100 of the
2,939 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Alero
are about the steering —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
1. Security turns on while driving, making the vehicle to spin but not drive normally on road or highway when driving 2. Horn malfunctioning, stops working when security turns on while driving 3. Seatbelt warning and airbag light flashing when security turns on while driving, seatbelt becomes locked preventing driver from being able to move to check blind spots or rear while driving 4. Emergency lights become disabled when security lights turn on Key ignition was inspected and fixed according to recall. The above are things that have been noticed by new driver/owner. Only drive when necessary to avoid traffic accidents. Do not have money to pay a dealership or GM to check problems. These problems occurred since day 1 after purchasing the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11450066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JERRY SEINER CHEVROLET, 1530 S 500 W, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84115) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORIGINAL KEY WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,111.
NHTSA complaint #11080966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER EFFECTIVE AND DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE FOR THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #11055484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION NOW I CAN'T EVEN TURN THE CAR ON TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF- BEEPING WILL NOT STOP WHEN KEY IS REMOVED AND CAR BATTERY DRAINED. KEY ALSO GETS HOT WHEN IN IGNITION
NHTSA complaint #11016130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TOP PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
NHTSA complaint #10863470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE DRIVING IN ICY CONDITIONS, I MOMENTARILY LOST TRACTION. THE POWER TO THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF, CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY CAR SPUN ABOUT THREE TIMES, AND I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP FACING TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY, THE ROAD WAS EMPTY, SO I WAS NOT INJURED. I AM ESPECIALLY WORRIED BECAUSE MY CAR IS PART OF GMS RECALL, BUT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER. GM CLAIMS THAT A NEW KEY WILL FIX MY PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ON MY KEY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, SO I KNOW THIS IS A LIE. GM IS CONTINUING TO ENDANGER THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS BY NOT FULLY ADDRESSING THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10692437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AT 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK WENT IN THE DITCH JUST ABOUT FLIPPED THE CAR THE INS COMPANY SAID TO BAD CAN NOT DO NOTHING THE RECALL ENDED THAT NIGHT TO LATE.
NHTSA complaint #10682367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I NOTICED DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 2014 THAT MY TURN SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO . I WAS TURNING RIGHT AND MY MOM WAS RIDING WITH ME WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT MY TURN SIGNALS WAS NOT WORKING LEFT OR RIGHT. SO WE MADE IT TO OUR DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AND WHEN WE WERE LEAVING THEY WORKING . IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE BY CHANGING THE BULBS THE TURN SIGNALS ARE STILL GOING IN AND OUT WHEN THEY WANT TOO. AND WE NOTICED LIGHT FLUID LEAKAGE BUT IT WAS NOT LEAKING IN NOVEMBER WHEN I BROUGHT MY VERY OWN FIRST CAR FOR CASH AND I HAD THE OIL CHANGED SO I TOOK IT BACK TO JIFFY LUBES AND THE TECH COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, THIS WEEK JANUARY 21, 2014 MY STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING THIS STRANGE WHISTLING NOISE WHEN I MAKE A TURN, AND MY SECURITY LIGHT HAS CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK THE SAFETY GM RECALL LISTING FOR HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10678734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED OFF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10659771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND A CONCUSSION, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10658797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147.
NHTSA complaint #10654437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. MY CAR TURNED OFF (POWER SHEERING LOCKED UP) I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT NOT BEFORE ALMOST GETTING HIT BY A 2 DIFFERENT SEMI-TRUCKS. I WAS STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY FOR 4 HOURS WITH A NEW BORN BABY. I HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIX MY CAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WHEN I FOUND THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10651503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10649586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING CAUSING HIM TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY AND CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE CRASH DIDN'T DEPLOY THE AIRBAG, BUT CAUSED SEVER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, RESULTING IN IT BEING TOTALED. IT WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD WHERE IT WAS SOLD AS SCRAP. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY INJURED, AND DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. I CONTACTED GM AFTER RECEIVING THEIR RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER, 2014. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE THERE ASKING JUST FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE CAR SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR CRASHED. THE REPRESENTATIVE DECLINED THE CLAIM STATING THEY COULD NOT INSPECT THE CAR. THE CLAIM # IS [XXX]. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR AS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL NOTICE AND FELT NO OBLIGATION AT THE TIME TO REPORT IT TO GM. I ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT, AND CAN FORWARD THAT TO YOU IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10641159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE RACK AND PINION CONNECTS TO IT. BROKE FREE FROM THE SUBFRAME AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. BUT I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE SUBFRAME.
NHTSA complaint #10639667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITH THE BLINKERS, WHICH ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10637652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10637367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON DOWNTOWN STREET. TOW WAS NECESSARY. IGNITION SENSORY ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I RECEIVED RECALL FOR THIS TODAY GM #14350. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE DIRECTIONS IN THE CASE THAT I ALREADY MADE REPAIR. THERE ARE NO INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC RECEIPT FOR THE REPAIR. HOW DO I GET REIMBURSED. PHONE #'S ARE ALWAYS BUSY...THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING FOR INFORMATION HERE. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10633307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.