1999 Oldsmobile ALERO: complaints, problems and recalls

FEEL BRAKES ON VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE REQUIRING MULTIPLE REPAIRS AS A RESULT. DO NOT THINK THEY ARE SAFE EVEN AFTER REPAIRED GIVEN THE REPEAT FREQUENCY OF SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, GLASS PANES ON ALL FOUR SIDE WINDOWS HAVE LONG MECHANICAL SCRATCH MARKS, WHICH SOMETIMES CATCH GLARE OF SUN/HEADLIGHTS WHEN LOOKING OUT THOSE WINDOWS DURING LANE CHANGES. SCRATCHES APPEAR TO BE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE WINDOW HOUSING/MECHANICALS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003121 at NHTSA ↗

UPPER OR LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAK. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4L V-6. NOTICED COOLANT LOSS WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES!!!!

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003510 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WITH A 3.4L V6 ENGINE THAT LEAKS COOLANT FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. MY DEALER IS JIM MUIR OLDSMOBILE, WHO PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY CLAIM NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES WITH THE PROBLEM. MY FATHER, WHO WORKS AT GM SAYS THAT AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE HE KNOWS IN HIS OFFICE HAVE HAD REPAIRS DONE. GM NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND START FIXING THEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 79,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005210 at NHTSA ↗

POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE FOR GRINDING NOISE. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR WHINING NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. SINCE OLDSMOBILE DEALERSHIP CLOSED THEIR DOORS AFTER 36 YEARS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED THROUGH THEM IS NOT VALID AND HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. BBB AND STATE ATTY GENERAL'S OFFICE WERE OF NO HELP WITH FINDING/HAVING DELAERSHIP HONOR THE WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 39,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005544 at NHTSA ↗

1999 ALERO 3400 SFI ENGINE W/39186 MILES. LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. PONTIAC DELAERSHIP SAYS LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING. ORANGE ANTIFREEZE DEXCOOL GETTING INTO ENGINE OIL. OIL LOOKS LIKE COFFEE W/CREAMER. CAR NOT DRIVEN SINCE 12/02/2002 DUE TO OLDS DEALER CLOSING DOORS AFTER 36 YEARS AND UNABLE TO GET THEM TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED THRU THEM. BBB AND STATE ATTY GENERAL'S OFF ICE OF NO TO HELP TO LOCATE/HAVE THEM HONOR WARRANTY. PRETTY MUCH THEY RAN OFF W/MY $.

Owner-reported narrative. 39,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005548 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE BACKSEAT OF MY CAR STARTED ON FIRE. THIS WAS DUE TO THE REAR DEFOGGER MODULAR. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN THE BACK. IT COST 4,000 TO REPAIR. MY REAR DEFOGGER WAS REPAIRED AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER, IT WOULDN'T WORK AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE WIRE HARNESS WAS STARTING TO MELT AGAIN. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A BANGING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WE CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005812 at NHTSA ↗

THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006834 at NHTSA ↗

THIS COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT NUMBERS 563702, 712756, 724936. LATE LAST YEAR, I HAD TO HAVE THE KEY LOCK CYLINDER AND SECURITY CHIP IN THE IGNITION/KEY SYSTEM REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS (PROBLEM WITH FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICE) AND NOW THE KEY CYLINDER WHICH WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED WAS APPARENTLY NOT REPLACED. NOW I CAN'T START MY CAR WITH THE KEY. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN, LIKE PUTTING YOUR CAR KEY IN ANOTHER CAR. IT WOULDN'T TURN THE LOCK. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF ALL …

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008515 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-05-18 (May 18, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE CONSOLE COVER ON THESE VEHICLES DOES NOT STAY CLOSED WHEN A SPECIFIED VERTICAL LOAD IS APPLIED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CONSOLE COVER COULD OPEN AND THE COVER OR ITEMS STORED UNDER IT COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE LATCH MECHANISM.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Reported: 1998-12-15 (December 15, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT FOR CORRECT TIGHTNESS AND TIGHTEN IF NECESSARY.