Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Oldsmobile Aurora problems
Owners filed 37 complaints about the 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Nov 2014. The most-cited component is electrical system (8).
Complaints
37
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system8
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Steering4
- Air bags3
- Equipment3
- Suspension2
- Wheels2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Tires2
- Service brakes1
- Seats1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Visibility1
- Exterior lighting1
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 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
5
2
0
7
7
3
2
1
0
1
1
2
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 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
8 reports3 fires
“ON 5/11/2012 MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE AURORA WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM AND APPARENTLY OVERNIGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS LIMITED TO THE BASE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE BUT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE CAR, INCLUDING SMOKE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR. *JS”
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports
“THE INTAKE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AND BECAUSE OF THE GASKET LEAKING I NOW HAVE LIFTERS THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT COST ME $500 TO REPLACE THE GASKET. I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO ANY MORE REPAIRS. SO I'M NOW PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE. I THINK GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD PAY TO FIX MY VAN SINCE THEY FAILED TO RECALL KNOWING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE GASKETS.*AK”
Steering
4 reports
“DEAR SIR: I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE AURORA THAT I PURCHASED NEW, WITH A DELIVERY DATE OF 09/22/1999. THE CAR IS USED PRIMARILY BY MY WIFE WITH APPROXIMATELY 78,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE HAVE KEPT THE CAR UP AND NOW FIND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT WE FEEL IS NEITHER OF OUR DOING NOR A NORMAL WARE ITEM. IN THE PAST TWO (2) YEAR THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BECOME LOOSE INTERNALLY. TODAY AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE WRITER SAYS THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO TIGHTEN THE THREE (3) BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE COLUMN ASSEMBLY TOGETHER COSTING $540.00. MY WIFE IS HAVING OTHER ITEMS WORKED ON TODAY AT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IS VERY RELUCTANT TO PERFORM THE STEERING COLUMN WORK BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES, AS I DO, THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE A SAFETY ITEM GM SHOULD PAY FOR. WE UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALL NOTICE. UNDER THE PRESENT RECALL ATMOSPHERE, I AM ASKING THAT GM REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. IF THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN IT COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE AND INJURY. AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE STATEMENT ABOVE, TODAY I HAVE JUST FINISHED SPEAKING TO AN OLDSMOBLE…”
Air bags
3 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Equipment
3 reports
“I AM HEARING A POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF CAR 1999 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THERE IS ALSO TIMES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN TURNING THAT IT VIBRATES IN THE PEDAL AND STEERING COLUMN, ALSO I HAVE BEEN NOTICING WATER UNDER PASSENGER FRONT SEAT IN WHICH THIS IS RUINING MY CARPET AND LEATHER SEATS NOT TO MENTION THE ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEM UNDER THE SEAT. I CAN GIVE YOU THE VIN.# [XXX], SO YOU CAN PULL INFO ON CAR AND LET ME KNOW WHAT INFO AND OUTSTANDING RECALLS THERE ARE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS”
Suspension
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE TRACTION CAUSING THE CONTACT TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONSISTENTLY HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.