1999 Oldsmobile Alero problems
The 1999 Oldsmobile Alero has 702 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (20%) concerns brakes. After that come electrical system (14%) and engine (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 702 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 20 and 12
- Injuries and deaths
- 18 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 64,000 miles 253 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 31 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 58 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 74 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 34 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 8 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 253 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 64,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 58,000 miles (14 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 20 complaints mention a crash; 12 complaints mention a fire; 18 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Oldsmobile Alero with enough data (448 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 oldsmobile alero. While driving at an unknown speed, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle flipped over. The contact was unsure if the air bags deployed. The driver received medical attention, but suffered fatal injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Battery died @ gas station(6yr/75k repl model)/when rpl'd found acid on ABS module/brake lines under battery.GM case #c05363927-GM won't repair or pay for diag of brake sys or reimburse $75 for battery that was under 2.5 yrs old(label on battery says 6yr-75000 mile battery).multiple occurences noted on NHTSA complaints database lead me to believe GM is aware of problem already.one customer odi id #868902 had acid eat hole in brake line.other occurences on file already.
Defective design/location of hood latch mechanism caused total failure of hood latch and release of hood (raising hood into the air and tearing it off the hinges) during a low speed front end impact into a standard interstate highway metal guard rail. The design of the "nose" trim of the car is such that when the "nose" trim is pressed down and back by a low speed direct impact into a standard highway guard rail, the plastic "nose" trim pushes the hood latch release lever down and back, which in turn releases the…
Both left and right turn signals fail to operate intermittently. I can get them to start working again sometimes by activating the hazard lights and then trying the turn signals again, but sometimes the hazard lights also fail to function. It sounds like a spring is releasing sometimes when turning the steering wheel and then the turn signals fail afterward. The hazard switch became stuck and was replaced by the olds dealer back in 2001 or 2002.