FaultScore

Oldsmobile Alero engine problems

335 of the 2,939 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Alero are about the engine — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.

335

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

9

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1998 Alero 1 0.3%

Median failure at 3,457 miles

1999 Alero 89 26.6%

Median failure at 63,000 miles

2000 Alero 93 27.8%

Median failure at 55,030 miles

2001 Alero 64 19.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2002 Alero 42 12.5%

Median failure at 69,273 miles

2003 Alero 29 8.7%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

2004 Alero 17 5.1%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

What owners said

2002 Oldsmobile Alero Cheyenne, WY

ENGINE

2002 oldsmobile alero was driving on interstate and very low on fuel when i exited the interstate at the street light it turned green and as i was accelerating my car stalled out and since then ive pur 2 gallons of fuel in it and now it cranks but wont start up and now it back fires when trying to start it and my security light is off and I'm getting fuel pressure in the front rail and I got spark and yea my fuel pump is humming.

NHTSA complaint #11757508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Alero Springfield, IL Crash 1 injured

ENGINE

Airbag no deployment Loss of power steering Brakes to floor Car died Recall ignored prior and still today after set up now off their schedule Friendly Chevrolet rich Gardner

NHTSA complaint #11580823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Oldsmobile Alero Stafford, KS

ENGINE

The car will shut off while driving/idling. There are no check engine lights. Took it to get the latest recall fixed that had to do with this and they just gave us new keys. It did not remedy the situation! Now we are paying to fix it because it is still shutting off while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11517655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Oldsmobile Alero Leroy, IL

ENGINE

While driving the vehicle the car shut off while ignition was on. No warning whatsoever

NHTSA complaint #11424287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 74,350 miles Hyde Park, UT

ENGINE

1200 MILES AFTER J02 RECALL CAR RUNS SLUGGISH GOING UP CANYON. STOP CAR AND ENGINE IS MISFIRING. TURN AROUND AND COAST DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON THEN STOP AND PARK CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED WHAT I SHOULD DO. COAST OUT OF THE CANYON WITH THE ENGINE OFF. TURN ENGINE ON AFTER SEVERAL MILES AND NO MORE PROBLEMS. DRIVE HOME CAREFULLY. NEXT DAY THROWS SEVERAL CODES AND RUNNING SLUGGISH. SEVERAL DAYS LATER CODES ARE GONE RIGHT BEFORE IT GOES TO DEALER. THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IF CAR HAS NO ACTIVE CODES OR SYMPTOMS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER TURN CAR ON AND CAR IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND HAS SEVERAL PENDING CODES. CAREFULLY DRIVE HOME. CODES DIDN'T SAVE. FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE TO DEALER AROUND JUNE 25TH WHILE CAR IS MAKING THE KNOCKING NOISE BUT NO CODES AND THEY THINK IT'S A LIFTER BUT NOT SURE. I LEFT THE CAR AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. LITERALLY THE SAME DAY I PICK THE CAR UP IT IS KNOCKING AND CONSISTENTLY DOES SO FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. JULY 5 ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEING HIT BY A HAMMER AND THROWS P0011 CAM TIMING ADVANCED. OIL PRESSURE IS 5PSI AT IDLE AND 40PSI AT 5000RPM. HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T MAKE THE DRIVE AND THEY SAY IT IS PISTON SLAP WITHOUT EVEN OPENING THE ENGINE THEY DETERMINE IT IS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALL. AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE WITH THE TIMING COVER, OIL PAN AND ONE VALVE COVER OFF AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEM TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE AFTER THE RECALL. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THE DEALER TO ACTUALLY TEAR IT DOWN TO DIAGNOSE IT.. CODES THROWN SO FAR ARE P0011 P219A P0301 P000A P0420 KNOCKING SEEMS TO BE WHEN OIL WARMS UP AND OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO ABOUT 30PSI AND BELOW.

NHTSA complaint #11233626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Alero at 203,000 miles Springfield, MO

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000.

NHTSA complaint #11221539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Alero at 198,765 miles Appomattox, VA

ENGINE

NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSE TO LEAK ON EQUIPMENT UNDER INSIDE AND OUT DASHBOARD WITCH CAUSED EROSION AND DEFECTS TO OTHER OPERATING EQUIPMENT LEAD TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING,SOME OPERATIONS OF WILL WORK, SOME WON'T. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN,THE SECURITY SYSTEM ON CAR DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SINCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON HIGHWAY 55MPH. AND THE CAR COMPLETELY TURN OFF, I TURNED IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN CAR BACK ON IT WAS VERY SCARY MOMENT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT I WISH I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF MISERY FINANCIALLY EMOTIONALLY FEEL SAFE WITH GM SEALING FRONT WINDOW PROPERLY ON ALERO I WOULDN'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE! SO NOT PROPERLY SEALING AND WIRING DIAGRAM NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED IN MY OPINION ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE IN ANY GM MOTORS MODELS NOT JUST ME BUT OTHERS TOO . I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP ME AS MUCH I HELP OTHERS IN MY CAR N MY DAILY LIFE TO GET BY NOT MUCH TO ASK TO FEEL SAFE! THE CAR WAS NOT SEALED RIGHT IN FIRST PLACE. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED MY PROBLEMS OWNING THIS CAR. I NEED EITHER HELP WITH CAR TO GET FIX PTHE RIGHT WAY. OR I NEED A NEW CAR I HAVE A DISABLED MOTHER AND GRANDPA THAT DEPEND ON ME AND I NEED A RELIABLE CAR TO PROVIDE DAILY TASKS APPOINTMENTS THE LIST GOES ON. I COULD REALLY USE A PIECE OF MIND JUST TO KNOW I'M DRIVING A SAFE RELIABLE CAR TO DO MY GOD SERVICES EVERY DAY I'M BEGGING!!

NHTSA complaint #11180995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Oldsmobile Alero at 178,000 miles Cleveland, OH

ENGINE

STARTER TURNS BUT WILL NOT START

NHTSA complaint #11118594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Alero at 260,000 miles Pineville, KY

ENGINE

IT JUST STARTED AFTER THE SECURITY GOT LOCK AND HAD TO BE OVER DRIVE. WHEN YOU DRIVE YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR IDLE BAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IF YOU HAVE TO STOP TO TURN AND YOU GET BELOW 1 MGA TURNS OFF. YESTERDAY IT DID THIS AND TURN OFF AND ALL IT WOULD DO IS JUST TURNS BUT DOESN'T START. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'S NOT GET FUEL OR AIR WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. YOU CAN DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT AND WATCH THE MGA, I THINK, 1,2,3, ILDEL DOWN A LITTLE. STARTED END OF SEPT OR NO TROUBLER

NHTSA complaint #11033379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Oldsmobile Alero at 58,300 miles Greer, SC

ENGINE

SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, WHEN FLASHING CAR WILL NOT START.

NHTSA complaint #11011462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Oldsmobile Alero Daly City, CA

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL, SINCE THE CAR HAS A IGNITION PROBLEM AND IT IS AT THE PUTNAM GM BURLINGAME TILL NOW THEY DON'T DO ANY OF RECALL EVEN DIAGNOSE THE CAR AND THEY WANT ME TO REMOVE IT NOW OR I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT DIFFERENT FROM THE MANUFACTURE CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS LAST TUESDAY WHEN I TOW THAT CAR TO THEIR PLACE AFTER I TELL TO THEM THE SITUATION THEY SAID THEY TAKING CARE OF IT, NOW THEY CHANGE. I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE I HAVE A OLDER CAR AND NO VALUE THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND THE DAMAGE COULD BE MADE TO OTHERS. I CAN'T. DRIVE THAT CAR NOT SAFE.I CAN'T WORK WITHOUT CAR PLEASE HELP . I'M NOT ASKING TO FIX THE PAINT OR WHEEL. JUST CHECK WHAT THEY HAVE TO FIX STOPPING OF ENGINE AND HARD TO START CAUSE BY IGNITION AND THE AIRBAG MUST WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #11002574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 90,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10984370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Alero at 158,000 miles Mishawaka, IN

ENGINE

BOUGHT CAR A YEAR AGO, IT HAD ISSUES WITH TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING. I GOOGLED ISSUE AND REPLACED HAZARD SWITCH 125,000 MILES. NOW AT 155,000 TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED, IT'S REPLACEMENT WORTH MORE THAN CAR VALUE. I HEARD AFTER 2004 A CHANGE WAS MADE BECAUSE OF ISSUES BUT NO RECALL. CAR WAS PULLED TO END OF DRIVEWAY BEFORE TAKING A CLOSE OUT OF TOWN TRIP, TURNED OFF TO CHECK OIL AND SUCH, WOULDN'T START. ESTIMATE RECEIVED TO REPAIR 2,500$. I AM FURIOUS!

NHTSA complaint #10970841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Alero at 162,000 miles Seaford, DE

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #10884842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 110,000 miles Fairmont, WV

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR JUMPED UP ITO 6 AND 7 RPMS IN THE RED GOT STUCK EVEN WHEN PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED STAYED THERE I THE RED FOR A FEW SECONDS WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS FINALLY DROPPED AND STARTED KNOCKING.

NHTSA complaint #10872877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 215,015 miles Paducah, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AND WHITE SMOKE OR MIST EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A RADIATOR SPECIALIST, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,015. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/05/16

NHTSA complaint #10855261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 91,000 miles Portland, OR

ENGINE

TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, ONLY CRANK. STARTED NEXT MORNING AND HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. REPAIR SHOP SAID TO TAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR FIX. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN GM VEHICLES AND MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING. THERE IS A WAY TO START IT SOMETIMES BY WAITING TEN MINUTES WITH KEY IN ACC AND THEN TURNING OFF AND THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND THEN RE STARTING. THIS IS WORKING BUT NOT ALWAYS. APPARENTLY GM IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO CORRECT IT. I AM AFRAID THAT I MAY BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE OR THE SECURITY SYSTEM COULD POSSIBLY TURN THE CAR OFF. ALSO THERE IS DISCUSSION THAT THIS MAY ALSO BE A BAD IGNITION SWITCH BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SWITCH, ONLY THE KEY!

NHTSA complaint #10822967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 23,227 miles Milford, CT

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE PASS LOCK ASSEMBLY AND THE LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,227. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10816798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero Charlotte, NC

ENGINE

MY IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT INVOKE THE ENGINE. IT HAS HAPPENED COUPLE OF TIMES WITH MY ALERO. LAST YEAR AS PER THE RECALL NOTICE GM DEALER CHANGED THE KEYS AND NOT THE ENTIRE IGNITION MODULE. HAVE SPENT OVER USD 350 IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS AND AGAIN TODAY THE OLDS ALERO IS STOP WORKING. THE IGNITION DOES NOT SEEM TO TURN ON.

NHTSA complaint #10809363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero at 117,000 miles Rantoul, IL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING FOUR TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10806203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Oldsmobile Alero problems