Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Oldsmobile Alero problems
Owners filed 371 complaints about the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero with NHTSA between Oct 2000 and Apr 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (132).
Complaints
371
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system132
- Exterior lighting69
- Service brakes, hydraulic48
- Engine and engine cooling47
- Visibility34
- Fuel system, gasoline27
- Suspension18
- Steering17
- Engine15
- Equipment15
- Power train14
- Air bags14
- Structure13
- Vehicle speed control13
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 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
15
37
51
50
41
25
17
16
13
11
7
8
8
33
14
9
6
2
1
1
3
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2003 | 51 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 41 |
| 2006 | 25 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 33 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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
Electrical system
132 reports5 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Exterior lighting
69 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENT AND SAFETY FLASHERS INOPERATIVE AT SAME TIME. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S IN MOTION, STATIONARY, ON CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, ETC., HAPPENS APPROX. 5 MINUTES AFTER BEING USED. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL STATION AND THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT DUE TO INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT FIRST. TOOK TO DIFFERENT SERVICE REPAIR AND THEY KNEW IMMEDIATELY OF THE RECALL AND SAID IT NEEDED A 4 WAY FLASHER SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AND TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WHEN I DID, THEY DECLINED IT..!! RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN #14V400000. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, PROSTROLLO AUTO MALL, MADISON, SD..I HAD THIS PROBLEM...IT CAME WITH THE CAR, SHOULDN'T THIS HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE SALE..?”
Service brakes, hydraulic
48 reports3 crashes
“SEVERAL FAILURES OF EITHER FRONT BRAKES OR REAR BRAKES REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. FAILURE HAPPENS AFTER LESS THAN 20,000 ON EACH SET OF BRAKES. THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 WHEEL HUB REPLACEMENTS ON DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS 2 WHEEL HUB REPLACEMENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH DRIVERS WINDOW AND PASSENGER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.... UPDATED 04/11/13 *BF”
Engine and engine cooling
47 reports
“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”
Visibility
34 reports2 fires
“2001 OLDMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB”
Fuel system, gasoline
27 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.