1999 Oldsmobile Alero: grinding or squealing brakes

13 of the 462 complaints about the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero describe grinding or squealing brakes.

owner complaints: 13
of this car's complaints: 3%
typical mileage: 39,151
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 20 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Grinding or squealing brakes by model year

2004
3
2003
4
2002
2
2001
23
2000
29
1999
13

What owners say

Filed Feb 13, 2006 · Brakes, Engine · 26,000 miles · PA

1999 olds alero gls, bought the car in may,2004 with 23,000 miles on it. From day 1 I have had nothing but problems with it mostly brakes, car has extended warranty on it. The rotors grind, pulsate, squeak, the calipers make cracking noises sometimes brake pedal goes to floor. The dealership refuses to fix the problem or says it will not do it for the mechanic, when I drop it off I allowed the service manager to hear it he also verified the sound, only to get the car back being told it won't do it. The rotors have been replaced 4x the brakes 3x the calipers 2x, I still have the problem. Cd player will not work told by dealership it is the humidity doing it which I live in philadelphia and it is winter there is no humidity. Told dealership about a squeezing noise under hood got car back and told they could not find anything wrong with it, I get home and pop the hood and find a grease like residue on the serpentine belt, I later find the water pump leaking. Car loses power and a metal banging noise occurs from under the hood under acceleration, dealership says cannot find the problem. I go back to the dealership and tell them about the brakes and water pump, the tell me that they cannot satisfy me and they will not service the car and not to bring it to them any more. In one month I was at the dealership for the same problem, it still is not fixed, with each time having to pay a $100.00 deductible. I contact gm the say car is to old and there is nothing they can do for me. The car has 56,000 miles on it and the warranty does not expire until 60,000 or may,2006. I am getting ready to trade it in for a toyota.

Filed Oct 9, 2004 · Acceleration, Lights · CO

Both windows on my car have fallen into the door. Before falling into the door there was a grinding noise and the a loud pop.

Filed Apr 19, 2004 · Suspension · 107,000 miles · CT

Front hub bearing wore out prematurely. As a result, a grinding noise was produced.

Filed Feb 26, 2004 · Steering · 134,000 miles · MO

While driving at any speed consumer heard a squealing sound coming from the steering column. Consumer added power steering fluid, that stopped the noise. Also, consumer heard a clanking sound when right turns were made. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who found that rack and pinion needed to be replaced.

Filed Jan 14, 2004 · Suspension · NY

When making a left hand turn there was a grinding noise in the front end of the vehicle.

Filed Sep 5, 2003 · Brakes, Engine · 21,000 miles · IA

When vehicle is turned on it takes a long time to start, and it idles very roughly. When vehicle makes right turns there is an annoying squeaking sound coming from the brakes.

Filed Aug 1, 2003 · Wheels · IN

The consumer noticed a grinding noise when the brakes were applied. The manufacturer was contacted and was told the rim was cracked and the tire lost air. *ak the consumer was told by two different dealers the tires slipped on the rim and had broken the seal. The tire deflated somewhat, and caused the auto level alarm to go off. The alloy rims by the manufacturer were defective and caused the problem. *scc

Filed Feb 9, 2003 · Steering · 39,151 miles · OH

Power steering pump has been replaced once for grinding noise. It needs to be replaced again for whining noise and loss of power steering. Since oldsmobile dealership closed their doors after 36 years the extended warranty I purchased through them is not valid and have to pay for it myself. Bbb and state atty general's office were of no help with finding/having delaership honor the warranty.

Filed Jun 26, 2002 · Brakes · FL

The brakes make grinding noise and fail when applied. The dealer replaced the rotors and pads four times, but the problem was not solved. *yh

Filed May 8, 2002 · Brakes · WI

When applying brakes there is a clicking noise that comes from brake area. Contacted dealer. *ak the brakes pulsate and consumer has to use excessive effort in pushing the pedal down before braking engages. The brakes also squeal when they are applied, prior to and after the pads and rotors were replaced.

Filed May 5, 2002 · Brakes · IL

I have taken the vehical to be fixed under warranty 3 time starting in july 2000, sept 2001 at the same dealership (schaumburg olds) and third time to martin j kelly. First two time, the problem was that the when depressing the brakes I got a pulsation and vibration felt through the pedal. The third time, the rotors sounded as if theyw ere grinding and braking was difficult to apply. First time the vehicval had 7957 miles and third time 21,000 miles. I am going to take the vehical back again next week because the grinding sound has now returned even when brakes are not applied and the car is rolling. There would appear to be a manufacturer defect for the vehical to require such a repeated number of trips to the dealer. The dealers have resurfaced the rotors and may have changed them on one occasion. My concern is wehether the brakes on the vehical will fail at some point in time as a result of this rotor/brake issue.

Filed Aug 2, 2001 · Brakes · NH

There was a grinding noise coming from front brakes. At highway speeds over 60, there was a lot of vibration coming from front of vehicle. Consumer has contacted dealer, and they have not found a solution. Please provide any further information.