Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Oldsmobile Alero problems
Owners filed 561 complaints about the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero with NHTSA between Dec 1999 and Dec 2019. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (131).
Complaints
561
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Exterior lighting131
- Service brakes, hydraulic124
- Electrical system88
- Engine and engine cooling79
- Visibility49
- Structure30
- Air bags27
- Power train24
- Fuel system, gasoline23
- Steering22
- Vehicle speed control17
- Tires17
- Suspension17
- Equipment15
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
37
57
87
59
115
42
26
19
18
15
13
9
6
3
29
13
5
3
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 57 |
| 2002 | 87 |
| 2003 | 59 |
| 2004 | 115 |
| 2005 | 42 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Exterior lighting
131 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FLICKERED VERY FAST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
124 reports2 crashes1 fire
“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”
Electrical system
88 reports3 fires1 related recall
“I OWN THIS CAR FOR 3 WEEKS ALREADY AND IT STARTS TURN IT OFF WHILE DRIVING I CHANGE SOME SENSOR ALREADY BUT I READ ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY PHOTO BECAUSE EVERYTHING LOOKS OK FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE SWITCH, BUT THE INSIDE IDK”
Engine and engine cooling
79 reports1 fire
“APPROPRIATE HANDLING- SUBMISSION FROM RE 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO VEHICLE DEFECTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT GETTING THE RECALL REPAIRS RECTIFIED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 00V140000. *JB”
Visibility
49 reports
“WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THIS CAR THE BACKSEATS WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD IS PEALING UP ALL THE WAY AND THE PAINT IS GONE FROM MY GEAR SHIFT. BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVER SIDE I HAD TO GET FIXED FOR INSPECTION COST ABOUT $300. TIRES AND BRAKES NEED REPLACED CONSTANTLY. LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BLINKERS DON'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME AND WHEN THEY DO IT IS THIS HORRIBLE LOUD CLICKING NOISE. CD PLAYER/RADIO STOP WORKING RANDOMLY. AC ONLY WORKS ON 3RD SETTING. REAR DEFROST DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON AND BULBS ARE BRAND NEW. TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WITH BUTTON FROM INSIDE CAR OR KEYLESS ENTRY. MY TRUNK RANDOMLY COMES OPEN FOR NO REASON AND ONCE WOULD NOT LATCH TO SHUT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THEN RANDOMLY LATCHED SHUT. CAR LEAKS WATER IN THE FRONT AND BACK. RECENTLY MY CAR WON'T START EVERYTIME IT RAINS. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PLACE AND THEY RAN IT THROUGH THE COMPUTER AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW IT'S AT A WINDSHEILD PLACE BECAUSE THE MECHANIC SAYS ITS LEAKING WATER INTO FUSE BOX. GLASS PLACE IS SAYING THAT IS NOT IT EITHER. I AM AT MY WITS END. IT DRIES OUT AND WILL…”
Structure
30 reports1 related recall
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.