Oldsmobile Alero Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,957 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file for the Oldsmobile Alero, across 7 model years (1998–2004). The 2000 model year has the most complaints (557). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Oldsmobile Alero years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Alero year: 2000. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 Alero: 557 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1999 Alero: 462 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2001 Alero: 364 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1998 Alero: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 Alero: 109 complaints, 1 recall
- 2003 Alero: 184 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Oldsmobile Alero problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 601 | 6 | 18 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 356 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 315 | 6 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 257 | 7 | 0 |
| Visibility problems | 170 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension problems | 107 | 6 | 2 |
| Air Bags problems | 101 | 6 | 56 |
| Steering | 98 | 6 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 97 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 91 | 6 | 2 |
| Power Train | 87 | 6 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 68 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | 65 | 5 | 2 |
| Equipment | 40 | 6 | 1 |
| Tires | 37 | 7 | 0 |
| Wheels | 27 | 5 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 26 | 6 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| Seats | 22 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 6 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Oldsmobile Alero problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2004: electrical system (57)
- 2003: electrical system (103)
- 2002: electrical system (133) · exterior lighting (78)
- 2001: electrical system (130) · exterior lighting (68)
- 2000: exterior lighting (131) · service brakes, hydraulic (130) · electrical system (89) · engine and engine cooling (81)
- 1999: service brakes, hydraulic (111) · electrical system (89) · engine and engine cooling (85) · visibility (56)
All Oldsmobile Alero model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Alero | 109 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Alero | 184 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Alero | 279 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Alero | 364 | 4 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Alero | 557 | 4 | — | Exterior Lighting | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Alero | 462 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 Alero | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling |
More from Oldsmobile: all Oldsmobile models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Alero years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2000 (557) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Alero year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Oldsmobile Alero?
Electrical System, with 601 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile Alero have?
7 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.