Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 99 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD BUTTON WHICH STARTED OUT WITH A LOUD BUZZING WHILE THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED. I COULD SOMETIMES GET THE BUZZING TO STOP BY PUSHING THE HAZARD BUTTON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE TURN SIGNAL. NOW IT'S AT THE POINT WHERE MY SIGNALS DON'T EVEN WORK 95% OF THE TIME. I'LL START MY CAR AND THE FIRST TIME I USE THEM THEY MIGHT WORK, BUT AS SOON AS I TURN THE WHEEL THEY STOP WORKING AND DO NOT WORK FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. THE HAZARDS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED. ONLINE RESEARCH HAS PULLED UP NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : RQ04005 WHICH STATES THAT GM WILL ISSUE A SPECIAL POLICY FOR 1999-2000 ALERO SINCE IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. HOWEVER, FURTHER SEARCHES HAVE FOUND THAT RQ04005 EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2010. THE DEFECT ACKNOWLEDGED IN RECALL 03V327 IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ISSUE ACKNOWLEDGED IN NHTSA ACTION# RQ04005, SO WHY IS THERE AN ALLOWED EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE REMEDY OF THE PROBLEM? *JS
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.
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
POWER WINDOWS HAVE BOTH WENT OUT HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR FOR THAT, 2 TIMES NOW THE RACK AND PINION HAS CAME OUT AND 2 TIMES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALTENATOR HAD TO REPLACE OVERFLOW RESORVOIR I DONT FIND THIS TO BE A RELIABLE OR SAFE CAR TO BE IN. I BOUGHT IT USED SO WHO KNOWS WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT IT I FORGOT TO MENTION MY PART-TIME SIGNAL LIGHTS THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO AND I HAD TO REPLACE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSER I HAVE ONLY HAD CAR 5 YRS MYSELF AND ITS SO NOT WORTH THE MONEY I HAVE PUT INTO IT THE DATES VARY BUT THE FIRST WAS IN 2004 AND THE LAST WAS 2009. *TR
SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR USED IN 2003, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE. RECENTLY THIS HAS AFFECTED MY BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARDS AND SIGNALS WILL NO LONGER WORK UNLESS IN CASES OF EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGES ( HEAT ON FULL BLAST OR A/C ON FULL BLAST). ALSO THE SIGNAL LIGHTS CONTINUE TO CLICK EVEN WHEN NOT ON. [XXX] *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD A "SPECIAL POLICY" FOR THE FAILURE, BUT WOULD NOT TAKE ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 47,000.
MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH 1.MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKING. 2. ALL OF THE WINDOWS FAILING BY FALLING OFF THE TRACKS OR THE REGULATOR ITSELF FAILING. THREE TIMES FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW! 3.THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, CLICKING CONSTANTLY. 4.THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING 5. THE INTERIOR LEATHER CURLED UP ON THE DASH, WHICH I NOTICE ON MANY OTHER ALERO'S I'VE SEEN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. I CAN GET THEM TO START WORKING AGAIN SOMETIMES BY ACTIVATING THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THEN TRYING THE TURN SIGNALS AGAIN, BUT SOMETIMES THE HAZARD LIGHTS ALSO FAIL TO FUNCTION. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SPRING IS RELEASING SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL AFTERWARD. THE HAZARD SWITCH BECAME STUCK AND WAS REPLACED BY THE OLDS DEALER BACK IN 2001 OR 2002. AFTER THAT I COULD HEAR A MECHANICAL NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHENEVER I TURNED THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION AND WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID A SPRING HAD COME LOOSE AND THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IT WOULD COST $250 TO REPAIR, SO I LET IT GO AND NEVER REPAIRED. *TR
THE CAR SIGNAL LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE SIGNALS ON THEY COME ON. THEN SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THEM ON THEY DO NOTHING. THEY DON'T COME ON AT ALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE TURN SIGNALS TO SWITCH LANES. THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH BEGAN MAKING A RAPID, LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT LASTED FOR AN HOUR. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATORS FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THE PLASTIC BREAKS AND CAUSES THE REGULATORS TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 142,000.
ON THE 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO THE TURNING SIGNAL WORKS OCCASIONALLY. I CONTACT GM TO REPORT THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE SENT A FORM TO FILL OUT FOR RECALL AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED. THIS RAISES A PROBLEMS DRIVING AND IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD MY FUSES' CHANGED AND THE TURNING SIGNALS STILL DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. *TR
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS LIGHTS WORK PERIODICALLY. IT APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING FAULTY IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO. IF YOU HIT THE DASH HARD ENOUGH THEY WILL BEGIN WORKING BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS B/C YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL WORK OR WHEN THEY WILL NOT WORK. *JB
IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THREE OUT OF 4 WINDOWS ON MY VEHICLE ARE NOW HELD UP WITH DUCT TAPE SO THAT THEY DON'T FALL INTO THE CHANNEL AND I CAN'T GET THEM UP. LUCKILY, ONLY ONE OF THEM MANAGED TO DO THAT AND A FRIEND MANAGED TO GET IT BACK UP FOR ME. THAT OCCURRED AT THE END OF JANUARY 2006. I COULD UNDERSTAND ONE- MAYBE- BUT THREE!!! NO. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I SUSPECT THE ONLY REASON THAT MY ONE WORKING WINDOW, THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE, IS STILL WORKING IS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T TRIED TO PUT IT DOWN- OR THE RESULT WOULD BE THE SAME. I AM SURE THAT IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, SO I GUESS I'LL GO WITH THE DUCT TAPE FOR A WHILE. I HAVE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE GASKETS ON THAT WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY, 2006. I WAS LOSING ANTIFREEZE FROM THE OVERFLOW TANK, AND HAVING TO FILL IT EVERY DAY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE WATER PUMP LEAKING AND THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING. THEY WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. AND... THE INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL IS ALSO A PROBLEM. THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THAT, LIKE YOU DID FOR THE 2000- 2001 VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE INTERIOR TRIM ON THIS VEHICLE IS SHODDY, AND THAT IS BEING KIND. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW WITH 23 MILES ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT TO OUR HOUSE IN JUNE, 1999. IN LESS THAN A YEAR A DOOR PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD COME APART. THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN PEELING FOR ABOUT 11/2 YEARS BECAUSE THEY USED CHEAP GLUE TO HOLD THE COVERING ON THE PLASTIC. I REALIZE THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT COSMETIC, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING: I CHECK EVERY ALERO I SEE IN A PARKING LOT AND THERE ARE A LOT WITH PEELING DASHBOARDS. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THAT- THEY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. GM CAUSED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE BY DOING IT ON THE CHEAP. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THEM, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE. I DON'T MIND PAYING FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS, I EXPECT THAT, BUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT "ROUTINE".*NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A COMPUTER COMPONENT TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 03V327000/ INVESTIGATION NUMBER RQ04005. THERE WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN BEING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM
DT: 1999 WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PUSH THE HAZARD SWITCH IT SUNK INTO THE DASHBOARD. AND COULDN'T GET THE FLASHER TO GO OFF. CONSUMER TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING BROKE BEHIND THE SWITCH, WHEN THE SWITCHED WAS PUSHED. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD REPAIRS DONE.*AK
THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH WORKS INTERMITTANTLY ON MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. AFTER LOOKING INTO SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MANY 2000 ALEROS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IT STOPS I CAN NORMALLY GET IT TO WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES LONGER BY PUSHING THE TOP OF THE SWITCH DOWN OR WIGGLING IT. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $100 TO REPLACE IT. I REFUSED AND PURCHASED THE SWITCH MYSELF FOR $30. SEEMS VERY ODD THAT GM WOULD RECALL MANY CARS WITH THE SAME SWITCH AND SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT OTHERS. WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THIS SWTICH IS A PROBLEM IN EARLIER MODELS OF THE ALERO AS WELL. *AK
I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BLINKERS AND HAZARD LIGHTS. BOTH DO NOT ALWAYS WORK AND I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT BY MY DEALER. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, AND THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY ME, BUT MUST BE SOME KIND OF MALFUNCTION. *AK
BOTH WINDOWS ON MY CAR HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DOOR. BEFORE FALLING INTO THE DOOR THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE AND THE A LOUD POP. *NM
MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO TWO DOOR HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TURN INDICATORS. OFTEN TIMES WHEN THE LEVER IS ENGAGED THE BLINKERS WILL MAKE A CLICK SOUND AS THEY DO WHEN THEY ARE WORKING AND FAIL TO CONTINUE BLINKING. THE SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO PUSH THE EMERGENCY FLASHER BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS SOMETIMES EFFECTIVE IN GETTING THE BLINKERS TO BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I AM UNABLE TO PROPERLY SIGNAL FOR TURNS. THIS HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR ME AT STOP SIGNS AND UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING (NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED) FOR THE WINDOWS HAS CAUSED MY WINDOWS TO NOT WORK. I'M SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IF I AM UNABLE TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS, AND MY BLINKERS DON'T WORK, THEN THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO WAY TO SIGNAL MY TURNS AND LANE CHANGES PROPERLY. THE BLINKERS FUSE HAS NEVER BLOWN. THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND BLINKERS ARE OBVIOUSLY RELATED FROM THE SOUND AND FACT THAT THEY SEEM TO CAUSE THE OTHER TO FAIL OR BEGIN TO WORK. I HAVE DONE A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2000 YEAR OF MY CAR. OBVIOUSLY, THAT DOESN'T HELP MY SITUATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME SO WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION THAT IS LESS COSTLY THAN THE COLLISION THAT IS IMMINENT FROM THESE FAILURES.*AK
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD WARNIG LAMPS WORKING INTERMITTENT.*AK
TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED DURING OPERATION. AUTHORIZED DEALER IDENTIFIED FAULTY HAZARD SWITCH AS ROOT CASE AND REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD LIGHTS, AND HIGH BEAM LIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. ON SOME OCCASIONS THERE WAS A SLIGHT POP BEFORE THE WARNING LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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