Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 61 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 61, in the owner's own words
The car will shut off while driving/idling. There are no check engine lights. Took it to get the latest recall fixed that had to do with this and they just gave us new keys. It did not remedy the situation! Now we are paying to fix it because it is still shutting off while driving.
While driving the vehicle the car shut off while ignition was on. No warning whatsoever
STARTER TURNS BUT WILL NOT START
SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, WHEN FLASHING CAR WILL NOT START.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE KEY REMAINED IN THE OFF POSITION AND FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 6/30/15*CN THE ENGINE AND FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/02/15*JB
AFTER HAVING RECALL OF IGN. KEY PERFORMED, THE KEY BECAME HARD TO TURN ON, CATCHING AND HAVING TO WIGGLE TO START THE ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING 3 TIMES, LOOSING POWER BREAKS AND STEERING, COAST TO STOP, AND VEHICLE STARTS AGAIN. FEEL THIS IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED AND CAUSED BY THE FAULTY KEY AND IGNITION SYSTEM, APPEARS THE FAULTY KEY HAS CAUSED THE TUMBLER TO WEAR-OUT, AND ANY JARRING OF THE KEY AND OR DASH RESULTS IN IGNITION TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, SAYING THIS RECALL WOULD NOT CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO FAIL.. SAYING BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, IT IS NOT THERE FAULT. AND I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR.. BUT I PRAY TO DIFFER, IF THE DEFECTIVE KEY AND IGN. UNIT WERE NOT AT FAULT, THEN THE KEY/TUMBLER WOULD NOT HAVE WORN-OUT. *TR
2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO IGNITION SWITCH. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2010, DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. ALSO, NONE OF THE GAUGES AND DASH LIGHTS WORKED, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND HEAD GASKET WERE REPLACED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE REMEDY LISTED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,677.
LOWER INTAKE GASKET WENT AT 70,000 BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS WENT WHEN WE BOUGHT AT 60000 AN WINDOWS CAME OFF TRACK ALL DASH LIGHTS ON FUEL PUMP REPLACED AN NOW HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AN HEATER CORE REPLACED AT 80,000 NOW HAS 100,000 AN IS A LEMON. *TR
RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST AT A PARTS STORE AND CAME BACK ABOUT THE "INTAKE AIR TEMPERATURE CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT." I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT THE PART IS RELATIVELY CHEAP, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I CAN REPLACE THAT MYSELF. BUT WHEN I REGISTERED MY VEHICLE IT CAME BACK AS A FAIL ON THE EMISSIONS TEST FOR THE STATE DUE TO THIS PART. WHILE LOOKING IT UP AND CHECKING ON LINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE I SAW SEVERAL ENTRIES THAT IT MAY ALSO AFFECT THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. THOSE HAVE BEEN ON AS WELL FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE SECOND TIME WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD GIVEN ME DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WERE WORN OUT WITH IN 3 MONTHS. BUT NOW I HAVE TO GET THE INTAKE AIR TEMPERATURE CIRCUIT REPLACED, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE MORE WIRING THAN THE CIRCUIT ITSELF, BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME AND ABILITY TO WORK THROUGH ALL THE POSSIBILITIES, NOR THE MONEY TO LET A MECHANIC DO IT AS WELL. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THEN WHY ISN'T IT BEING ADDRESSED BY OLDSMOBILE (GM) EITHER? THEY HAVE A BULLETIN ABOUT IT! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN MY 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS,AND HAVE HAD IT AT 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND NOBODY CAN FIX IT. BUT THE CAR TURNS OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND THEN WONT RESTART. BUT AFTER I HAVE IT TOWED HOME IT WILL START A DAY OR TWO LATER.. I'VE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED, THE STARTER, THE FUEL PUMP, THE ALTERNATOR AND HAVE HAD IT HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER TO SEE IF ANY WARNING SIGNALS GO OFF AND NOTHING COMES UP.. ITS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON BACK ROADS AND WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I THINK AND HOPE THAT OLDSMOBILE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS HAVE A SAFER COMMUTE TO AND FROM THEIR DESTINATION... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. ONE MONTH LATER WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE TO THE CONTACT TO USE A DIFFERENT KEY. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE MONTH LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 6/13/13 *CN THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REASON THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED, WAS DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STOLEN AND SHUT OFF THE GAS LINE, SO THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. UPDATED 06/17/13
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC APPROXIMATELY TEN DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FUEL PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN UPDATED 09/06/2012 *JS
I HAVE A 2001 OLD ALERO 6 MONTHS AGO MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START I HAD IT TOWED TO A GM DEALER WHICH TOLD ME I NEEDED A FUEL PUMP SO I HAD IT FIXED WELL A FEW WEEKS LATER CAR WOULD START ONE DAY THEN NOTHING THE NEXT NOW IT WONT START AT ALL IT DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 CHILDREN WE WERE STUCK FOR AN HOUR IN THE COLD I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC HE SAYS IT THE SECURITY SYSTEM WELL IT WILL COST ALMOST 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX SO IT WILL SIT THERE UNTIL GM DECIDES TO DO A RECALL I AM NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN AND I KNOW I WONT BE THE LAST THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE A 2001 OLDS ALERO I BOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER. IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH STARTING AND STALLING. BASED ON MY RESEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES, HAD IT IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS OF THIS ERA. THERE IS NO SERVICE NOTICE AVAILABLE FROM GM ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL JUST STOP SOMETIMES WHEN MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING AND I FEAR IT COULD LEAD TO A CRASH OR INJURY. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE FUEL FILTER, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH AND STARTER WERE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER WAS RESET BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING BECAUSE THE SECURITY SYSTEM WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN DOING SO, THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, WHEN SITTING IDLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 3.4L V6 - ENGINE RACING - HIGH IDLE 2004-2010 THIS HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE THE PAST 6 YEARS AND MIGHT HAPPEN FOR 2-3 WEEKS AND THEN NOT AGAIN FOR A FEW MONTHS. WHEN I START MY CAR IT WILL BE IDLING AT 3,500 RPMS OR MORE, IF I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WILL GO BACK TO 1,500 RPMS, BUT THE CAR WILL START TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF (THE ACCELERATOR IS NOT BEING PUSHED AND IS NOT STUCK). IT TAKES ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS IF ON FLAT GROUND, BUT THE CAR WILL GET UP TO 55MPH BY ITSELF. IF I AM GOING DOWN HILL IT GOES EVEN FASTER. IF STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO GO 60MPHS. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM CEASES IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART, BUT THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. I THINK IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE AND WITH ALL OF THE RECENT TOYOTA PROBLEMS I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS ONE OF MY COLLEGE FRIENDS HAS A SISTER WITH AN ALERO THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING DONE ALREADY OR IF YOU HAVE HEARD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU. *TR
01 ALERO WILL TURN OVER BUT NOT START. FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2006 REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER. SOME DAYS IT WILL START OTHERS IT WILL NOT. IT ALSO HAS DIED WHILE DRIVING TWICE. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE IN TOWN. I WAS DRIVING ACROSS THE STREET WITH MY SON AND THE CAR DIED LUCKILY I COASTED OUT OF THE LINE OF TRAFFIC. FOR THE PAST WEEK IT HAS ONLY STARTED ONCE OUT OF MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START IT. IT SHOWS CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, PASSLOCK, CODES WHEN DIAGNOSTICS RAN. OTHER SITES HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE WITH NOTHING BEING A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
MY GIRLFRIEND BOUGHT A 2001 OLDSMOBILE ALERO FROM A DEALER WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY. THE CARS ANTIFREEZE MIXES WITH THE OIL (HEAD GASKET) . HE NEVER FIXED THIS AND DISSAPEARED ON US. THIS WAS IN MARCH 09. I WAS TOLD THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTACT GM AND THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'VE READ ONLINE THAT THIS CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. PLEASE CONTACT ME KEMA, CORNELL THANKS. *TR
ENGINE:ENGINE COOLING COOLANT LEAKS WHEN CAR IS IDLE. *TR
ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT WONT START UNTIL CRANKED ON FOR A MINUTE OR MORE. HAZARD RELAY CLICKS REPEATEDLY. *TR
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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