AI DamageOldsmobile Alero: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Oldsmobile Alero across 7 model years: 1,957 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 31% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 18% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 601 complaints (31% of all), 18 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 356 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 348 complaints (18% of all), 16 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 257 complaints (13% of all).
- Visibility: 173 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2002–2004named in 1 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1999–2001named in 3 complaints
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1999–2004named in 18 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 1999–2004
- manual, 5-speed 2000–2004named in 2 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,957 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 601 | 18 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 356 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 348 | 16 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 257 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 173 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 116 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 107 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 101 | 56 | 0 |
| Steering | 98 | 8 | 0 |
| Structure | 91 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 87 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 68 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 65 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 41 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Airbag no deployment Loss of power steering Brakes to floor Car died Recall ignored prior and still today after set up now off their schedule Friendly Chevrolet rich Gardner
The air bags failed to deploy and the contact hit her chest against the steering wheel. Additionally, the left side of the contact' body hit the driver's side window. The contact was knocked unconscious for approximately 30 minutes.
The air bags did not deploy and the seat belts failed to lock. The contact sustained a leg injury and a concussion, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact sustained an injury to the neck, which required medical attention. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,860.
The contact stated that the ignition failed and caused the engine to stall while driving 55 mph. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the guardrail. The contact suffered injuries to the left shoulder and neck, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed.
Driving on a gravel road at 30 miles per hour when steering and brakes did not work went in the ditch just about flipped the car the ins company said to bad can not do nothing the recall ended that night to late.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.