2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue GX 3.5L V6 from North America
Summary:
The dealer sees the car more than I do
Faults:
Just two weeks after purchasing the car, the A/C was kicking off and on. The compressor was replaced. Didn't fix the problem.
Headlights and dash lights flicker. GM knows about the problem, however they told me (this is GM support center, not the dealer) that it is a normal operation of the car.
Windows will quit working. Check them later and they magically work again.
At 19K the transmission had to be rebuilt because of a shift value that was defective, causing the car to slam into all the gears. Several clutches were severely burned and had to be replaced.
When cold, the CD player skips with every single bump in the road. Once it warms up, the skipping stops.
Again at 23.5K the transmission is slipping again. Apparently it is the same value again that is bad.
The engines uses a very large amount of oil. Currently working with GM on a oil usage measurement to see if it falls in-line with GM's 2qt. for every 4000 miles. Mine is burning about 2qt. every 3200 miles.
General Comments:
It is a great looking car, with many nice options. However, electrically and mechnically it is a piece of junk. It is a very unreliable car and I have had many many visits to the dealership in the 7 months that I have owned it. In other words... avoid the car like the plague.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 4th March, 2004
14th Oct 2010, 11:55
My dad bought a 2001 Intrigue for me to drive when I turned 16, and I absolutely loved the car.
We bought it from a mechanic that worked at the local Cadillac dealership. He only used the car for vacations, and had maintained the car. The car was purchased in 2006 and only had 45k miles on it.
Since then, I have only put 7,000 miles on it, and had only minor issues with the car.
Earlier this year, the blinker switch went out ($40 to replace), the battery went bad (the original battery), and the back passenger window motor went out. The car took 6 qt. of oil when replacing, which is a lot compared to the newer GM cars that take 4.
I have few complaints about this car, and I wish I still had this car. It drives great, handles the road great, and can get up and go.
The only complaint I have is traction control, and you can't find a car nowadays without it.
24th Jun 2013, 05:41
I have a 2001 Intrigue bought in 2004 (38k miles then, 146,000 now) and it has always had the lights flickering issue, burns a quart of oil every 2000-3000 miles, and the transmission will go into that hard gear change a couple of times a week after starting, especially when running errands and making multiple stops.
However, the transmission problem is easily "resolved" by turning off the ignition, waiting about 10 seconds, and restarting the car. Never had it diagnosed, but I assume it has something to do with a computer chip, as turning the engine off and on seems to "reboot" the transmission.
Latest problem (still to be determined) is engine stalling at low RPM.
27th Jun 2006, 18:35
I have a 2001 Intrigue GL I purchased new. The car uses oil, the lights flicker, and the dash is pulling away from the heater vent located above the radio.
The biggest problem by far is the transmission. Three complete days at the dealership on two different occasions plus an earlier appointment to diagnose the problem. Shifts very hard at times. First repair lasted 17.000 km, second one lasted 500km!! I baby my cars and am a real GM fan, but enough is enough. My warranty is up in two weeks... now what?