10 of the 702 complaints about the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero are about the wheels — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,000 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
WHEELS
FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING IT TO RUB AGAINST THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING! THIS HAPPENED ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH!
NHTSA complaint #10946551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUB
PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY'03. BAD VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH, TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED 4+ TIMES, BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB KITS REPLACED IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, STILL OCCURS AND HAVE JUST GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE SHAKING. ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS: REPLACED PUMP AND "O" RING. POWER STEERING PUMP AND RETURN HOSE REPLACED. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL BACK UP(BELIEVE DEALERSHIP REPLACED PRIO TO PURCHASE). DRIVER SIDE MIRROR MOTOR HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, DEALER(IN ROCHESTER) PUT ON RECEIPT OF LAST REPAIR THAT THEY REPLACED MOTOR, BUT DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE PART, BUT WAS ON ORDER. NEVER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL BACK WHEN OR IF PART CAME IN(DEALERSHIP IS OVER 300 MILES FROM MY HOME, PURCHASED CAR ON THE INTERNET).
NHTSA complaint #10098708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHEEL BEARING WORE OUT AT 52000 MILES. BATTERY TERMINAL POST BROKE OFF. BRAKE CALIPER MELTED AT 51000 MILES. TWO POWER STEERING LINES BURST AT 59000. THE COST OF THE REPAIR FOR THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS AN ESTIMATE I GOT FROM A MECHANIC, BUT I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED. I'M HOPING FOR A RECALL BEFORE I TAKE ANY ACTION. MY COMPLAINTS ARE BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO GOOD REASON FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS TO NEED REPAIR THAT SERIOUS. AREN'T WHEEL BEARINGS AND POWER STEERING LINES SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR A WHILE?
NHTSA complaint #10068787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:RIM
THE CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS TOLD THE RIM WAS CRACKED AND THE TIRE LOST AIR. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS THE TIRES SLIPPED ON THE RIM AND HAD BROKEN THE SEAL. THE TIRE DEFLATED SOMEWHAT, AND CAUSED THE AUTO LEVEL ALARM TO GO OFF. THE ALLOY RIMS BY THE MANUFACTURER WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10021947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT ENTIRE WHEEL CAME OFF THE AXLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH, THERE WERE TWO INJURIES. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #562178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:RIM
WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS. DEALER STATED THAT RIMS ARE BENT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #879687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUB
THE BOLTS T HAT HOLD THE HUB CAPS ON HAVE PLASTIC INSERTS.THEY SEEM TO HAVE MELTED AND FUSED TO THE STUD.BECAUSE OF THIS I AM UNABLE TO REMOVE HUP CAPS TO REMOVE WHEELS TO ROTATE E.
NHTSA complaint #723583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LUGS AND NUT CAME OFF WHEEL CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #548896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LUGS AND HUBS COMING OFF VEHICLE. ALSO, BRAKE CABLE WAS CUT AND VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT BRAKES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED .
NHTSA complaint #841205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUB
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LUGS AND HUBS COMING OFF VEHICLE. ALSO, BRAKE CABLE WAS CUT AND VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT BRAKES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED .
NHTSA complaint #841205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.