AI Damage1997 Oldsmobile Aurora: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora filed 125 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 125
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 40% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 5% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 3% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 50 complaints (40% of all).
- Electrical system: 21 complaints (17% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 18 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (9% of all).
- Steering: 10 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4 L · petrol · 8 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 125 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 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.
In addition, the exterior brake lights and headlights illuminated independently without the engine being started. The contact had to remove the battery from the vehicle in order for the lights to remain off.
Used the remote start feature during 24 deg weather and the driver side rear fixed window shattered. Possible cause would be a short in the rear window defrost unit, which comes on when using remote start in cold weather.
The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall. In addition, while attempting to start the vehicle a mist was present coming from the engine compartment and the engine would not start.
Cracking of the fuel rail or return line tubing can result in a fuel leak into the engine compartment. Consequence: fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire." my car is a 1997.
Both rear brake lines are so extremely corroded it actually rusted through the metal brake lines in several different locations on both rear brake lines and is leaking in large amounts at the severe corroded spots of the lines.
The rack and pinion housing was also fractured and there were several rusted bolts. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 150,000.
I was never informed of this problem until I had fuel leaking onto my engine block and due to oldsmobile's system, which has the recall marked as complete, I cannot get the recall service done. What good are safety recalls if the manufacturer can mark the recall complete without performing the work?
When the contact started the vehicle, it ignited into flames. The fire department extinguished the fire and cut the incorrect wires for the battery. The current and failure mileages were 120,000. Updated 05/27/09 updated 05/29/09.
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 3,035 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Aurora has 72 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 125, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- 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.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 125. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (21%), fuel system, fuel smell (8%), stalls while driving (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora?
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 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora 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 1997 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.