Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic111
- Electrical system89
- Engine and engine cooling85
- Visibility56
- Suspension46
- Exterior lighting43
- Power train34
- Steering30
- Structure29
- Fuel system, gasoline25
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1999 Alero vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero failed the safety check 4.62% of the time — 163% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 83,824 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.9–11.5 L/100 km (about 20–22 mpg US), CO₂ 251–265 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alero · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.6 | 8.9 | 10.9 |
| Alero · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.3 | 11.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero.
| 2014284 3 Jul 2014 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could allow the switch to move out of the "run" position if the key ring is carrying added weight or the ve… |
| 2000123 31 May 2000 | Structure Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 201 - Occupant Protection. The console cover does not remain closed when a specified vertical loa… |
| 1999060 15 Apr 1999 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 210.1 - Tether Anchorages for Child Restraints . The bolt in the child rear seat tether kit is too… |
| 1998248 22 Dec 1998 | Steering On certain vehicles, the steering wheel could become loose on the steering shaft due to insufficient torque on the steering wheel retaining nut. This could res… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE CONSOLE COVER ON THESE VEHICLES DOES NOT STAY CLOSED WHEN A SPECIFIED VERTICAL LOAD IS APPLIED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Oldsmobile told its dealers about the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637253 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE BRAKE ALIGN KIT. *TT |
| 637229 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR TRUNK COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE AND / OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 637197 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT ONE OR MORE DOOR GLASSES ARE SCRATCHED. *TT |
| 637181 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR IS INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 636679 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REPEAT BRAKE PULSATION AFTER AN INITIAL BRAKE REPAIR. *TT |
| 634881 | CONCERNS WITH SCRAPING/SCRUNCHING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE DURING LOW SPEED TURNING AND BRAKING. *TT |
| 634845 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE REGARDING REVISED BRAKE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 634827 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE DOOR GLASS IS OUT OF CHANNEL. *TT |
| 634825 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS INFORMATION ON VARIOUS WATERLEAK CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 634780 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. WITH STORED CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 634710 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0140. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634661 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 634559 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE OUTER SURFACE GLASS ON ONE OR MORE OF THE VEHICLE'S DOOR IS SCRATCHED. *TT |
| 634508 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENTON AN AIR RUSH / MOAN TYPE NOISE FROM THE REAR COMPARTMENT LID AREA OF THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 634332 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON POOR RADIO RECEPTION. *TT |
| 634317 | SOME ONWERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 631899 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 631229 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION OR SERIAL DATA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES STORED IN HISTORY. *SLC |
| 629836 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH STORED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 629749 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT AND/OR AN ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF WHICH MAY ILLUMINATE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. *TT |
| 629631 | WATER LEAK ISSUES. *TT |
| 629502 | SUBJECT REGARDING HESITATION OR STUMBLE ON THROTTLE APPLICATION AFTER COLD START (REPROGRAM PCM). *JG |
| 629407 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUAWK NOISE FROM THE FRONT AND/OR REAR SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 628890 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON LEAKAGE OF A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT AFTER PARKING THEIR VEHICLE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation