2000 Oldsmobile ALERO: complaints, problems and recalls

MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES FOR BRAKE RELATED REPAIRS. CALIPERS, PADS AND ROTORS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 2 TIMES. FIRST REPAIR WAS AFTER ABOUT 11,000 MILES, AND BASICALLY EVERY 3-5,000 SINCE.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000091 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER EXPERIENCING LOSS OF COOLANT IN MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (IT WAS LEAKING) WHICH WOULD COST ALMOST $700 TO FIX. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I FEEL THAT A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A PREMATURE REPAIR FOR A VEHICLE ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHING AND KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY GM OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT NOT TO MENTION A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ONE. ANY LONGER AND I WOULD HAVE HAD A RUINED ENGINE THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,463 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000190 at NHTSA ↗

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING LEAKAGE OF COOLANT INTO ENGINE

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005037 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD NON STOP PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES SINCE PURCHASING AN OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2000. I HAVE HAD MY FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER ISN'T WILLING TO DO ANYTHING, AS I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THEM MANY TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE, PLEASE HELP! SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****748352

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006448 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED 2 TIMES. MONDAY 07/16/2001, I WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED THEM FOR THE THIRD TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE DEALER AND GM CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. THEY ALL SAY THERE IS NO CONTINUING DEFECT, BUT THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS BEFORE AND WILL DO IT ONE LAST TIME AT NO CHARGE. NOT ONLY IS IT FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO KEEP RETURNING TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE ROTORS ARE WARPING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, 70 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARSHLY. THE STEER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006925 at NHTSA ↗

THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. *JB THE THROTTLE HAD GOTTEN STUCK. THE SHIFT LEVER CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS BINDING. THE SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED. *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006973 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS BOUNCING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEN IT BEGINS TO MAKE NOISE, THE ROTORS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING BENT AND SHIMS HAVE BEEN INSERTED REPEATEDLY. THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY TIME THE OIL IS CHANGED AT 3000 MILES. NOW, THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED, AND THIS IS THE 7TH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED EVEN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OLDSMOBILE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE WORK, THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS REPEATEDLY,NOW THEY MUST BE REPLACED. ****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/01 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769335. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008547 at NHTSA ↗

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST 8 TIMES OR MORE FOR BRAKE/ROTOR PROBLEMS. THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. THEY CAN NOT FIX THESE BRAKES AND ROTORS AND THEY ARE GOING TO EVENTUALLY FAIL. WHAT DOES IT TAKE-DEATHS TO GET THESE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A FAULTY SYSTEM IN THESE CARS. NOW THEY WANT ME TO UP MY WARRANTY FOR $800. WHY? THEY CAN NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. GET RID OF WHAT'S ON THERE AND REPLACE WITH SOMETHING ELSE. THEY BUILT THESE CARS, AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME METHOD TO STOP THE COST ON THESE IF NOT SAVE LIVES. *TS ***DI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009203 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: 2000-11-13 (November 13, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES (RPO M86) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO REVERSE, A SHIFT INHIBITOR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO BE MECHANICALLY IN 4TH GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT LEVER INDICATES REVERSE GEAR.

Consequence: IN THIS SITUATION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN A FORWARD GEAR, WHICH IS NOT PERMITTED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL DISABLE THE 5TH/REVERSE INHIBITOR BY REMOVING A RETAINING PIN AND REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

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.