AI Damage1999 Oldsmobile Alero: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero filed 462 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 462
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 12% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 10% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 117 complaints (25% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 89 complaints (19% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 85 complaints (18% of all).
- Visibility: 56 complaints (12% of all).
- Suspension: 46 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 10 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 462 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 117 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 89 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 85 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 56 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 46 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 10 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
However, she was involved in an accident, where the engine power, power steering and power brakes went out. The consumer was injured and the vehicle was totaled.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the right shoulder and a concussion, which required medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure.
While driving approximately 30 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the brakes failed to engage. As a result, the vehicle rolled over three times. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed.
My son was driving down his 1999 oldsmobile alero at approximately 15-20 mph when he ran into the back of a parked older vehicle which had a steel bumper. My son's 1999 oldsmobile alero suffered major damage and my son hit his head on the steering wheel. The airbag did not deploy.
Dt: while driving at low speed and applying brake pressure there were no brakes whatsoever. This resulted in an accident. The vehicle skidded, went over small embankment, and struck a tree where it came to a stop, vehicle was towed to the a wrecker service shop. Has not been to a repair shop or dealership.
The consumer had the vehicle in the park position and vehicle jumped into reverse. This caused the vehicle to spin around in a 360 motion. The passenger jumped out of the vehicle while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle came to a dead stop when it hit a ditch head on.
The low speed impact, which damaged only one headlight assembly and did not even break the grill, released the hood, sending it aloft, blinding the driver's line of sight, and resulting in the wind tearing off the hood and unleashing it as a potential missile on the highway.
Air bag failed to deploy in front end collision. Car totaled.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 824 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Alero has 280 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 462, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 462. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (12%), vibration (9%), warning lights, check engine (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
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.