There are 46 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BACKING VEHICLE FROM PARKING SPOT, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THERE WAS A CLUNK. UPON DRIVING AWAY AND APPLYING BRAKES NORMALLY, BRAKING ACTION WAS NOTICEABLY LESS. AFTER A CLOSER INSPECTION, FOUND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BRAKE PAD MATERIAL HAD CORRODED CAUSING SEPARATION FROM ITS BACKING PLATE. THESE PADS ARE AFTER MARKET PADS FROM ADVANCED AUTO, HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE CAR FOR ABOUT 12,000 MILES, AND APPROXIMATELY 23 MONTHS. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE PAD REMAINING, BUT CORROSION HAD SET IN, CAUSING THE PAD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BACKING PLATE. THE ROTORS ARE APPROX 5 YEARS OLD, AND "CORRODED" BEYOND WHAT I CALL BEING SAFE TO USE. THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE WEAR TO THE ROTORS, ONLY SEVERE CORROSION IN THE COOLING AREAS. AFTER MARKETS PARTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MEET DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS, NOT JUST PHYSICAL FIT AND OPERATION. *TR
I GOT CAR ON 2/28/07 NEW BRAKES ROTORS AND TIRES WERE PUT ON CAR. NOW I HAVE A LOUD SQUEAL AND GRINDING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND BRAKE PEDAL AN THE WARNING SIGNAL SAYS SERVICE VEHICLE SOON TRACTION OFF AND ANTILOCK BRAKE. I TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED, BUT THE MECHANIC CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, TRAC OFF LIGHT, AND ABS LIGHT TOOK TO DEALER, OUT OF WARRANTY, PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, COST-$500, GRINDING NOISE BEFORE LIGHTS TURNED ON, DINGING,LIGHTS WENT ON, IT WAS SENSOR IN LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. ALSO HAVE REPLACED FRONT ROTORS, ALTERNATOR AT 65,000 MILES. KEY FOB DOESN''T LOCK DRIVERS DOOR. HOOD ON CAR REPLACED IN 2006 UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF BLISTERING 2002-WATER LEAK ONTO DRIVERS FLOOR, 5 TIMES TO DEALER, REPLACED SIDE DOOR GASKET, PROBLEM HAD TO BE SOLVED BY REPLACING WINDSHIELD GASKET. I'M AFRAID OF ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AND HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE AND THE CAR JUST QUITTING. TRADING IN THIS PIECE OF **** AS SOON AS PAID OFF. *JB
ON WEDNESDAY, FEB 8, 2006 THREE LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR AT THE SAME TIME. THEY ARE 'SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, TRAC OFF, & ANTI-LOCK'. THESE LIGHTS HAVE CONTINUED COMING ON SINCE. I HAVE HAD A COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO MY CAR TO CHECK FOR ANY CODES WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE ON. THERE WERE NO CODES SHOWING FOR MY CAR. YESTERDAY, TUESDAY, FEB 14, 2006, I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE IN AND I DID NOT STOP. I ROLLED A LITTLE BIT AND THEN CAME TO A STOP. THIS IS NOT SAFE. IF THERE WERE TO BE SOMEONE AHEAD OF ME I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED THIS PERSON OR MAYBE EVEN ROLLED RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION. THERE ARE THREE OTHER PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GM VEHICLES RECENTLY. ONLY ONE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I WAS GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER TO CHECK FOR RECALLS FROM ONE OF THESE PEOPLE. I JUST CALLED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL OF THIS SORT LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT SEEMS OFF THAT FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, IN THE SAME PLACE OF WORK HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GM VEHICLE AND ONLY ONE WAS COVERED. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM TO BE REPLACED AND SINCE IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL INVOLVED, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL AND NOT OUT OF OUR POCKET. *JB
ON WEDNESDAY, FEB 8, 2006 THREE LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR AT THE SAME TIME. THEY ARE 'SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, TRAC OFF, & ANTI-LOCK'. THESE LIGHTS HAVE CONTINUED COMING ON SINCE. WEEK BEFORE THESE LIGHTS HAD CAME ON. I HAD NEW HUB BEARINGS PUT ON MY CAR. THEN ONCE THIS WAS DONE ABOUT 3-4 DAYS LATER THESE LIGHTS CAME. I HAVE TAKEN TWO 3 GARAGES TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT AND THEY WHICH THEY HAVE PUT A COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO MY CAR TO CHECK FOR ANY CODES WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE ON. THERE WERE NO CODES SHOWING FOR MY CAR. YESTERDAY, TUESDAY, FEB 14, 2006, I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHICH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE IN AND WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH TWO PUMPS TO THE BARKES.CAME TO A STOP. . IF THERE WERE TO BE SOMEONE AHEAD OF ME I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED THIS PERSON OR MAYBE EVEN ROLLED RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION. AS I SURF THIS WEB SIT I FIND THEY SAME PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAD OR HAVING THE SAME SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GM VEHICLES RECENTLY. I WAS GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER TO CHECK FOR RECALLS I JUST CALLED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL OF THIS SORT LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT SEEMS OFF THAT KNOW FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, IN THE SAME PLACE OF WORK HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GM VEHICLE AND ONLY ONE WAS COVERED. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM TO BE REPLACED AND SINCE IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL INVOLVED, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL AND NOT OUT OF OUR POCKET. *CA *NM
THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING / ANTI- LOCK BRAKE UNIT HAS GONE BAD TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING / ANTI- LOCK BRAKE UNIT HAS GONE BAD ONCE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WHEN THE UNIT STARTS TO FAIL THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK OR PULSE MOMENTARILY AND THEN THEY WORK AGAIN. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS OF REAR ENDING SOMEONE AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND THERE IS NO SLOW DOWN FOR UP TO 2-3 SECONDS UNTIL THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM IS SHUT OFF BUY THE CARS COMPUTER. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER IN PAINTED POST, NEW YORK THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE OLDS ALERO'S. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING / ANTI LOCK BRAKE UNIT TWICE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING / ANTI-LOCK BRAKE UNIT CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
2001 ALERO GL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTER, CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE FLOOR WAS LEAKING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF GAS, THE VEHICLE ONLY GOT 208 MILE PER TANK OF GAS. THE REAR DEFROSTER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE LOST TRACTION AND ABS BRAKES. ON TWO OCCASION THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR SEAT SLID FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED ABRUPTLY. *NM
THE ABS SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK
I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 10/09/04 WITH A 3MON/3,000 WARRANTY. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS SAME COMPLAINT WITH NO LUCK. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS AND WITHIN A 1 WEEK OF BRINGING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP MY ABS, TRAC OFF & SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPT AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 70MPH IT BEGAN TO VIBRATE OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD THREE PASSANGERS IN MY CAR ALONG WITH MYSELF. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK IN CONTROL BUT IF I WASN'T ABLE TO I WOULD HAVE HIT THE OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD COST ME ALMOST $400 TO BE REPLACED (HUB WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR MY SPEED SENSOR). I WAS TOLD THAT MY 3/3 WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS PART. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS! OBVIOUSLY THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED PART!! I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AT BOURNIVAL AND HE SAID THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS PART. HE SAID THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR!*AK
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER'S 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. *NM THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE TRAC AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAD DONE REPAIRS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER SHE WAS TOLD THE SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE ENTIRE HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PART. *JB
I HAVE OWNED THIS 01 ALERO FOR 7 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. I FIRST HAD TO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, CALIPERS & PADS & ROTORS. THEN MY ABS SPEED SENSOR WENT SO I HAD TO REPLACE THAT TOO. NOW WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKES THEY GRIND AND SOMETIMES FAIL TO WORK. FOR A 01 THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH THE FEAR OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING!
BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER STATES THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE DEFECT. THE PADS AND ROTORS COST $500.00 TO REPAIR. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY GM THAT HE DID NOT DRIVE VEHICLE ENOUGH SO ROTORS RUSTED. *TC
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUCTION. EXTREMLEY LOUD LOW TONED GRINDING NOISE UPON BRAKING OCCURS AT QUICK STOPS AND WHEN TRAVELING ABOVE 30 MPHR. BRAKES WERE INSPECTED NOTHING TO BE FOIUND WRONG. 3 INDICTORS LIGHTS LIGHT INTERMITINIATLY WHILE DRIVING. REPAIR SHOP RESET ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCATIONS, INSPECTED BRKES ND SYSTEM NOTHING TO BE FOUND WRONG. DUE TO CONTINUED ISSUES WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS AND NOISE I HAVE HAD BRAKES AND SYSTEM RECHECKED AND REPLACED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE PAST 1.5 YEARS. CURRENTLY STIL HAVING SAME ISSUES WITH NOISE, LIGHTS AND GRINDING.
WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION ON 3/5/03 AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN MY 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. I WAS TRAVELING 40-45 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON SCOTTSDALE RD WHEN ANOTHER CAR TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. THE IMPACT BENT THE IMPACT BARS, MOVED MY COMPRESSOR TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, HOOD, BUMPER, FENDER DAMAGE, THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE WITHOUT DOING A TEAR DOWN IS AT $5000.00. I HAVE SUFFERED NECK, SHOULDER AND LEG INJURIES. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID A CERTIFIED GM REP WILL GO LOOK AT THE CAR AND TAKE PICTURES AND WILL CONTACT ME ON THE 29TH. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A MAN WHO DID NOT IDENTIFY HIMSELF AT THE DEALER SHIP AND SAID HE WAS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR FOR GM AND DOWN LOADED THE INFO OFF THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR AND THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OFF, AND TOLD ME I NEED TO HAVE THEM START REPAIRING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. YET IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT STATES THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN A NEAR FRONTAL OR FRONTAL IMPACT AND THAT THEY CAN ONLY ACCESS THIS COMPUTER IN THE CAR WITH THE OWNERS CONSENT WHICH I DID NOT GIVE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM ELECTRICAL ENGINE WORK, THE FUEL SENSOR SHOWING ME I HAD GAS WHEN I DON'T, SCRATCHED ROTORS, AND THE HAZARDS AND BLINKERS WORKING AND NOT WORKING WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP. EVEN THE POLICE OFFERS DID NOT WANT TO GET IN THE VEHICLE TO MOVE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF AND THEY WHERE CONCERNED THAT IT DID NOT. *JB
THIS CAR HAS MADE A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE FOR OVER 2 YEARS. THE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 24000 MILES WITHIN A FEW MONTH'S THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL FAILED COMPLETELY. WORK WAS DONE ON THE CAR REPLACING ALL OF THE ELECTRONIC PARTS AND SENSORS BUT THE ABS AND TRACTION ARE OUT AGAIN. GM RESPONSE IS THEY WILL "FIX" THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE YET TO GET IT DONE AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. *LA
PROBLEM WITH BRAKES,HAD TO HAVE NEW FRONT BRAKES AND FRONT ROTORS PUT ON CAR, STILL HAVE DRAGGING PROBLEM UNDERNEATH CAR.NOW CAR HAVING PROBLEMS IN STARTING AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS COMES ON EVEN WHEN TIRE PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED AND CORRECTED. *AK
SEVERAL FAILURES OF EITHER FRONT BRAKES OR REAR BRAKES REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. FAILURE HAPPENS AFTER LESS THAN 20,000 ON EACH SET OF BRAKES. THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 WHEEL HUB REPLACEMENTS ON DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS 2 WHEEL HUB REPLACEMENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH DRIVERS WINDOW AND PASSENGER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.... UPDATED 04/11/13 *BF
ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I HAD IT BACK AT THE DEALER FOR SEATBELT NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. THE BUTTONS KEEP BREAKING OFF. HAD THE REAR DEFROSTER REPLACED, THE A/C HAD TO BE FIXED, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE GAS GAUGE CURRENTLY IS NOT WORKING. THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE I CAN'T KEEP TRACK ANY MORE. CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SHAKING WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THIS CAR IS MY WORST NIGHTMARE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SO MANY TIMES I LOST COUNT.
WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY ON OUR 2001 OLDS ALERO 4 TIMES AND NOW THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON AGAIN. ALSO THE BLINKERS AND DRIVERS WINDOW WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
FRONT BRAKE PAD PREMATURE FAILURE AT 20K MILES. BRAKE COMPONENTS FROZEN UP CAUSING ONE PAD TO WEAR TO METAL. INADEQUATE LUBRICATION AT FACTORY? *NLM
Showing 1–20 of 46 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026