1999 Oldsmobile Alero Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. 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. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HERNIATED DISK TO THE NECK AND INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND HIP, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10633171

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 32 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. DURING THE FAILURE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO BEGAN TO DISPLAY RANDOM SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0 MPH TO 100 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,213.

NHTSA ID

10379803

Incident

Jan 28, 2011

Mileage

97,213 mi

I AM ASHAMED TO SAY I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. I BOUGHT IT LAST YEARS AS A BACK-UP CAR, SO WE WOULD HAVE TRANSPORTATION SHOULD ONE OF OUR NEWER VEHICLE HAVE PROBLEMS. I GAVE $2000 FOR IT AND HAVE SPENT JUST AS MUCH ON REPAIRS. THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY THOUGH EVERY FUSE IN IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE ANTI-LOCK BREAK LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. THE FRONT PASSENGER STRUT BROKE AND BLEW OUT THE TIRE IN THE PROCESS. I WAS FORTUNATE I WASN'T KILLED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AND NOW THE HEATER BLOWER HAS STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE, SO IT WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. IN ADDITION THE CHANGE OIL LIGHT STAYS ON, I HAVE HAD IT TO NUMEROUS SHOPS AND NO ONE CAN DETERMINE WHY IT WON'T RESET. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH FROM ALL OF THIS ARE A CONSIDERABLE DISTRACTION AS WELL AS ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY POINT TO. I AM APPALLED THAT IN THE USA WE PUT A STAMP OF APPROVAL ON SUCH A HORRIBLE VEHICLE. IN MY OPINION THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH ONE THAT RUNS PROPERLY. IT IS ABSURD AND DANGEROUS. I AM FORTUNATE I WAS NOT GOING A HIGH SPEED WHEN EITHER STRUT BROKE...OH NEARLY FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE STRUT ALSO BROKE JUST THIS WEEK. MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS, WHO'S NAME DO I GIVE TO MY LAWYER WHEN I AM FORCED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND SOMEONE IS HURT? IT IS LIKELY, GIVEN THE HAZARDS THAT COME WITH THIS CAR THAT EVENTUALLY SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN. I JUST PRAY I WON'T HAVE TO DRIVE IT MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361062

Incident

May 10, 2008

I HAVE HAD AN 99' OLDSMOBILE ALERO FOR 7 YEARS. IT HAS HAD ALMOST EVERY PROBLEM LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE. IT HAS HAD AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM EVERY YEAR SINCE I GOT IT AND I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, POOR INTERIOR MANUFACTURER, AC/HEATER BLOWER MOTOR SETTINGS FAILURE, FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE, POOR SPRINGS/STRUTS, GEAR SLIPPING, HARD STARTING, WATER LEAKING IN FROM RAIN UNDER GLOVE COMPARTMENT, OFF ALIGNMENT (SET THREE TIMES IN YEAR), POOR GAS MILEAGE, OVERHEATING OR RUNNING ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURE AND SUDDEN OVERHEATING WITHOUT NOTICE OF GAUGE LIGHTS OR SOUNDS. HAS HAD FRONT RIGHT CALIPER FAILURE LOCKING BRAKE PADS DOWN AGAINST ROTOR CAUSING BURNOUT OF PADS,ROTOR WARPING, CALIPER CYLINDER DAMAGE. HAS HAD POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKAGE. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND GM SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH SELLING UNSAFE, WORTHLESS VEHICLES. THE ONLY REASON I STILL HAVE MINE RUNNING IS BECAUSE I HAVE PUT A LOT OF PERSONAL AS WELL AS PAID LABOR INTO ITS UPKEEP OVER THE YEARS DUE TO THAT I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10180772

Incident

Nov 10, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ABS AND LOW TRACK LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE SENSORS IN THE FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

NHTSA ID

10164813

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

89,100 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE, A BURNING SMELL APPEARED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING WATER. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY, WIRING, SPARK PLUG WIRING AND A BELT WERE REPLACED. THE WATER PUMP AND WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED TO CLEANED OUT. THE BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE UPDATED 05/01/06.*JB

NHTSA ID

10152794

Incident

Mar 13, 2006

Mileage

79,000 mi

1999 OLDS ALERO GLS, BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY,2004 WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT. FROM DAY 1 I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT MOSTLY BRAKES, CAR HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. THE ROTORS GRIND, PULSATE, SQUEAK, THE CALIPERS MAKE CRACKING NOISES SOMETIMES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR SAYS IT WILL NOT DO IT FOR THE MECHANIC, WHEN I DROP IT OFF I ALLOWED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO HEAR IT HE ALSO VERIFIED THE SOUND, ONLY TO GET THE CAR BACK BEING TOLD IT WON'T DO IT. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4X THE BRAKES 3X THE CALIPERS 2X, I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. CD PLAYER WILL NOT WORK TOLD BY DEALERSHIP IT IS THE HUMIDITY DOING IT WHICH I LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA AND IT IS WINTER THERE IS NO HUMIDITY. TOLD DEALERSHIP ABOUT A SQUEEZING NOISE UNDER HOOD GOT CAR BACK AND TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, I GET HOME AND POP THE HOOD AND FIND A GREASE LIKE RESIDUE ON THE SERPENTINE BELT, I LATER FIND THE WATER PUMP LEAKING. CAR LOSES POWER AND A METAL BANGING NOISE OCCURS FROM UNDER THE HOOD UNDER ACCELERATION, DEALERSHIP SAYS CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE BRAKES AND WATER PUMP, THE TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT SATISFY ME AND THEY WILL NOT SERVICE THE CAR AND NOT TO BRING IT TO THEM ANY MORE. IN ONE MONTH I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, IT STILL IS NOT FIXED, WITH EACH TIME HAVING TO PAY A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I CONTACT GM THE SAY CAR IS TO OLD AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THE CAR HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 60,000 OR MAY,2006. I AM GETTING READY TO TRADE IT IN FOR A TOYOTA. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150154

Incident

Feb 8, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR & IMMEDIATELY HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN 3/05 HAD COMPLETE LOOK AT CAR -AT CHEVY. DEALERSHIP, THEY FLUSHED RADIATOR, CLEAN FUEL LINES-THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES "TO MAKE MY CAR RUN BETTER". IN JUNE OF 05 I STARTED NOTICING A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER MY VEHICLE & IT STARTED OVERHEATING. WAS TOLD MY REPAIR MAN THAT RADIATOR CAP NEEDED REPLACING. THAT SEEMED TO HELP A LITTLE. BY OCTOBER 05 THE CAR WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE FROM UNDER THE CAR. DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED SO I DIDN'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE I WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM. DEC 05 I WENT TO WORK AND ITS BEEN DOWNHILL. MY CAR NOW WILL OVERHEAT IF IT IDLES FOR VERY LONG, LEAKS ANTIFREEZE (I HAVE TO ADD COOLANT EVERY MORNING), AND WE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE PROBABLY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET GONE BAD WHICH WILL COST ABOUT 900.00. THIS IS JUST 1 OF THE MANY PROBLEMS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE THE PURCHASE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10149177

Incident

Jun 18, 2005

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. ALSO, THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. IN THE PAST THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHERE ON PARKING ON A INCLINE A BLOCK HAD TO BE PLACED BEHIND TO WHEELS TO KEEP ITFROM ROLLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133079

Incident

Aug 16, 2005

Mileage

88,498 mi

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS. *MR *SC

NHTSA ID

10132354

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

REAR DEFROSTER, STEERING, BRAKES (3X'S), ENGINE, RADIATOR, BELT, SECURITY SYSTERM, TAPE DECK, POWER WINDOWS.

NHTSA ID

10128844

Incident

Jul 12, 2005

OLDSMOBILE ALERO 1999 THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE AND ROTOR PROBLEMS. *SC THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE FRONT COILS SPRING FAILED. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. LEFT FRONT ABS SENSOR AND HUB ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10129151

Incident

Aug 9, 2004

BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN FLORIDA...FROM DAY ONE, THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT...WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A HILL WHEN PARKING BRAKE LEVER FULLY ENGAGED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER SERVICE CENTERS SEVERAL TIMES...PARKING BRAKE WOULD WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT WOULD RETURN TO PREVIOUS STATE OF NOT WORKING...INEFFECTIVE. FINALLY FIXED MYSELF...PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE ADJUSTER SCREW.

NHTSA ID

10120238

Incident

Nov 19, 1998

Mileage

10 mi

BREAK VIBRATION CAUSED BY DISTORTED ROTORS ON 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO,BREAK ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR DISTORTION,LAST REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY APPROX 11,000.GM CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL WARE,REFUSES TO RERAIR UNDER WARRANTY THIS TIME. I FEEL THIS IS NOT NORMAL WARE AND I FEELTHIS CONDITION IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

10067994

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED FIVE TIMES WITHIN 70,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064957

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

WHEEL BEARING WORE OUT AT 52000 MILES. BATTERY TERMINAL POST BROKE OFF. BRAKE CALIPER MELTED AT 51000 MILES. TWO POWER STEERING LINES BURST AT 59000. THE COST OF THE REPAIR FOR THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS AN ESTIMATE I GOT FROM A MECHANIC, BUT I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED. I'M HOPING FOR A RECALL BEFORE I TAKE ANY ACTION. MY COMPLAINTS ARE BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO GOOD REASON FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS TO NEED REPAIR THAT SERIOUS. AREN'T WHEEL BEARINGS AND POWER STEERING LINES SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR A WHILE?

NHTSA ID

10068787

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

Mileage

51,000 mi

THE FRONT LEFT ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 55,000 MILES. THE FRONT LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE PROBLEM HAPPENED SO FREQUENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10048595

Mileage

19,000 mi

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WITH A V-6 3.4 LITER ENGINE, AND IT USES DEX-COOL. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND AS INSTRUCTED IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL I HAVE BEEN REPLACING THE DEX-COOL/WATER MIXTURE IN THE OVERFLOW TANK. JUST RECENTLY MY ABS LIGHT AND LOW TRACK LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND OVER THE WEEKEND I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY FAN BELT PREMATURELY BROKE AND STRANDED ME ALONG SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039210

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO START, AND IT IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. WHEN VEHICLE MAKES RIGHT TURNS THERE IS AN ANNOYING SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038350

Incident

Aug 12, 2003

Mileage

21,000 mi

BAD VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.HAD WHEELS ALIGNED,TIRES BALANCED, TIE RODS ,BOTH FRONT AXLES, BOTH FRONT BEARINGS, FRONT DISC BRAKES(ROTORS AND PADS), BOTH FRONT STRUTS REPLACED. VIBRATION AT TIMES GETS BAD ENOUGH TO LOSE CONTROL. NONE OF THE ABOVE SOLUTIONS FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10036687

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD.*AK.

NHTSA ID

10033744

Incident

Aug 12, 2003

I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 14 MILES ON IT. IN THE FIRST YEAR, I HAD TO HAVE THE MOLDING ON THE DOORS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY LEAKED. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS MY REGULATOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO FOUND A BROKEN CLIP JUST SITTING INSIDE MY DOOR. YOU CAN'T BUY JUST A REGULATOR OR CLIPS SO I WILL NEED TO BUY THOSE PARTS PLUS THE MOTOR WHICH WILL COST AT LEAST $280. MY ROTORS ALSO NEEDED TO BE SHAVED DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED AND MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW, ONLY 5 MONTHS LATER, THEY NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE WARPED AGAIN AND MY BRAKES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED! MY FIRST AND LAST EXPERIENCE I WILL EVER HAVE WITH GM!! I REALIZE THINGS HAPPEN TO CARS, BUT I WOULD EXPECT OLDSMOBILE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE RE-OCCURRING PROBLEMS AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX THEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018509

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

12,000 mi

WARPED ROTORS CAUSED NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016119

Incident

Apr 17, 2003

TOOK VEHICLE OFF OF LOT AND NEXT DAY HAD SEVERE BRAKE VIBRATION. REPLACED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. SAME THING HAPPENED IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1999. PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008521

Incident

Jul 28, 1999

FEEL BRAKES ON VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE REQUIRING MULTIPLE REPAIRS AS A RESULT. DO NOT THINK THEY ARE SAFE EVEN AFTER REPAIRED GIVEN THE REPEAT FREQUENCY OF SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, GLASS PANES ON ALL FOUR SIDE WINDOWS HAVE LONG MECHANICAL SCRATCH MARKS, WHICH SOMETIMES CATCH GLARE OF SUN/HEADLIGHTS WHEN LOOKING OUT THOSE WINDOWS DURING LANE CHANGES. SCRATCHES APPEAR TO BE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE WINDOW HOUSING/MECHANICALS.

NHTSA ID

10003121

Incident

Jan 21, 2003