5.0

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,000 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #1

Jul 262003

Alero 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
The vehicle dies. While cruising at any speed, the hydraulic brakes & steering failed due to the engine dying. There is no set pattern, it might stall 6 times in one day, then twice the next day. Then go 4 days with no ocurrence, then it will stall once a day for 3 days. Then go a week with no ocurrence, then stall 4 times a day for 5 days, etc., etc. In every ocurrence, it takes approximately 10 minutes before it will start back up. At high speeds, it is extremely too dangerous to drive. We've taken it to the dealer, under extended warranty, the required 4 times under the lemon law process. The dealer cannot ascertain, nor fix the problem. It happened to the dealer at least once when we took it in. I doubt they will admit it, however, my wife was witness. The car is a 2003. Even though I bought it in July 2003, it was considered a used car. GM has denied our claim since the lemon law does not apply to used cars. The car has been permanently parked since November 2003. We were forced to buy another car. The dealer would not trade. This has resulted in a badluck situation for us. We cannot afford 2 car payments / 2 insurance premiums, nor can we afford $300 per hour to sue GM. I stopped making payments in December 2003. I have kept the finance company abreast of the situation. They have not repossed as of yet. They want me to try to sell it. Can you help ?

- Tyler, TX, USA