2001 Oldsmobile ALERO: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN I BRAKE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE GOING ON UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. HAPPENS WHEN I BRAKE GOING DOWN HILL, OR WHEN I HAVE TO BRAKE SUDDENLY. WHEN I BRAKE NORMALLY, THERE IS THIS SHAKING THAT IS GOING ON. I THOUGHT I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. ALSO, MY SUNVISOR FALLS OFF VERY FREQUENTLY HITTING ME IN THE HEAD. AND MY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE IM DRIVING. AND MY TIRES LOOSE PRESSURE CONSTANTLY AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHT EVEN COMES ON WHEN MY TIRES ARENT LOW.

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005741 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007328 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILTED, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER LEFT TO RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009982 at NHTSA ↗

(1)MY CAR REFUSED TO START ONE FRIDAY WHILE I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK. EVERYTHING WORKED (LIGHTS, RADIO), BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T "TURN OVER." COULDN'T START SATURDAY, TOW-TRUCK DRIVER COULDN'T START MONDAY. CALL FROM SERVICE CENTER TUESDAY, CAR STARTED WHEN TECH TRIED, PUT THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, NOTHING FOUND WRONG. THREE WEEKS LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED. CAR STARTS AGAIN AT SERVICE CENTER. TECHNICIAN TELLS ME THE THEFT DETERRENT MODULE NEEDS REPLACING. CAR "THINKS" ITS BEING STOLEN, SO IT CUTS OFF THE FUEL PUMP. MOTION OF BEING PUT ON TOW…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010484 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011477 at NHTSA ↗

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, MY ALERO HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS GOING 55 MPH IN TRAFFIC. THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN AND IT WAS HARD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE, YOU MAY AS WELL JUST PARK IT. IT WILL NOT CRANK EASILY AND IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO RUN ONCE YOU GET IT TO START. OF COURSE, WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE SHOP THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT GOES OFF EVERY OTHER DAY, EVEN …

Owner-reported narrative. 14,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013873 at NHTSA ↗

IN FEB. 2003 I HAD SURGERY AND DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK. WHEN I FINALLY DROVE MY CAR, MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER IT STARTED WORKING AND NOW HAS A GRINDING NOISE TO IT. RECENTLY MY HORN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. I REPLACED THE RELAY SWITCH AND IT STILL WILL NOT WORK. NOW, MY TURN SIGNALS WORK WHENEVER THEY WANT TO. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THEM TO WORK IS TO PRESS MY HAZARD SWITCH AND NOW IT IS GETTING TO WHERE IT WILL NOT WORK. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT BLOWING PROPERL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014392 at NHTSA ↗

TOOK CAR TO DEALER. HAVE JUST TURNED 30K IN MILES. BRAKE PULSING. TOLD ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED AGAIN AND PADS REPLACED. WAS JUST DONE AT 14K MILES, 1 YEAR AGO. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT PROBLEM BEFORE, DONE NOTHING, STATES DON'T HAVE TO. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016648 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

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.