Faults:
Left front hub assembly was replaced at 40,000km, right was replaced at 45,000km.
Right front hub assembly was again replaced at 103,000km after the ABS and TRAC OFF lights came on simultaneously and stayed on. I believe the problem was a bad speed sensor.
Blower fan needed to be replaced at 10,000km.
Regular brake maintenance at 40,000km and 80,000km.
Both front calipers were leaking brake fluid and needed to be replaced at 80,000km.
All 4 rotors needed to be replaced at 80,000km as well. Perhaps this is normal for rotors, but 90% of the kms were highway driving and I am not hard on my vehicles.
Front passenger seat wouldn't lock into place and needed to be repaired twice at approx. 20,000km.
General Comments:
Overall, I like the car for its looks and performance. The 3.4 V6 has good acceleration and decent gas mileage at around 10L/100km highway and 14L/100km city (although my 1992 Ford Explorer got about the same gas mileage). I am, however, a bit worried about the overall quality of the car components from what I have been both reading and experiencing. The resale value of the Alero is terrible which is bad for those of us who bought new, but good for those looking for a decent used car at a low price. Overall, I enjoy the car, but I will be staying away from Oldsmobile and perhaps all GM models for my next vehicle.
27th Feb 2007, 21:48
I see a lot of bad reviews on the Alero, and it really surprises me. It is the exact same car as the Pontiac Grand Am, and my 2001 Grand Am SE-1 has been by far the best car I've ever owned. Not a hint of a problem.