1999 Oldsmobile Alero GLS 3.4 from North America
Summary:
Great at first, tired lately
Faults:
Oil and coolant mixing in lower intake manifold. Had to be replaced. Cost $1,000.
Four times the car has been serviced for water leaking inside the compartment. Twice the fuse panel has been replaced. Water triggers trunk release while driving. Yes my trunk flies open while I am driving.
Always had the grinding sound from under front axle or front wheels. Stopped asking about this problem. Did get some kind of answer, but never fixed. Happens mostly around slow turns. For example, pulling into a parking space.
Speed control also went for the fan. First two positions did not work.
Rear speaker blew and rear defroster don't work.
Also, with the water leaking into the fuse panel, door locks did not work properly whether inside the car or using the remote.
General Comments:
I'm feed up with this hunk of junk.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 5th January, 2004
15th Apr 2005, 17:17
My boyfriend owns an Alero and at first I thought this was a pretty sharp car. I didn't know much about it, but the style is awesome. Last weekend he came to see me and I got my first ride in it... nice riding, but noticed a windy sound, I kept asking him if the windows were down. When we got to the drive through window I noticed his driver window didn't work. He said he had replaced it twice already! He also mentioned having to replace the transmission not long after he got it, and the latest Alero drama... He was supposed to come to see me this weekend only his battery somehow surged and fried all of the electrical wiring under the hood! So I decided to get on line and see what kind of help I may could give him. Seems most people aren't very satisfied with this car and electrical problems seem to be common. How did the manufacturer let it get to this point. You would think something would have been done about it by now. Anyway my b/f leaves for Iraq in 2 weeks thanks to the stylish sporty Alero I have lost one of the last weekends with him.. Good job to the people that produced this car!
9th Jan 2004, 07:46
In case these are not fixed yet... make sure you do not have the stock RSA tires on your car. This will make a terrible grinding sound, especially at low speeds and while turning.
Get something other than Goodyear, probably for less money like I did. No more problems. If you want to stick with Goodyear, the new RSA's have been strengthened near the wheel to stop the problem with noise.
The speed control on the fan is very easy to fix and cheap if you do it yourself. Less than $25 for the new resistor pack. If you need any information on how to change it, there are good sites out there including grandamgt.com, which is the near duplicate sister car of the Alero.