1999 Oldsmobile Alero GLS from North America - Comments

Car interior is peeling from the window lining.

The overhead light console and the rear view mirror fell off.

Replaced the power steering hoses and pump.

Replaced the radiator hoses and water pump.

The car at random locks on its own. Took it in to the dealer and they search through the whole electrical system and computer and could not find the problem.

Replaced the battery and the alternator.

Car seems to run out of coolant quickly and when its at the correct level the coolant light blinks on and off from time to time.

Its peppy acceleration and some-what nice outer appearance is the only things I can say good about this car.

Other than that, this has been the most horrible experience I've had with a car. I leased it a few years ago, and now the leasing company is trying to get me to buy it. I would not keep this car if my life depended on it. I will have the biggest party ever when the leasing company takes this car from me.

I have the same problem with the coolant. My alero seems to drink by the gallon. Even when it isn't leaking, which isn't very often, it uses a lot of it. I do not know if it evaporates or what, but at $10.00 a gallon it isn't cheap for the Dex-Cool. Plus I have had to have the water pump replaced $125.00 and right now it is the shop again, this time needing a new intake manifold gasket, only $550.00 this time. Other than the coolant system I have no complaints about my car. And I think that the coolant system has problems because of the Dex-Cool.

To anyone who has an Alero and the coolant is running low and don't know why. Get the car into the shop immediately. I've seen this comment numerous times on these sites. I had the same problem and eventually got feed up with it. Had the dealership check it out thinking this was no big problem. $1,000 later I was wrong. The intake manifold gasket had to be replaced.

I would seriously contact your GM Dealer head office. I recently got fed up with all the money this Alero was sucking out of me. I have since, replaced, tie rods, and wheel bearings. Belt, and water pump. (Due to my coolant leak.) when I did call they informed me of the intake manifold and how they were fixing this on certain alero's. It seemed to be an issue for GM. Although they were only doing the good will on cars below 100k. Seeing how I called within the km's (87000k) I might be assisted with this fix. But I auggest calling, it coulnd't hurt.

I loved my 2000 Alero for two years--then I moved to Las Vegas and it has been one (expensive) problem after another. First, the fuel pump. It went out on a trip and I got stranded in the middle of the night after the car died on me--had it towed to a repair place and they couldn't find anything wrong because it started up and ran fine. ($100 for the tow) ; five months later it died again--this time in town. Car repair place said it was fuel pump ($800); got it back, two days later the battery went out ($60); then, the real aggravation--Las Vegas' 100 degree plus days, the car starts overheating. Water pump ($400, then hoses etc. ($100). Runs fine for four days, then overheats again. Cannot drive it more than four miles without it almost in the red. I cannot afford to spend anymore money, can't afford a new car--and cannot afford to miss work while car is in the shop. I'm at my wit's end. I don't know anyone here in town so I have to rely on what I find in the yellow pages and the dealership. I'm really ticked off. Until now, I have had no problems except for the vinyl peeling back off the dash, and of course, that's getting worse because of the heat. Other than these problems, it has been a good car, but I cannot afford this and the car repair place hasn't been able to find the real problem, so it just continues.