out of warranty, regardless of past history.
They said they would not even consider any assistance since it had not been regularly serviced by a GM dealer. When I brought up the obvious question of manufacture design defect, I was told there was not a current recall, therefore there was no manufacture problem. The car was completely serviced under GM dealers through 63,420 miles of service and has only gone 7,520 miles since the last dealer major service (my wife only drives 2,507 miles a year). The car was not even due for any scheduled maintenance other than oil & filter changes that I have done regularly and have receipts to verify.
The electrical defective design could cause a accident since the alternator damages major computers, including ignition and the ABS brake control as well as other components, and can cause stalls as well as lack of response. The lack of concern by GM is unbelievable. Their attitude seems to be it is past the 50,000 mile warranty, you should now have to spend another $35,000 on a new one. Can't GM make a car that is not disposable?
The car, when running has good comfort and performance.
Their manual should say that you must be on first name basis with a dealer mechanic and should have one with you on any long trips.
The lack of concern by GM of the obvious manufacture design is of great concern. The problems with the electrical systems could lead to auto accidents and people dying.
DONNAPACA@aol.com
The attitude of GM does not surprise me. I was unfortunate enough to own a Saturn for three years. You are correct in assuming that GM only want to build throwaway cars these days. I have now switched to a 2002 Honda Accord V6. The difference in quality is absolutely amazing.
Update
Please be aware that an 80,000 mile 8 year warranty covers the major computers that can effect the engine and thus smog.
The 1995 Aurora's warranty will expire this year on date eight years from original purchase in 1995, if it does not exceed mileage limit. If it has not yet expired I strongly suggest you take the car in to a GM dealer to have them run diagnostics to see if they show any codes indicating problem. To fix under warranty could save a considerable amount of money.
Please report major computer, transmission & any other safety-related problems to federal government at below web address, even if previously done and covered under warranty. The only way to get GM to develop a fix and reimburse for those done outside of warranty for the reoccurring problems is to have a forced recall.
Obtain a print out from any GM dealer (this will also show date warranties expire based on original sale date) on your car warranty history and review for similar problems, even if covered under warranty-from my experience they will continue. At this web site you can review complaints by others on this specific car. Please file complaints covering each experience you have had with computer failures, transmission, and alternators.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/home.cfm.
Please also file the same information with the Center for Auto Safety below. They also collect complaints and build a data basis. If they have enough reports on the same problem that are considered safety related they would consider a class action suit.
http://www.autosafety.org/index.html.
Please contact me at below address as I am trying to also build a data basis to force a recall if the above two organizations do not.
Donnapaca@aol.com.
The 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora my son owns is not reliable and is very expensive to own and operate. There is a present problem with the transmission or computer that operates the transmission. The automobile is inoperable. It was taken to a diagnostic center and the center was unable to determine the problem. It cost him about $700 so far and the problem is not fixed or even diagnosed. This is an expensive piece of junk.
Craig Petersen.
You are not kidding! This is by far the worst car ever made. GM will not honor the 80,000 mile computer warranty. They just don't care about olds anymore. They want to wash thier hands clean of it all.
To All 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora owner`s: I got in to the Consumer Guide. There are some of the trouble spots on this car.
Battery: The Floor pan rusts due to the battery venting or an overflow of acid.
Brake noise: The brakes make noise due to a problem with the rotors for which there are replacements.
Electrical problem: The door locks may quit working and the instrument-panel fuse may blow (fuse#37 under the back seat)
due to a short circuit caused by a bolt inside either front door chafing the wiring harness. (This happened to me. Please MAKE THEM LISTEN TO YOU. Go to http//auto.consumerguide.com and print out the page that has trouble spots and give it to the mechanic working on your car.
Vehicle noise: A problem with the power brake-booster check valve causes a noise from the dashboard. (1995-1999)
I to have a 1995 Aurora, it has caused me major problems. The transmission went out with no warning it now sits in repairwith a $2,100 repair cost. The driver side door does not shut the radio off when you open the door, or turn on inside lites the traction control does not work, the fuel system is burning rich and the master cylinder went out. I don't have money to repair the transmission. I am truly upset with GM for making this car so troublesome. If any out there got there problems fixed by GM please let me know at tcrcbm@comcast.net Richard.
Mine shifted hard also from park. Dealer fixed (~$1200), it was some transmission component that "locks the torque converter" for some reason this stays locked (service engine light comes on when this is going to happen) causing a hard shift from park to reverse or drive. I waited to get fixed 12 months or so, it fixed OK, 2 years now and still OK, but one side effect now is that the locking torque converter locks and unlocks when driving about 35 mph (works OK over or under.) Also the speed sensor in the transmission failed once and the "wire" came loose once this caused the transmission to not shift from 2nd gear at all (cheaper fix ~$180)
I have a 1995 Aurora and it is running hot. I have changed head gaskets, radiator, water pump,thermostats , fans are working, and I have spent approximately $2200.00 plus and the car is still sitting in the garage. If someone knows what my problem could be please help me out.
I had this same problem. I looked under the very front of the car, in front of the radiator. There is a plastic scoop that directs air from under the car directly to the front of the radiator. A couple of bolts came out allowing the scoop to direct the air under the hood instead of into the radiator. A simple fix for me. I hope you have the same problem.
I have a 1995 Aurora and at 137k, the a/c compressor is shot. At 143k, I had the car hooked up to a computer because the "service engine soon" light came on. EGR valve ($148 @ autopartsworld. com only $7.71 DHL next day air) and thermostat ($11.00) replaced. Power door switch on driver's side doesn't work (cannot lock or unlock) ; works on the passenger side though. Driver's side memory seat buttons no longer work either, nor do they illuminate when the headlights are on. Other than that, so far so good. Surprised to see no major problems, for I have made 2-3 round trip drives from Edison, NJ to Charlotte, NC...Note:fuel rail & components replaced under factory recall.
95 Aurora----Bought it used just after 9/11. Wish Atta had aimed a little farther west. Nothing but continual major problems. After one month $1100 for lower case engine reseal. At one year Tranny rebuild about $3800! Year Two brought total engine reseal after ZERO OIL PRESSURE, $2500 +. Along the way two radiator replacements! We then suffered intermittent NO START problem. Three trips to shop with no good result. Left it for over a month the last time, and someone whacked the olds with a Hummer. Got it fixed and 36 hours later the AC compressor blew up. Now its home with mysterious leak.
As for the hard shifting into reverse, simply disconnect the battery, approx. 30 seconds, and reconnect it. This should take care of the problem, at least it has for me on a couple of occasions. I have 192,000+ miles on mine and she still runs great.
I have a 96 aurora,and now that I’ve have it fixed for several reasons and am trying to sell it, my battery goes dead because the clock, heater fan and automatic levelers stay on after turning the ignition off. Dose anyone know what is causing this.
P. s. for thoughts of you that have had radiator and heater core problems such as leakage in a short amount of time it could be a ground problem. They found in my car that there was.3 volt running through the coolant. They cleaned all ground and checked it again and found only.003 volts. Unfortunately it took 6 cores and 1 radiator to figure it out. Not to mention the aggravation.
I have a 1995 Aurora that is said to need a new transmission. It was running fine when all of the sudden the R.P.M.s started jumping all over, but not revving the engine. Drove it about 6 miles to the nearest place and started getting hot. Left it there a few days and had someone follow me home to see how it would run and ran perfectly fine (about 35 miles). Seems like when the air conditioner was running this would make it act up. Took it to the shop and was told I needed a new transmission because it was not upshifting out of 1st or 2nd gear. He put it on a diagnostic test and it came up problem with solenoid. He said he was afraid to replace solenoid because it would cost over $500 just to take transmission out to put solenoid in and didn't know if that would fix the problem. Has anyone else had this problem and just had the solenoid changed? If so how much did it cost to fix and did it fix the problem?
I also have the same problem with driver door not locking and lights out on the shifter, lights not shutting off when the humidity is high, rear bearing going out, serpentine belt breaking, engine missing and backfire etc.
Someone please let me know about the solenoid, I really can't afford to replace tranny especially if it doesn't take care of the problem. A rebuilt tranny runs at least $1500 plus the 10 hours. labor to take out and put in.
I have a 1995 olds aurora with transmission problem it will shift from park to reverse very hard and also the pw door locks do not work can you tell me should I replace the trani or call it quits I'm looking for trani please help email me at marcusmw3233@yahoo.com.