The check engine light came on. Upon checking the coolant levels, it was low. The repair shop diagnosis is a leak in the intake manifold with an $800+ repair cost. According to research, the particular type of coolant, dexcool, used in gm cars is linked to corrosion to the intake manifold gaskets.
1999 Oldsmobile Alero engine complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 85, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Car engine compartment completely engulfed in flame after 5 mile drive to a shopping mall. Car was cruising parking lot looking for space when fire erupted.
Engine: 3.4l v6. The manifold gasket and water pump failed at approximately 40,000 miles. The dealer picked up the cost of the parts under their "goodwill" policy, but out of pocket cost to me was still over $800. The manifold gasket on my 2002 buick rendezvous, VIN [xxx] also failed and had to be replaced at 18,000 miles. This was done under warranty at no cost to me. This was also the 3.4l v6 engine. It is obvious this is a problem gm has known about for quite some time and have not taken corrective action in a timely manner. An extension of the warranty on this engine is certainly called for. I have advised many friends to avoid purchasing a gm car with either the 3.1l or 3.4l engine. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Within my 36,000 of driving from 50,222 to 86,119 my intake gaskets have been replaced twice. My rack has been replaced twice and will need to be replaced a third time. I am also aware that the rack was replaced while the previous owner had the car. Recently I realized why water was getting into my passenger side of the vehicle. The window seal is shifted causing the window to leak if the car is parked at certain inclines. This repair is not covered by my pre-owned vehicle warranty. All major repairs have been covered by my warranty and any additional costs have bee quote "eaten" by repair facilities.
Car overheated. Had to have it towed. Rear of intake manifold was found to be leaking. Intake manifold gaskets had to be replaced.
The oldsmobile alero is a pile of crap. Since I have had it I have replaced almost everything in the front end. My catalytic converter went out at 70,000 miles, I had a warranty and they didn't fix it. My anti-lock brakes and traction control went out and my cruise control switch hasn't worked since about 60,000 miles. I'm just waiting for the day this car just bursts into flames.
Gm v6 intake mainfold leak.
Engine abruptly overheated. After immediately pulling over, the engine began smoking. Car was towed to nearby service center where it was discovered the engine lower intake gasket was faulty.
The "coolant" light came on - then the car died & overheated...apparently coolant was leaking into the engine because a gasket failed...now the engine must be replaced at 70,000 miles. Starting at 3,000 miles, the check engine soon light came on & it has been in and out of dealerships ever since!!! Gm hasn't done a thing to help me! I just spent $1,300 to get the gasket replaced in the intake manifold & now they tell me the engine needs to be replaced!!! Please help me - I need a contact for gm - the customer service line has not done a thing to help & apparently this is a common problem...
While driving driver noticed smoke coming under the hood. Pulled vehicle over and checked. Noticed coolant was leaking on the intake manifold. Took vehicle to dealership. Mechanic had not determine the cause of the leakage.
I own a 1999 oldsmobile alero with a v-6 3.4 liter engine, and it uses dex-cool. Over the past few months my low coolant light has been coming on and as instructed in my owner's manual I have been replacing the dex-cool/water mixture in the overflow tank. Just recently my ABS light and low track light has come on, and over the weekend I was driving on a highway when my fan belt prematurely broke and stranded me along side of the highway.
99 alero with what appears to be common problems. First it was a faulty water pump and now there is a lower intake gasket failure.
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.
Coolant is leaking from the radiator, causing vehicle to overheat.
1999 oldsmobile alero/VIN #[xxx] summer I lost the air conditioning in my car. In nov, I deployed with the af to the middle east. Upon return I was disappointed since I had completely forgotten the AC didn't work in my car. I took it to a repair shop for a recharge and freon. After that, it worked for less than 2 days and started blowing hot air again. I returned to the repair shop, this time they put it on all the gauges and saw it wouldn't hold a charge. They took the car for a quick ride, and ran the AC for about 10 minutes. When we stopped, there was a really bad smell. They sprayed everything with a blue spray and saw bubbles on the hose line. They looked closer and noticed the side and underside of the hose was burned through both the covering and the hose itself, and maintain it was caused by the hose being a little too long and being able to rest up against the engine. Am I really the only owner of a 1999 alero that has experienced this problem? I can't believe I should be responsible for the replacement of this hose (which is a pretty extensive job). This is the second summer I've been without AC, and they have been pretty hot and unpleasant summers, (although not quite as bad as the middle east). I've already invested $79.95 to have the AC checked out, charged, freon added. Right now I'm I very dissatisfied oldsmobile owner. I've checked the defect investigations and recalls, and found no other mention of this design defect, but I still maintain that this couldn't be a one of a kind. What do you suggest I do from here? I don't feel I should have to pay to have the hose replaced, since I did nothing to cause the hose to burn/melt. One tie wrap would have been a simple, inexpensive solution, but now it's way beyond that point. Please help me with this. The summer isn't cooling off, and I can't buy any chocolate candy bars to calm me down because they all melt faster than I can eat them. Thanks, and I'm anxious to hear back from you.*ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act
I have a 1999 v-6 oldsmobile alero and it continually overheated. My mechanic told me a number of people have been having the same problems and that it had to do with a faulty gasket.
While placing car in reverse the engine began knocking and has not ran since. Not happy at all still owe a lot of money and car doesn't run!! Not worth the money.
Coolant leaking around the engine. Mechanic says this is common for the 3400 engine because there is no gasket, just a bead of caulk.
The coolant started leaking into the oil. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, pence oldsmobile, april 24, 2003, due to engine ticking. Advised oil appeared to have not been changed in 1 yr. I advised the service oil was changed every 3 months less than 3000 miles. Oil was "gunky" and thick like vaseline. Vehicle also loosing coolant. Oil was changed and engine to clean of gunk on 04/24/03. 07/5/03, coolant tank low 15 miles later coolant tank refilled again.. 07/06/03, vehicle parked. 07/7/03, before leaving for work, coolant refilled again. No leakage on ground. After about traveling about 8 miles, while stopped at a stop light the vehilce started to tremble & make sounds. Drove approx 1 mile to employers parking lot and called tow truck to tow it to. Dealer service dept informed me oil pump o-ring, intake gasket, valva cover gasket and pcv valve needed replacing and there could possibley be internal engine damage.. The vehicle was picked up on 07/11/03 between 5:30-6pm, driven 20 miles and parked until 07/12/03 until 5:30pm..vehilce driven another 20 miles and coolant light came on again. Coolant refilled. Sun 07/13/03, vehicle driven 10 miles and coolant light on again. Coolant was refilled vehicle parked until 07/14/03. Vehicle driven back to dealer on 07/14/03, and left with service dept.. I had just paid $757.80 for repairs and 24 hrs later the vehicle was doing the same thing. Approx 1hr after I left the dealership, they called to inform me that the water pump was now gone and needed replacement. Complaint made to oldmobile customer service but no action taken. The vehilce had 63000 miles and service as required. This problem seems to be a defect from the manufactorer.. When the coolant was low, prior to water pump problem of 07/12/03, the coolant was leaking into the engine.
We purchased this car in july 2002 from classic chevrolet in owasso, ok. We also purchased an extended warranty. In december the car was hit from the rear by a hit and run driver. In january the engine began to knock. I called the warranty place and got permission to take it to a mechanic, he said it was the intake manifold gasket, replaced it when it still knocked he said it would take awhile for all the water to get out of the engine. We took it back, and got a run around for 4 weeks, finally called the warranty place told them he wasn't getting it fixed and requested permission to take it to a different shop. Granted then when they found out it needed a new engine they refused to pay for it, said they would only contribute a sum of money toward fixing it. I called gmac because they financed the warranty, one person told me that gm should honor the warranty and so I have a call in to a dealer in pittsburgh, ks. We no longer have a gm dealer in our town. My point is that someone needs to make this right and put a new engine in my car at no more expense to me. When I talk to gm I will be letting them know that I found your site and checked it out, and lodged a complaint. I am unsure of the exact date of the incident and since it is 4:15am am unable to call and get it.
Water pump and intake manifold gasket had to be replaced at 40,000 miles. Very disappointing. Appears to be common problem with gm 3.4l v6 engine. Reconsider before purchasing car with this engine.
Engine gaskets failed, which caused coolant to leak into the oil.
The engine leaked coolant from the intake gasket.
Automatic transmission will not shift into 3rd or 4th gear, anymore. Roars loudly rather than shifts. When I take my foot off the accelerator at 30+ MPH car acts like cruise control is on - decelerates extremely slow. Rpms stay at 2200+ at 35 MPH. Also now a little higher on temperature gauge.
1999 alero 3400 sfi engine w/39186 miles. Low coolant light comes on. Pontiac delaership says lower intake gasket leaking. Orange antifreeze dexcool getting into engine oil. Oil looks like coffee w/creamer. Car not driven since 12/02/2002 due to olds dealer closing doors after 36 years and unable to get them to honor the extended warranty I purchased thru them. Bbb and state atty general's off ice of no to help to locate/have them honor warranty. Pretty much they ran off w/my $.
I have a 1999 oldsmobile alero with a 3.4l v6 engine that leaks coolant from the intake manifold gaskets. My dealer is jim muir oldsmobile, who put me in contact with gm customer service. They claim no knowledge of the problem. According to the internet, there are thousands of vehicles with the problem. My father, who works at gm says that at least seven people he knows in his office have had repairs done. Gm needs to acknowledge the issue and start fixing them.
Upper or lower intake gasket leak. Seems to be a very common problem with the 3.4l v-6. Noticed coolant loss with only 30,000 miles!!!!
Consumer experienced head gasket blow out.
Consumer is requesting reimbursement for repairs made to the leaking intake manifold.
One failed due to the others failure.no safety defect listed.
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