Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION NOW I CAN'T EVEN TURN THE CAR ON TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF- BEEPING WILL NOT STOP WHEN KEY IS REMOVED AND CAR BATTERY DRAINED. KEY ALSO GETS HOT WHEN IN IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING IN ICY CONDITIONS, I MOMENTARILY LOST TRACTION. THE POWER TO THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF, CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY CAR SPUN ABOUT THREE TIMES, AND I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP FACING TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY, THE ROAD WAS EMPTY, SO I WAS NOT INJURED. I AM ESPECIALLY WORRIED BECAUSE MY CAR IS PART OF GMS RECALL, BUT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER. GM CLAIMS THAT A NEW KEY WILL FIX MY PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ON MY KEY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, SO I KNOW THIS IS A LIE. GM IS CONTINUING TO ENDANGER THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS BY NOT FULLY ADDRESSING THIS DEFECT. *TR
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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED OFF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE RACK AND PINION CONNECTS TO IT. BROKE FREE FROM THE SUBFRAME AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. BUT I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE SUBFRAME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED AND STEERING BOX IS NOW LOOSE. UPDATED 03/2/2015 *JS
CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. ALL POWER IS LOST (INCLUDING STEERING). SOMETIMES (WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY) IT TURNS ITSELF BACK ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS - AND I KEEP ON DRIVING, SOMETIMES I CAN SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND RESTART AND SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE, BUT USUALLY I HAVE TO TURN MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND MUSSEL THE STEERING WHEEL OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND TRY TO RESTART IT. THEN - THE 'SECURITY' LIGHT IS ON AND IT WON'T LET ME START THE CAR. I'VE FOUND COUNTLESS POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T A RECALL. ISN'T GM BEING SUED FOR A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM? *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND GM VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWED WITH THE SAME STRUCTURAL DEFECT. THE FIRST WAS A 1999 CHEVY MALIBU AND NOW THIS OLDS ALERO. THE LOWER SUB FRAME WHERE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR IS MOUNTED ROTS AWAY CAUSING THE RACK AND PINION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE RUSTED OUT SUB FRAME, LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE STEERED. WITH THE ALERO WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN A CLUNK NOISE WAS HEARD. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY BROKE FREE OF THE RUSTED FRAME LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT STEERING. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VERY SAME WEBSITE FOR MALIBUS, ALEROS AND PONTIAC GRAND AMS. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME ROTTING AWAY ON THESE VEHICLES, CAUSING THE RACK AND PINION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME, LEAVING THE CARS UNABLE TO BE STEERED, HAS NOT CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR DEATHS. HERE IN THE CHICAGO AREA THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD. IF THIS DEFECTIVE FRAME DESIGN DOES NOT WARRANT A RECALL, POSSIBLY SOME TYPE OF INSPECTION NOTICE CAN BE SENT TO VEHICLE OWNERS ADVISING THEM TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE FRAMES INSPECTED (WHERE THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME - ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE) TO CHECK FOR CRACKS AND EXCESSIVE RUST - CORROSION, BEFORE THIS CONDITION DOES CAUSE ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR SOMEONE'S DEATH. I CHECKED WITH TWO OF THE LARGER GM DEALERS IN THE CHICAGO AREA, BILL JACOBS AND PHILLIPS CHEVY, BOTH STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, THE LOWER SUB FRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRACTURED AND THE FUEL LINES WERE CRACKED WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO BE SPILLED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 189,000. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE SALES MAN HAD BEEN CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CAR HAD ISSUES. UPDATED 11/09/2011 *LN *TR
WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS FAILED TWICE. THIS TIME MY WIFE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD CARS WHICH WERE 25-30 YEARS OLD WHICH DO NOT HAVE STEERING FAILURE IN THIS MANNER. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO IN JUNE OF 2002, SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE FIRST BEING BRAKES/ROTORS BEING REPLACED TWICE A YEAR, THEN MY HEAD GASKET WENT, TIRES WEAR TOO QUICKLY, AND NOW MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, NO TRACTION LIGHT (WHICH DOES NOT WORK), CHANGE OIL LIGHT IS ON, AND NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY WHEEL BEARINGS, AND CV JOINTS, THE CAR ACTUALLY MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT AND OFTEN SOUNDS AND FEELS AS IF I HAVE A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE HAD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS DONE AND THE CAR WAS FINE FOR 1 WEEK AND NOW ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ARE BACK EXCEPT FOR THE HEAD GASKET. DID I MENTION I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AS WELL, I FEEL THAT FOR THE PRICE I PAID AND THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME DIFFICULTY AS ME, WHEN I READ OTHERS PROBLEMS, I FEEL LIKE I AM READING ABOUT MY CAR. THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR I HAD EVER PURCHASED AND FEEL THAT MINE AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS AT RISK BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I AM ABOUT OUT OF MONEY REPLACING PARTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO ANYONE WHO OWNS A OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. THANK YOU. *NM
1. I STARTED TO GET LOUD POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. . COOLANT LEAK GETTING PROGRESSSIVELY WORSE AND I AM SMELLING ETHYLENE GLYCOL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE.*AK I HAVE LOOKED UP BOTH ITEMS AND FOUND THEM TO BE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 ALERO. THE FIRST IS RELATED TO THE STEERING ARM/GEAR PROBLEMS AND THE SECOND IS TO THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DEFECT. I AM FACING NEARLY $1600.00 IN REPAIRS. I WISH I WOULD HAVE RESEARCHED THESE ITEMS BEFORE BUYING THIS CAR USED EVEN WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS JUST TURNED 60,000 MILES.
I BOUGHT A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO IN JULY OF 2003. WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. SINCE THAT DATE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO VARIOUS SHOPS TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. TWO MECHANICS STATE THAT IT'S THE RACK AND PINION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHILE TWO OTHERS CHANGED OUT A HOSE AND THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR ITSELF. AFTER HAVING THESE TWO "PROBLEMS" WERE FIXED I AM STILL PUTTING IN POWER STEERING FLUID ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS AN EXTREME FIRE HAZARD AND I AM TIRED OF PUTTING OUT MONEY WHEN IT IT OBVIOUS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON OUT THERE THAT IS EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION ON THEIR ALERO. *AK
MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE POWER STEERING. MY POWER STEERING IS LEAKING ENOUGH FLUID THAT I HAVE TO ADD FLUID ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE TAKEN MY 2000 ALERO INTO THE SHOP AND FOUND THAT IT IS THE RACK AND PINION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR USED. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND A PERSON TO PURCHASE THIS TYPE OF CAR AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST ME. *JB
THE RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL A KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. *AK
REGARDING 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO: EXPERIENCED STEERING FAILURE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. STEERING WOULD COMPLETELY LOCK WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN MAKING SLIGHT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHT EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON SEVERAL OTHER GM VEHICLES (DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION UNIT, COSTING OVER $950. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GM VEHICLES, THEN WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *LA
POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION ON 2000 ALERO WITH 67,000 MILES. *LA
SINCE THE ORIGINAL DEALER IS NO LONGER WITH OLDSMOBILE, OLDSMOBILE CONTACTED, BUT HAS NOT RESPONDED TO LETTER OBJECTING TO THE ISSUE NOT BEING HANDLED AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THE HOSE CLEARLY SHOWED IT HAD BEEN INSTALLED LESS THAN HALF WAY INTO THE CRIMP FITTING. THUS ALLOWING THE HOSE TO SLIDE OUT DURING NORMAL USE. PHOTOS HAD BEEN PROVIDED TO OLDSMOBILE ON 8/26/2002. CAN YOU HELP ME GET A RESPOMSE? THE LOSS OF THE HOSE DISABLED THE POWER STEERING AND DISABLED THE CAR, WHICH HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GM REPAIR SHOP. NLM
WHILE STOPPING TO GET GAS AT NIGHT I PULLED UP TO THE PUMP, MY "CHANGE OIL" LIGHT WENT, ON AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. CLOSE TO HOME, SO NO DANGER, AND DROVE TO CHANGE OIL NEXT DAY AT STATION. THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID , AND TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER. DROVE MOSTLY STRAIGHT , SLOWLY, ON CITY STREETS TO DEALER REPAIR SHOP.THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERS SHOP.*AK
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND RESURFACED TWICE. *JG
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT, 3 WKS AFTER PURCHASE IS WHEN THE PWR STEERING WENT OUT AND I WAS 400 MILES FROM HOME W/O ASSISTANCE. CREFUSES TO RECOGNIZE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS AND I FEEL THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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