Oldsmobile AURORA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
697 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
98,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 338 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail is the most frequently named component, appearing in 101 of 697 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 72 | 10.3% |
| Braking behavior | 67 | 9.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 56 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 46 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 42 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 37 | 5.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 101 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 90 |
| Electrical System | 50 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 27 |
| Steering | 27 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 101; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 90; Electrical System: 50; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 27; Steering: 27; Fuel System, Gasoline: 24
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 58 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 73 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 129 |
| 150,000 and above | 35 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 58; 75,000 to 99,999: 73; 100,000 to 149,999: 129; 150,000 and above: 35
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (129). 359 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 61 |
| 2001 | 55 |
| 2002 | 66 |
| 2003 | 89 |
| 2004 | 215 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 6; 2000: 61; 2001: 55; 2002: 66; 2003: 89; 2004: 215; 2005: 45; 2006: 23; 2007: 23; 2008: 19; 2009: 15; 2010: 16; 2011: 6; 2012: 10; 2013: 4; 2014: 13; 2015: 4; 2016: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 72 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 56 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 10024194 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO TURN LEFT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063223 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH STEERING WHEEL FELL INTO THE DRIVER'S LAP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. DRIVER WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025895 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
BRAKES COMLPETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070352 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
12,808 MILES (2-29-96) SEAL, LOWER CRANKCASE REPLACED. 34,603 MILES (11-25-97) DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS-REPLACE RADIO. 44,513 MILES (8-19-98) DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, REPLACE ALTERNATOR CONTROLLER, PCM/VCM (COMPUTERS) 49,098 MILES (12-30-98) DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AGAIN REPLACE ALTERNATOR (ALTERNATOR IS CAUSING COMPUTERS TO FAIL) 63,420 MILES (3-1-2000)- I PURCHASE AT END OF MY PARTNER?S LEASE AND HE LEASED NEW AURORA-DEALER NEVER ADVISE HIM THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WOULD BE REOCCURRING. DEALER PREFORMED MAJOR 60,000 SERVICE …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021230 · 2003-06-07 (June 7, 2003)
FUEL LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE. WHILE AT AN OIL CHANGE SHOP THE OWNER ASKED ME TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. HE SHOWED ME GAS SHOOTING THE FUEL LINE. I WAS LUCKY, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED LATER AS I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED A FIRE AND/OR BLEW UP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045094 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
WHILE HAVING MY OIL CHANGED IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT MY FUEL LINE WAS SPRAYING FUEL ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VERY SMALL PIN HOLE BUT A STEADY STREAM OF FUEL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INJECTOR LINE WAS SPRAYING FUEL ALSO. I NEVER PAID ATTENTION BEFORE BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GM WOULD USE PLASTIC FOR A FUEL LINE ANYWAY MAYBE THIS IS STANDARD I'M NO MECHANIC BUT AT WHAT GM WANTS FOR THE PARTS AND THEN TO HAVE THEM PUT ON MAYBE I SHOULD BE. OF COURSE GM IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN BUY THE FUEL PARTS TOO IMAGINE THAT! WEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 184,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013675 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
HEAT SHRINK FUEL INJECTION LINE BETWEEN #6-#8 INJECTORS DEVELOPED A HOLE AND SPRAYING FUEL ONTO INTAKE AND IGNITION WIRING. THE CAR SMELLED OF GAS INSIDE AND THE MOTOR WAS HARD TO START AND BACKFIRES SOME. I'VE DONE A TEMPORARY REPAIR AND HAVE NOT BOUGHT ALL NEW RAIL TUBING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT THIS POINT. IT IS TOO COSTLY FOR OWNERS TO REPAIR FOR SUCH A SMALL PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 112,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039218 · 2003-09-20 (September 20, 2003)
FUEL LINE AND FUEL RAIL FAILURE CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE SPRAY ONTO ENGINE. FUEL RAIL FAILURE CAUSED LARGER AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE TO VAPORIZE INTO A CLOUD APPEARING AS STEAM. ANY ELECTRICAL SPARK COULD HAVE CAUSED EXPLOSION AND FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8017388 · 2002-08-27 (August 27, 2002)
ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN AT THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND AT A REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND NO ONE COULD LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8017388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063987 · 2004-03-27 (March 27, 2004)
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON...RPM'S RANDOMLY GO UP AND DOWN CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE AND/OR STALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED ROUGHLY AND NOW WILL CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR TO ACCELETRATE BEYOND 40 M.P.H. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY COMPLAINING ABOUT JERK IN TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE FIRST, NOW 37,000 MILES LATER OUT OF WARRANTY AND COMPLETE FAILURE . COMPANY ADVERTISERS CAR WILL NOT NEED TUNEUP UNTIL 100,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007023 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
TAKEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES - "EVERYTHING IS FINE" - CAR IS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY (NOT RELIABLE). *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734319
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020997 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT FIRST INDICATION OF THIS TAKEN TO DEALER SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. ALSO BACK SEAT BELTS WILL NOT GO BACK IN.. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020997 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 2; 2000: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2