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Oldsmobile Alero

3012 messages,  Last post on May 28, 2012 at 5:28 AM

You are in the Oldsmobile Alero Forum.

What is this discussion about? Oldsmobile Alero, Sedan

Messages Page 167 of 302

#1659 of 3012 Grinding Noise by ryanroseberry

Sep 18, 2002 (3:14 am)

Alero Owners. I have read a couple of previous postings concerning a grinding noise when the car coasts under 20 mph. The problem is "Warped Rotors". As unbelievable as it may sound, my Rotors warped at 30,000 miles. I own a 2001 ALERO GLS. I am contacting Oldsmobile today to see if they will admit that the rotors are defective and replace them with new ones. From what I have read, it is going to be a fight. To dindak the Honda civic I was talking about was an 1998 EX with 40,000 miles. We bought it for 15,500 and traded-it in for 13,000. The Car sold within an hour after we traded it. In reference to Nissans, my family has owned 5 in the last 10 years and we have only had one problem "The Exhaust Manifolds". It was a 1,500 dollar fix and Nissan agreed to pay the whole thing the first time and 3/4 the second time at 107,000 miles. Lets hope that Oldsmobile will be willing to replace my rotors that we ALL know are defective at 30,000 miles.

#1660 of 3012 Dome Light falling off by ryanroseberry

Sep 18, 2002 (3:23 am)

Among my list of Alero problems is the Dome light falling down. Has anyone else had this problem? Every time someone goes to turn on the dome light it pops out of its cradle. It is an easy fix if you have a sun roof. Just pull down the ceiling where it meets the sun roof, find the plastic cradle and push the light back up into it. This car is really becoming a joke.

#1661 of 3012 ryanroseberry by dindak

Sep 18, 2002 (5:51 am)

The dealer who bought your car was either on drugs or you paid list for the car you traded it for and he told you he gave you $13K for it. There is no car on the planet that 80% of it's value over three years.
 
As for your car, it sounds like you have a lemon. Just because your car is bad it doesn't mean the Alero or everything GM makes is also. The reason I bought is because my mom's 99 and a friend's 01 had both been so good. We love our 02 and have had not problems.
 
Let us know what happens with the brakes.

#1662 of 3012 ryanroseberry/dindak by talerico

Sep 18, 2002 (3:57 pm)

Ryanroseberry-I can sympathize with you. I had a 2000 GLS and my rotors were warped at 12,000 miles and again at 15,000 miles. They replaced the first rotors with the same defective style rotor (at no cost to me either time). I sold my car at 25,000 miles and the grinding noise was starting again. I also had to have the tierod, struts, and drive bearings replaced.
As for Dindak- Your car is new. Wait a little longer and see how it does. I know you love your car (who wouldn't love a brand new car with no problems yet?) For people like me who have bought lemons I would be inclined to say that GM sucks. You may not agree but once you have been in my shoes you may think otherwise (or at least think you have been taken advantage of). It seems to me that quite a few people have been having the same problems. I hope you don't become one of them. Like I said before I won't be buying GM (or probably any other American car) for some time. I learned from my mistake.

#1663 of 3012 talerico by dindak

Sep 18, 2002 (8:08 pm)

Hey, I know may car is only 5 months old, but my mom and my wife's friend have older Aleros and they both have worked out very well. In fact my mom has an early first year (99) and it's been virtually trouble free. I understand it hurts to get a lemon, but the number indicate that Alero is a pretty reliable car and that GM has good quality these days.
 
Don't buy GM again, I totally understand, just don't tell me that the company sucks because you had a bad experience.

#1664 of 3012 Still having problems by ryanroseberry

Sep 18, 2002 (9:23 pm)

The Dealer told me the problem was indeed the rotors, but that it is completely normal for rotors to warp at 30,000 miles. (My Nissan has 107,000 miles and the original rotors are still going strong) They re surfaced the rotors but the grinding sound is still there. I'll let you know the out come. I don't mean to hurt any feelings when I say that the Alero is a great disappointment, but I can only assume that those who place postings on this page have a limited income like myself, or else we would be on the Lexus and Porsche page. Therefore when I spend 24,000 on a car I expect it to work, there is too much competition out there for it not too. Perhaps I did get the "one" Alero Lemon, but I encourage all to read the 1600+ postings about this car and make your own judgment.

#1665 of 3012 ryanroseberry by rdeschene

Sep 19, 2002 (10:07 am)

While I understand your frustration and disappointment with all the problems you've had with your Alero, reading the "problem" posts on this forum isn't necessarily going to give an accurate indication of what to expect from an Alero. Generally speaking, people who have had satisfactory experiences--as we have--don't tend to post about those experiences, while people who have had problems tend to be more vocal. Understandably so. They want solutions to those problems.
 
So, unless you take that into account, reading all the posts on this forum won't give you an accurate cross-section of the experiences of all Alero owners. Chances are there will be a higher percentage of complaints vs. compliments not because the car is bad in general, but simply because problems drive people to complain, while people tend to be more passive about good experiences.
 
The complaints do provide an indicator as to what problems *might* crop up, and that's valuable information. But even with all the usual complaints cited in this forum--warped rotors, rain seepage, etc.--we've experienced none of those with our 2000 GLS. By and large, we've been very happy with our Alero.

#1666 of 3012 More Rotor Problems by burnema

Sep 19, 2002 (11:02 am)

I joined the discussion group today, because I took my 2000 Alero back to the dealer today. This will be the third time for them to replace the rotors. Unfortunately, I now have 50K on the car. They called back to told me that the would not be able to cover the charges and recommended turning the rotors instead of replacing them. I called the GM assistance Center and still waiting on a call back from them. I'm sure that I am fighting a losing battle, but I want to give it my best shoot. Can anyone provide any other resources to utilize to get GM to take ownership of their defective rotor issue?
 
Good luck to all of the owners out there that have not had any rotor problems. I hope that your luck continues. Unfortunately, I am another one of those people that feel like the car is going to be a money pit.

#1667 of 3012 talerico by evandro

Sep 19, 2002 (11:18 am)

FWIW, I've had an Alero '99 which I bought in '98, therefore one of the 1st units, and I've had no problems with brakes while I've had the car for over 35000mls. And, to be truthful, it did have a battery, the AC compressor and the PS pump replaced at different mileages in the meantime.
 
But my overall experience of the car was otherwise very good. If Olds wasn't going to be shut down, my next car would be an Intrigue.

#1668 of 3012 rotors? by dindak

Sep 19, 2002 (11:31 am)

I have never had warped rotors and while every car needs to have them changed eventually, it's always been at the third brake pad change that it's happened.
 
Are the people who are complaining about this maybe hard on their brakes or do a lot of city driving? Just wondering as perhaps it's a function of how much and hard you use them.
 
I am purposely very soft on my brakes as I want the pads to last as long as possible. That's just my driving style but I don't know that it makes a difference WRT the rotors.

Messages Page 167 of 302

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