Faults:

The Oldsmobile Alero is actually my first car. Except for the Change Brake light staying on, I am having so much pleasure/experience with my first car. It is a 1999 however is in great condition. All of my friends have stated that I made a good choice in the Oldsmobile Alero. My next car will be an Alero, hopefully a 2008!

General Comments:

This car is off the chain! It is very fast and smooth. The brakes are awesome.

Faults:

My passenger window's weak plastic clip that supports the whole thing broke, and the window fell into the door. When I took the car to a body shop (not a high end shop) they gave me an $800 estimate, so I opened the door and clamped the window to the door frame, which is in the same position it's been for about 3 years.

Next my check engine light came on and some times flashed. I took it in to the dealership and they charged me $100 bucks to tell me I had a fuel injector that did not work, and it would cost me around $600.

So I reluctantly had them do the work. When I returned for my car they had news... the head was damaged and the repair would cost as much as buying a new (factory refurbished) motor, which would run around $5,000 dollars not including labor.

So, instead of getting suckered again, I decided to get a second opinion, even though you would think that the dealership would know best. When I brought my car to a local repair shop just down the street from my employment, they said they would take a look and give an estimate. When I went back they told me it was one of the distributor panel thing that was blown, causing the car to be sluggish in acceleration and idle poorly. They replaced the part, which they had in the shop for under $300.

Next the car began to overheat. I checked it out myself to find the fans not working. After seeing that the fuses were in order, I squeezed the hoses going into and out of the radiator and found them to be empty. I then took on the daunting task of removing the thermostat, which on most cars two bolts and you are done; not on the Alero... you must open the air filter box, remove the box, unclamp and remove air hose mounted to the throttle body, and then the throttle body, then the two "easy" bolts revealing the thermostat. It took a few hours, but car does not overheat.

Ever since I have had this car the brakes have been terrible. About once a year they need to be replaced.

The turn signals work one turn, the next maybe not, or they might work the whole day through. I found out if you rapidly tap the hazard button while the turn signal is turned, it will correct and the blinker will work. Although I can get the blinkers to work, the method is really frustrating.

These things must be linked, but I'm not sure. the hazard button or flasher is broken, because if you push the button the lights might go on for a while, but shortly stop until tapped multiple times, but then shut off again, which in a couple of incidents was dangerous.

Cruise control does not work unless you hold in the button.

The three different ac outlets (cigarette lighter) do not work.

What a heap of $&@!.