U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Oldsmobile AURORA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

108 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

102,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 108 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	9	8.3%
Steering behavior	8	7.4%
Fuel system concerns	8	7.4%
Engine operation	7	6.5%
Braking behavior	5	4.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Fuel System, Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling

Electrical System:Ignition

Electrical System:Wiring

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	19
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail	15
Electrical System	10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	8
Fuel System, Gasoline	7
Engine And Engine Cooling	5
Electrical System:Ignition	3
Electrical System:Wiring	3

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 19; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 15; Electrical System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 8

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2013

2014

2015

2017

2000: 8; 2001: 6; 2002: 9; 2003: 16; 2004: 31; 2005: 11; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 2

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10056207 · 2004-01-30 (January 30, 2004)

STEERING WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF IN MY SON'S HAND.. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR SHOULD OF NEVER BEEN SOLD. THIS DEFAULT COULD OF KILLED MY SON. THIS CAR STAYED IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT WAS DROVE. ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE OTHER. I GAVE THE CAR BACK TO KINGS NISSAN WHEN ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH WIRING AND FUSE CAME UP. MECHANIC SAID THE CAR WOULD END UP CATCHING ON FIRE. I HAD ENOUGH. THIS COMPANY IS VERY RUDE AND DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS OR COMPLAINTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056207 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10162513 · 2006-07-16 (July 16, 2006)

I WAS BEGINNING A SUNDAY MORNING DRIVE TODAY IN MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. IT WAS A FEW HOURS AGO WITH MY FAMILY ON THE EXPRESSWAY ON I-480 WEST ENROUTE TO OUR VACATION. AFTER I HIT MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES SO I CAN GET OFF AT OUR EXIT. THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER WAS STUCK. THERE WAS AN INTENSE BURNING SMELL AND SECONDS LATER SMOKE START STEAMING FROM MY STEERING. I PULLED THE 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA OVER AND PRESSED DOWN ON THE HAZARD BUTTON TO RELEASE IT AND NOTICE THAT THE HAZARD BUTTON WAS STUCK TOO. FINALLY, I TURNED THE KEY TO THE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162513 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014604 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, HOWEVER THE FRONT TIRES DID NOT TURN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014604 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053878 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026139 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FORM CHESROWN GMC/KIA IN COLUMBUS OHIO. I BOUGHT IT ON JUNE 3RD 2002 PAID $10500.00+ $892.00 (EXTEND WARRANTY)WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I OPTED FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD FUEL PUMP, FEUL SWITCH, FEUL LINE, FUEL INJECTORS OF MY CAR GO BAD (MORE THAN ONCE!). WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED STREET THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED! MY HUSBAND GOT OUT TO PUSH THE VEHICLE PUTTING HIM IN DANGER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT THE NEXT DAY AND ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE CEASED. I TOOK IT TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026139 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063290 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL. THE FUEL LINE SYSTEM WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, CAUSING STALLING. THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START AGAIN. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP/ PRESSURE REGULATOR. *AK ALL 8 FUEL INJECTIONS WERE REPLACED. (BOTH 02 SENSORS, 2 IGNITION COILS, FUEL PUMP, PRESSURE REGULATOR) THE VEHICLE STILL DIED. THE FUEL LINE HAD A CRACK CAUSING THE PRESSURE REGULATOR TO POP AND THE FUEL SHOT 2-3 FEET. REFER TO RECALL#04110000. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063290 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10062318 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)

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.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062318 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063215 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063215 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10515695 · 2013-06-07 (June 7, 2013)

BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES ARE SO EXTREMELY CORRODED IT ACTUALLY RUSTED THROUGH THE METAL BRAKE LINES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES AND IS LEAKING IN LARGE AMOUNTS AT THE SEVERE CORRODED SPOTS OF THE LINES. ALSO THE FRONT BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO EXTREMELY CORRODED THEY JUST HAVE YET TO CORRODE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE METAL LINE AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID YET BUT CAN GUARANTEE THEY WILL IN LESS THAN 20K MILES EASILY! AND THE MASTER CYLINDER IS NOT DIVIDED INTO 2 DIVIDED AND SEPARATE RESERVOIRS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR DISTRIBUTION BRAKI…

Owner-reported narrative. 163,234 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515695 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11004648 · 2017-07-11 (July 11, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE ENGINE BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BU…

Owner-reported narrative. 197,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11004648 at NHTSA ↗