10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,156 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #15

Sep 252006

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles
Service vehicle soon, trac off light, and ABS light took to dealer, out of warranty, private repair shop, cost-$500, grinding noise before lights turned on, dinging, lights went on, it was sensor in left front wheel bearing. Also have replaced front rotors, alternator at 65,000 miles. Key fob doesn''t lock drivers door. Hood on car replaced in 2006 under warranty because of blistering 2002-water leak onto drivers floor, 5 times to dealer, replaced side door gasket, problem had to be solved by replacing windshield gasket. I'm afraid of all these complaints about turn signal failure and hazard light failure and the car just quitting. Trading in this piece of **** as soon as paid off.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

problem #14

Oct 022002

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,000 miles
Conatct states: Since purchase the car experienced rotor erosion, wear, and ultimately deterioration. Grinding noise when ever brake pressure is applied. Rotors have been repaired twice, dealer resurfaced the rotors. Recently had car inspected, and was discovered that the brake pads were broken due to debris and wear of the rotors.

- Wellsoboro, PA, USA

problem #13

Aug 242004

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,234 miles
Brakes are defective, they feel like they are not going to stop the vehicle. Manufacturer states they will not cover the cost of the defect. The pads and rotors cost $500 to repair. The consumer was told by GM that he did not drive vehicle enough so rotors rusted.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #12

Mar 052004

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,100 miles
Was involved in a frontal collision on 3/5/03 and the air bags failed to deploy in my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. I was traveling 40-45 mph southbound on scottsdale rd when another car turned left in front of me. The impact bent the impact bars, moved my compressor to the other side of the vehicle, hood, bumper, fender damage, the preliminary estimate without doing a tear down is at $5000. I have suffered neck, shoulder and leg injuries. I contacted GM and they said a certified GM rep will go look at the car and take pictures and will contact me on the 29th. I received a call from a man who did not identify himself at the dealer ship and said he was a private investigator for GM and down loaded the info off the computer in the car and the air bag should not have gone off, and told me I need to have them start repairing the vehicle immediately. Yet in the owners manual it states the air bag will deploy in a near frontal or frontal impact and that they can only access this computer in the car with the owners consent which I did not give. I have had numerous problems with this car from electrical engine work, the fuel sensor showing me I had gas when I don't, scratched rotors, and the hazards and blinkers working and not working which still has not been fixed by the dealership. Even the police offers did not want to get in the vehicle to move because the air bag did not go off and they where concerned that it did not.

- Fountain Hills, AZ, USA

problem #11

Nov 112003

Alero 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles
Problem with brakes, had to have new front brakes and front rotors put on car, still have dragging problem underneath car.now car having problems in starting and low tire pressure lights comes on even when tire pressure has been checked and corrected.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #10

Aug 272003

(reported on)

Alero

  • 10,000 miles
Brakes and rotors wear prematurely and need replacement due to inadequate tire size being used by the manufacturer. There are several tsbs on this issue.

- Hopewell Junction, NY, USA

problem #9

Aug 072003

(reported on)

Alero 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles
On first day of vehicle possession consumer heard a "grinding" noise when applying the brakes. The dealer diagnosed that the rotors needed resurfacing. According to the consumer, the dealer grinded them down to an unsafe limit. (this problem occurred twice)

- Dennison, OH, USA

problem #8

May 152001

Alero

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When braking pedal went to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealer replaced all rotors due to warping. At this time vehicle is scheduled for the same repair, warped rotors.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #7

Jan 012002

Alero 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Car doesn't always start when I turn the key in the ignition. Takes a few seconds to turn over. Driver side mirror shakes. The numbers on the radio buttons have rubbed off. Rear defrost doesn't always work. Rotors are always wearing out. Used to hear a clunking noise every time I turned the steering wheel - had the steering rack replaced. Interior dome light falls off.

- Groton, CT, USA

problem #6

May 302003

Alero 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The brakes on the olds Alero have a design flaw in the brakes. The rotors tend to overheat under normal driving use. It wears the pads down faster than they should, warps the rotors so that they have to be turned every single time you replace the pads... and I do mean have to be. The rotors will quickly lose thickness, and the thinner they are after each turn the quicker they will warp under normal use. Contacting General Motors has accomplished nothing... despite the fact that under the 2000 model they had a technical service bulletin (front disc brake pulsation (new rotor run-out specification and correction method) #00-05-23-002A) issued for the car. To my knowledge General Motors hasn't altered the design of the car since it's inception with exception of cosmetic changes. They refuse to admit there's a design flaw in the brakes that forces the consumer to either pay outrageous prices each and every time they need brake pads... or discard the manufacturers warranty and purchase aftermarket brake solutions to eliminate the issue entirely.

- Loveland, OH, USA

problem #5

Apr 012003

Alero

  • miles
Consumer states at 13000 miles, the steering wheel began to "shimmy" when driving. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer who turned the rotors. At 23000, the shimmying began again as well as grinding noise when applying the brakes. The dealer turned the rotors and replaced the pads. At 36000 miles the brakes began pulsating when driving. The dealer stated the rotors were warped.

- Oak Ridge, MO, USA

problem #4

Aug 162002

Alero

  • miles
This car was a lemon replacement/and doing the same thing/rotors are warping.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #3

Jul 022002

Alero

  • miles
Rotors have been replaced six times since date of purchase. Contacted dealer.

- Wheatlin, IN, USA

problem #2

Apr 232002

(reported on)

Alero

  • miles
When brakes are applied brakes pulsate and steering wheel shakes. Also, front brake rotors are prematurely wearing. Dealer cannot identify problem.

- Altanta, GA, USA

problem #1

Sep 042001

(reported on)

Alero

  • miles
Intermittently when brakes are applied steering wheel vibrates. Dealer has replaced lining in brake rotors to correct the problem. Please provide additional information.

- Tampa, FL, USA