2000 Oldsmobile Alero Complaint Log

BY DESIGN THE HORN CAN ONLY BE ACTIVATED BY PRESSING THE TWO SMALL HORN SYMBOLS, THE REST OF THE STEERING SPACE IS INACTIVE. NLM

SINCE NEW THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT BRAKES IN WET WEATHER. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, AND WHEN IT DOES VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. IT FEELS LIKE ABS IS ENGAGING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND ON NORMAL BRAKING (NOT HARD BRAKING). WE HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE JUNE OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE FEAR THAT IN AN EMERGENCY THE ABS WILL NOT WORK LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. OUR ISSUE IS THAT THE DEALER CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T RAIN MUCH HERE SO IT'S HARD TO PREDICT. IT EVEN HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE DEALER BUT WILL NOT HAPPEN AFTER THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

BRAKES ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE GOES INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALSO WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER THREE TIMES . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERE IS AN EVAPORATION LEAK DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL HOSE WHICH WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND FUEL NECK AND IT WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. DEFECT WAS CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. ALSO SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO DEALER 7 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SIX TIMES, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

HORN HAS A VERY SMALL "SWEET SPOT" AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE IT IN AN EMERGENCY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN GEAR SHIFTER WAS SLIGHTLY HIT. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE TO SHIFT GEARS.*AK

VEHICLE WILL COAST BACKWARDS WHEN IN DRIVE POSITION, AND TAKE OFF FROM A STOP. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL COAST FOWARD WHEN IN REVERSE POSTION, AND WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKES DUE TO FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THIS WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE. *JB

GMC IS SENDING SOMEONE TO CHECK THIS OUT. I HOPE THEY DO THE RIGHT THING. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES. BRAKE ROTORS/ PADS ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE LEAKS WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR CAUSING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO, HEATER, LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND WIPERS, AT ANY GIVEN TIME THESE COMPONENTS QUIT WORKING, DEALER HAS OFFERED TO BUY VEHICLE BACK ON TWO OCCASIONS, HOWEVER CONSUMER WOULD LOSE MONEY IF THE TRANSACTION WERE TO TAKE PLACE. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY TURN SIGNALS BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. HOWEVER, COULD NOT CORRECT IT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

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 STEERING WHEEL SHAKES SO HARD IT CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE GRIP OF IT. I KNOW OF TWO TSB'S WRITTEN ON THIS PROBLEM, #00-05-23-002 AND #00-22-002. I ALSO WENT TO THE ALERO WEB SITE AND THERE ARE 58 ENTRIES FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**748277

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

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGIEN LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND VEHICLE WAS RESET , HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN AND WAS RESET FOR THE SECOND TIME, THIS CONTINUED UNTIL FINALLY, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER THE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE BODY MODULE WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS ON SEPT 7,2000 VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE SHOP SEVERAL WEEKS, WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, VEHICLE WAS CHECKED FOR CODES AND THE CHANNEL PLATE/GASKET.*JB

THE BRAKES FAILED IN FIVE MONTHS OF THE VEHICLES PURCHASE. *YH

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AND AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT ALL, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED.*JB

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED A LOT OF SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION, ALL-SPEED TRACTION CONTROL, ETC. HOWEVER A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM WAS OMITTED. THEY DID NOT INSTALL A "DOOR AJAR" SENSOR ON THE VEHICLE AT ALL. I SENT A REQUEST TO THE OLDSMOBILE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY NEVER RESPONED TO MY INQUIRY. AS WE HAVE CHILDREN, ON A FOUR DOOR CAR, WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A NECESSITY. PLEASE HELP ANY WAY YOU CAN. WE HOPE TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT FROM OCCURING TO US TO OTHERS.*AK

WHEN TURNING, VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE IN FRONT END. SOMETIMES IT FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE RUBBER RUBBING TOGETHER. CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THIS IS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE TO DO THIS. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT END. AK CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT SERVICE REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY HAVE TRIED SEVERAL FIXES BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONSUMER HAS BEEN INFORMED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RIMS. *JG

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE RUBS ON FRAME OF VEHICLE. *AK

TRUNK POPPED OPEN BY ITSELF DUE TO WATER ON FUSE, WATER LEAKING IN FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAPPEN DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE, BLINKERS INOPERATIVE DUE TO CORROSION ON FUSE PANEL, LEAKING ON DRIVERS SIDE FUEL PANEL.

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HEARD A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RUBBING NOISE AT 10MPH COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL/TIRE, DEALER MADE WHAT WAS TERMED A "TEMPORARY" FIX AS PER GM. NOW HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE "TEMPORARY" FIX AND THE TIRES. *AK

STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *TT

WHEN GOING UP A HILL ENGINE WILL SPUTTER. VEHICLE WILL REV WITHOUT TOUCHING ACCELERATOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC INDICATED A BEARING IN TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

TIRE/WHEEL NOISE - DEALER CLAIMS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT ASSURED. *AK

ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES AT 26,000 MILES. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY ALERO (APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS) I HAVE HAD 5 INSTANCES WHERE I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. THE LAST TWO INSTANCE WERE ONLY 3000 MILES APART FROM ONE ANOTHER. WHEN I AM DRIVING AT SPEEDS EXCESS OF 50 MPH I AM AFRAID TO FOLLOW ANYONE REMOTELY CLOSE BECAUSE WHEN I BRAKE THE ENTIRE CAR WILL START SHAKING AND MY BRAKING DISTANCE IS LARGELY INCREASED. SO FAR, ALL OF THE REPLACEMENT WORK HAS BEEN DONE AT THE DEALERSHIPS EXPENSE, HOWEVER I HAVE HAD TO LOSE MY CAR FOR A DAY OR TWO EVERY THREE MONTHS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT FOR ME. WHEN I PAYED THIS MUCH MONEY FOR AN ALMOST NEW CAR WITH ONLY 15000 MILES ON IT, I EXPECTED IT TO DRIVE LIKE AN ALMOST NEW CAR. SURELY SOMEONE HAD TO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTED WITH IT BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO ME. I BABY THIS CAR LIKE IT WAS MY KID. I SEE NO REASON THAT AFTER 5 TIMES OF HAVING THE BRAKES WORKED ON THEY STILL CANNOT FIX THEM RIGHT! I DON'T EVEN ENJOY DRIVING IT MUCH ANYMORE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT MY BRAKES WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN GO OUT AND I'LL REAR END SOMEONE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT UNTIL THEY TOLD ME NOT ONLY DID THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS BUT THE ROTORS ALSO. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS NO MORE THAN THREE MONTHS LATER AND I BELIEVE THEY ONLY REPLACED THE PADS. THE THIRD INCIDENT AGAIN WAS WITHIN ANOTHER 3 MONTHS OR SO ALONG WITH THE FOURTH. EACH TIME I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD BRAKE AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD START SHAKING. ALSO WHEN IT WAS RAINING OUT I COULD HEAR THE BRAKES GRINDING. AND WHEN I WOULD BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I COULD HEAR THEM GRIND. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE FIFTH AND MOST RECENT INCIDENT WHERE I ALMOST HIT SOMEBODY BECAUSE I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN SO HARD, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE BRAKES HAD GONE OUT. THERE'S NO REASON I SHOULD HAVE MY BRAKES REPLACED 5 TIMES OVER 30,000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND GETTING UP TO FIFTY MPH THE VEHICLE SHAKES VERY HARD, SOMETIMES THE LOW TRACTION LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH UPON HITTING A POT HOLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SHAKES, THIS IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND WARPING OF THE ROTORS FROM BAD CALIPER HOUSING, DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 30,000 MILES.*JB

WHILE APPYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE VIBRATION STOPPING DISTANCE IS SLOW. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHY CANNOT GM GIVE PEOPLE A SUGGESTION TO WHAT TO PUT ON THESE CARS TO STOP THESE THINGS FROM EATING UP BRAKES/ROTORS. GM GIVES RUN AROUND. DEALERSHIP IS IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT THESE CARS HAVE PROBLEMS SO WHY CAN THEY NOT TELL YOU WHAT TO PUT ON THEM TO STOP THIS PROBLEM. IF THEY CAN ISSUE A BULLITIN ON THEM, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME PLAN IN WHAT THEY PLAN ON DOING TO SOLVE THIS. GOING IN EVERY 3,000 TO 5,000 MILES FOR REPLACEMENTS/TURNING IS NOT NORMAL. IF PEOPLE LET THESE THINGS SLIDE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN BIG TROUBLE. GM BUILDS THE CARS THEY SHOULD COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS TO SOLVING THE ISSUE BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN EIGHT TIMES FOR REPLACEMENT/TURNING. IT NEVER GETS BETTER. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ON THIS. I PAID CASH FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE LOST MY BUTT AND WILL CONTINUE MORE SO WHEN WARRANTY IS OFF THESE CARS. NOW GM IS TELLING ME THESE ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO A GM DEALER SINCE I HAD 12,000 MILES ON IT. NOW NO WARRANTY. NOW THEY WANT US TO PAY ANOTHER $800 TO UP WARRANTY WHEN THEY CANNOT EVEN FIX THIS. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES, MAKING IT DIFFCULT TO SEE OUT OFF THEM.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON . VEHICLE IDLES UP AND DOWN. HAD TO HAVE FUEL CONTROL VALVE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN DRIVNG AT 60-65MPH AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE VIBRATES, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

OR CHANGE TIRES WITHOUT HAVING TO BREAK OFF ....I NEED ADVISE. *AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND RESURFACED TWICE. *JG

THE ORIGINAL FRONT BRAKE ROTORS IN MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO (3.4L GLS) HAVE WORN OUT FAR BEFORE THEY SHOULD HAVE. FROM WHAT INFORMATION I HAVE NOW FOUND IN NEWSPAPERS AND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1999-2000 ALERO (AND PONTIAC GRAND AM); GM NOW MANUFACTURES NEW BRAKE ROTORS TO USE AS REPLACEMENTS. HOWEVER, THE GM GARAGE THAT I HAD MY CAR FIXED AT (WALT SWEENEY PONTIAC, CINCINNATI, OH) DID NOT REPLACE THE FAULTY ROTORS, BUT MERELY MACHINED THEM SO THAT THEY WON'T SQUEAL/PULSATE. I CALLED OLDSMOBILE TO ASK WHETHER THIS WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE, AND WHETHER I COULD HAVE THE NEW, SAFER BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED ON MY ALERO: THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON I TALKED WITH SAID THAT THE ROTORS ARE MACHINED DOWN (MADE SMOOTH) IF IT ISN'T *ABSOLUTELY* NECESSARY TO REPLACE THEM. EVERYTHING I'VE READ ON THE 2000 ALERO'S BRAKE ROTORS INDICATES THAT THEY ARE SUBSTANDARD, AND UNSAFE... THERE ARE EVEN A FEW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OUT FROM GM ABOUT THIS (00-05-22-002A, 00-05-23-002A). I BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE FAULTY AND UNSAFE; GM, I THINK, KNOWS THIS, AND HAS UPDATED THEIR PRODUCT. I BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD HOLD A RECALL AND SHOULD BE REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY; AT THE VERY LEAST, WHEN THE BRAKE ROTORS WEAR OUT, THEY SHOULD CERTAINLY BE REPLACED WITH THE NEW, MORE DURABLE BRAKE ROTORS, RATHER THAN SANDED DOWN TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WHEN THEY WEAR OUT IN A FEW MONTHS, ENDANGERING ROAD SAFETY.*AK

OUR 2000 ALERO WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS A SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE WITH THE BRAKES. AFTER BEING LOOKED AT THEY TOLD US WE NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND OUR ROTORS TURNED. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BEACAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OUR CAR HAS 24250 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK 2 MILES A DAY. OTHER THAN THAT IT IS JUST A PLEASURE CAR. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE BRAKE AND ROTOR SYSTEM BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS.*AK

VEHICLE MADE NOISE IN FRONT END AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. REFUSED TO TELL CONSUMER THE DEFECT.*AK

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS NO LONGER HAVE NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE IS SQUEAKING AND VIBRATING WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. VEHICLE HAS GONE IN ONCE A WEEK, AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 1 ONCE EVERY 20,000 MILES. DEALER IS AWARE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CAR IS NOT SEALED PROPERLY, AND IS DOUBTFUL THAT IT EVER WAS. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR ALMOST 10 TIMES FOR WATER LEAKS. DEALER HAS NOTED LEAKS IN DOOR SEALS, FRONT WINDSHIELD, SUNROOF AND RELATED DRAINING SYSTEMS. INEVITABLY, DURING A SUFFICIENT RAIN, WATER LEAKS DOWN THE DOOR FRAME, ONTO THE FUSE BOX INSIDE THE CAR CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING NON-WORKING LOCKS, TRUNK OPENING RANDOMLY, ETC.

TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK 95% OF THE TIME, A HUGE SAFTEY FEATURE ON A CAR. HAZARD SWITCH DOES NOT WORK EITHER, AND MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO TOUCH THE HAZARD SWITCH TO MAKE THE TURN SIGNALS WORK AND BY DOING THIS I HAVE TAKE AT LEAST ONE HAND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DT

CONSUMER NOTICES A GRINDING NOISE AND GRAB WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. DT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND ROTORS. ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES KEEP ON FAILING ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON THEIR SHOP 6 TO 7 TIMES. MR

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT AT 5 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. *JB