Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system130
- Exterior lighting68
- Service brakes, hydraulic47
- Engine and engine cooling46
- Visibility34
- Fuel system, gasoline28
- Suspension18
- Steering17
- Engine15
- Structure14
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 18 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 14 2001 Alero vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. 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 2001 Oldsmobile Alero failed the safety check 2.14% of the time — 7% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 93,810 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 10.4–11.1 L/100 km (about 21–23 mpg US), CO₂ 239–255 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alero · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.5 | 8.0 | 10.4 |
| Alero · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 8.8 | 10.9 |
| Alero · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.7 | 11.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 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… |
| 2003217 5 Sept 2003 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the hazard warning switch may experience solder joint cracking if subjected to rapid temperature transition. If solder joint cracking occu… |
| 2000275 27 Nov 2000 | Powertrain Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 114 - Locking System. When a driver attempts to shift from 5th gear to reverse, a shift inhibitor … |
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.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES (RPO M86) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO REVERSE, A SHIFT INHIBITOR CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO BE MECHANICALLY IN 4TH GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT LEVER INDICATES REVERSE GEAR.
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 2001 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 |
| 636570 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE RADIO COMES ON WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF AFTER INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRONIC AFTER FLOW FAN MODULE. *TT |
| 635008 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND THAT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. *TT |
| 634931 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0716 AND / OR P0717, P0730, P0753, P0758, P1860, P1887 OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODES SET. *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 |
| 634310 | REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY FOB RADIO PERSONALIZATION FEATURE ENABLED (TURNED ON) OR DISABLED (TURNED OFF). *TT |
| 631899 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 631306 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT INACCURATE OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READINGS. *SLC |
| 631237 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT INACCURATE OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READINGS. *SLC |
| 631229 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION OR SERIAL DATA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES STORED IN HISTORY. *SLC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation