2001 Oldsmobile AURORA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 119 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 31 | 26.1% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 21.8% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 17 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
Steering: 17; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 10; 2002: 13; 2003: 9; 2004: 12; 2005: 9; 2006: 7; 2007: 8; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 9; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002924 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
MY 2001 OLDS 3.5L AURORA SWALLOWED A VALVE
Owner-reported narrative. 48,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004166 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES HER GAS LINE KEEPS DEVELOPING A WHOLE IN IT, AND SHE IS BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC THAT SOMEONE IS TAMPERING WITH HER CAR, SO SHE IS NOT ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED WITH THE WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008791 · 2002-05-05 (May 5, 2002)
GRINDING NOISE IN TRANSMISSION AND DOES NOT SHIFT WITHOUT JERKING. *TS ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761548
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010372 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
COOLANT LEAK HAS BEEN SERVICED ABOUT SIX TO SEVEN TIMES. MY AURORA IS CURRENTLY IN THE ROUND ROCK, TEXAS CLASSIC GM DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER TRY. ALSO, THE CAR IS BEING OUTFITTED WITH A DEVICE WHICH WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF THE ENGINE /ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE WHY THE ENGINE QUITS WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 5 TIMES AND I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ENTERING A FREEWAY WHEN I LOST ALL POWER. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PRESS AN INSTALLED BUTTON THE NEXT TIME THE ENGINE STALLS. I OFTEN GET A HARD SHIFT WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,856 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011388 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
WHEN CONSUMER BRAKED FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IT HAD MORE COMPRESSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021499 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
THE STRUTS AND/OR STRUT MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. ALTHOUGH COVERED BY WARRANTY, ABOUT EVERY 3 MONTHS ONE BREAKS, THEN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, THE OTHER BREAKS. LITERALLY, THE STRUT PUSHES OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RUBBING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD. THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY WITH THE LEFT STRUT THE LAST TIME, AND CHARGED ME $250-. SAYING I "HIT" SOMETHING. WHEN THE RIGHT STRUT WENT IN THE SAME MANNER ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER...I INSISTED THAT THE DEAL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT RATHER, DISC…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028460 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
PURCHASED USED 2001 OLDMOBILE AURORA (3.5L, V-6) ON JUNE 24, 2003 WITH 19,200 MILES. UPON LEAVING THE LOT I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING SEVERAL TIMES ON WAY HOME. CALLED DEALER AND HAD IT IN SHOP 2 DAYS LATER. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. JUNE 26TH, 2003 AFTER LEAVING DEALER STILL NOTICED LIGHTS FLICKERING. CALLED DEALER THE NEXT WEEK TO LET THEM KNOW. THEY STATED IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE CHANGE IN VOLTAGE. CONTINUED TO NOTICE FLICKERING...SO BAD IT IS VERT DISTRACTING NOT ONLY TO DRIVER OF VEHICLE BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. TOOK CAR IN O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041098 · 2003-10-02 (October 2, 2003)
STEERING CONTINUES TO LOCK AT SLOW SPEED AFTER STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041098 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V114000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Reported: 2000-04-17 (April 17, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
Consequence: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗