FaultScore

1997 Oldsmobile Aurora engine problems

20 of the 157 complaints about the 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora are about the engine — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 69,500 miles.

C

20

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 8 40.0%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 5 25.0%
Gasoline 2 10.0%
Exhaust System 1 5.0%
Emission Control 1 5.0%
Cooling System 1 5.0%
Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 1 5.0%
Engine 1 5.0%

Engine & Cooling across every Oldsmobile Aurora year

1995 45 35.7%
1996 20 15.9%
1997 20 15.9%
1998 10 7.9%
2001 31 24.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 70,000 miles Dearborn, MI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. IN ADDITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE A MIST WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10749949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,000 miles Columbia, PA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I OWN A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA, ON 4/25/2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I PULLED OVER AND LUCKILY MY MOTHER WAS FOLLOWING AND SHE HAD EXTINGUISHER IN HER VEHICLE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY ONTO EXHAUST PIPE AND THAT THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THAT AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THAT SEAL THAT'S WHY THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. IT TURNS OUT AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THE MANUFACTURE ALLOWED TO PUT A DEFECT PART IN THE VEHICLE THAT PUTS CONSUMERS AT RISK AND NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. I HAD MY 2 YR OLD SON AND MY 4 MO OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. GM WAS REQUIRED TO FIX THE FUEL RAIL SYSTEM DUE TO FIRE SAFETY, I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM DESERVES THE SAME ATTENTION, SINCE OIL AND HEAT DO NOT MIX AS WELL IT'S JUST AS DANGEROUS, I WILL BE CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY GENERAL. PLEASE NOTE: GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL IS FAULTY AND WILL FAIL, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10267198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Burlington, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS, A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED 3 YEARS AGO DURING WARRANTY, THEN THERE WAS SHORT CIRCUIT IN STEERING WHEEL THAT WAS REPLACE, SOON AFTER FUEL GAUGE SENSOR WENT HAYWIRE THIS REQUIRED CHANGING THE SENSOR, FUEL PUMP AS WELL AS FUEL TANK ( PROBABLY THE DEALER CHEATED BY DOING ALL THIS WORK, FILED COMPLAINT TO BOTH GM AND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE),OXYGEN SENSOR WENT BAD, ONE DAY ALL TURN SIGNALS STATED FLASHING WHILE JUST PARKED, REPLACED SENSORS AND WIRING, THEN AGAIN TURN SIGNAL SENSOR WENT BAD, SOON AFTER STARTING IGNITION SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE STARTING WAS HARD, THEN CAME THE ELECTRONIC KEY FAILING THAT NEEDED BOTH THE KEY & LOCK REPLACEMENT,NOW STILL AT TIMES THE KEY REFUSES TO START THE CAR, STARTED TO SEE RADIATOR LEAK THAT IS QUITE MYSTERIOUS I.E, AFTER A FEW WEEKS LEVEL GOES DOWN BUT CAN NOT FIND THE SOURCE, REAR WINDOW CONTROL FAILED , DASH BOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT THAT NEEDED REMOVING THE ENTIRE PANEL & REPLACING BULBS, NOW THE BIG PROBLEM OF LOW SPEED STALL ON THE ROAD I.E. IT STALLS IN SLOW TRAFFIC OR WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR TAKING SLOW TURN, FILING A FULL REPORT WITH GM AGAIN FOR RECALLING ALL AURORA'S FROM ROAD ELSE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS & EVEN DEATHS, CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF PRODUCING A BAD QUALITY HIGH END LUXURY CAR. MY OTHER 10-15 YRS OLD CARS ARE RUNNING FAR BETTER THAN THIS LEMON CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10232624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,793 miles Ecru, MS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SHORT IN HEADLIGHTS AND SEAT AND MIRROR SHORTAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10142912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Hollywood, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAR BURNS OIL. CAR SHIFT IS FALLING APART.

NHTSA complaint #10132525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,124 miles West Paterson, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PER DEALER DIAGNOSIS, THREADS IN BLOCK FOR HEAD BOLT(S) HAVE DETERIORATED CAUSING HEAD GASKET LEAKS (ANTIFREEZE & OIL) DUE TO POOR GM DESIGN. THIS RESULTS IN ROUGH RUNNING, OVERHEATING AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. REPAIR COST OF $4500 + TAX, ALL OF WHICH IS CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY. THIS REITERATED BY OLDSMOBILE HELP LINE ON 6/6/05.

NHTSA complaint #10124397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Smyrna, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING THE CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GAS, THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER STATES THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THERE IS OIL SLUDGE.

NHTSA complaint #10113039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Snellville, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FIRST PROBLEM WAS LOSS OF FREON AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS IT WAS FIXED. SECOND PROBLEM WAS RUBBER MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD AND TOP OF CAR DOORS 5 ATTEMPTS AND STILL NOT FIXED THIRD PROBLEM WAS AN OIL LEAK . 1ST ATTEMPT DYE TEST AND NO RESULTS, 2OND ATTEMPT NEW DESCENDING UNIT. CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH OLDSMOBILE AND RECEIVED A CASE # AND THEY PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY ARE NOW REPLACING THE OIL PAN SEAL AT NO CHARGE. I HOPE THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RENEW MY FAITH IN THE ABILITY OF THE DEALERSHIP TO REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10069793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OIL PAN, LOWER BLOCK CASE OIL LEAKS THAT COST $2200.00 TO FIX. A DEALERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO TX SAID ALL 1995 THROUGH 1999 OLDS AURORA'S DID THIS AND THAT THE 4.0L V8 ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE GASKETS COST AROUND $35.00 DOLLORS BUT THE LABOR COST $2200. GM TOLD ME IT WAS NOT TRUE THAT ALL THE OLDS AURORA'S FROM 95 THRU 99 HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED SO THAT AN OWNER THAT HAS MECHANICAL SKILLS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR HOME WITH OUT REMOVING THE ENGINE. I FEEL THIS IS A BAD DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND CAR. I FEEL THAT THE GASKETS ARE NOT HOLDING UP DUE TO THE FACT THAT THESE CARS RUN AT A VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 225 DEGREES F. TO 250 DEGREES F AT ALL TIMES. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE GASKET MANUFACTURES DID NOT INTEND ON THE GASKETS INSTALLED IN THESE CARS TO BE UNDER A CONSTANT HEAT LOAD OF 225 DEGREES TO 250 DEGREES F. THE HIGH HEAT RANGE CAUSES OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. GM SAID TO PAY THE PRICE OR NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10070947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Oviedo, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE ALWAYS STALLS WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. HAD THE VEHICLE AT OLDSMOBILE NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICE FACILITIES. THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. CAR STALLING IN CONGESTED INTERSECTIONS HAS CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND OTHER VEHICLES. NUMEROUS TIMES CAME VERY CLOSE TO IMPACTING OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER VEHICLES IMPACTING ME IN THE REAR AS THE VEHICLE "LURCHES" ONCE RE-ESTABLISH IT STARTING.

NHTSA complaint #10063840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Boise, ID

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE OIL ON THERE DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL LEAKING THOUGH THE ALUMINUM CASTING OIL PAN. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10064817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lanham, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE BURNING SMELL WAS FROM A PLASTIC BAG THAT HAD MELTED ON THE EXHAUST PIPE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10063428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glen Burnie, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY AURORA OLDSMOBILE STALLS WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM ALSO LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN NO POWER IS GOING TO CAR THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10062318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,103 miles Fountain Hills, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE COMPONENT FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES. HEAD BOLT INSERTS FAILING CAUSING OIL AND COOLANT LEAKAGE. GM SERVICE REQUEST #1-187589352. CAR PURCASED NEW WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRING IN APRIL, 2003. REPAIR ESTIMATE IN EXCESS OF $6,100. SERVICE BULLETIN 99086 ISSUED IN DEC 1999 DISCOVERED BY OWNER ON NHTSA DATABASE WHICH SERVICE DEALER CONFIRMS IS THE MODE OF FAILURE. GM CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ASSISTANCE. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IMMINENT.

NHTSA complaint #10058115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Augysta, SC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER STATES WHILE STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS AN UNDER THE HOOD EXPLOSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10002013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockivlle, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #748515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainville, IA 9 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

STALLED IN THE COLD WEATHER AND BACKFIRED. OIL PRESSURE WHEN TESTED WENT TO 210PSI. DEALERSHIP WASN'T AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #875047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Park, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

SEE: ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION.

NHTSA complaint #716286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Park, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

SEE: ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION.

NHTSA complaint #716286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tehachapi, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

REPLACED BROKEN WATER COOLING SYSTEM METAL PIPE,CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF COOLANT. YH

NHTSA complaint #606271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora problems

← Full 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora report