2000 Oldsmobile Alero: engine overheating

Filed Jul 26, 2012 · Engine · 219,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 oldsmobile alero. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat. The contact filled the radiator with coolant yet two days later, the vehicle began to overheat again. The vehicle was then taken to a personal mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the vehicle had a blown head gasket. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were 219,000. Updated 08/07/12

Filed Apr 9, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 50 miles · LA

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) I bought a 2000 oldsmobile alero about 3 years ago, I noticed at the beginning that the turn signals nor the hazard lights worked. We have done everything from changing bulbs,checking fuses and ground wires to no avail. I recently started having another problem where the oil has backed up into my oil reservoir, my car has not overheated and no oil leaks. That is how I came to find out that there had been a recall on the hazard switch on the alero. I contacted gm and gave them all the information that they needed. After being on hold for about 15 minutes, they then told me that it was not my make or model that had been recalled. The description on their website pin pointed my problem to a tee! And they are telling me that it is not their fault. My car has 91,000 miles. Vin: [xxx]. I feel that gm should be held accountable for this defect in my vehicle, just because it was not my make or model as they are stating does not mean that it could not happen. I believe that it is a defect that they should be held accountable for.

Filed Nov 7, 2008 · 150,000 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 oldsmobile alero. The contact noticed hot air coming from the air conditioning unit when it was activated. An independent mechanic stated that the coolant was low. After the failure was repaired, she noticed large puddles of coolant leaking from underneath the vehicle. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were less than 150,000.

Filed Feb 13, 2006 · Engine · 29,514 miles · CA

I have had a number of problems with my alero, including the turn signal issue, water leaks in the interior of the vehicle, loss of coolant due to a problem with the manifold intake gasket, water/coolant leaking into the oil, excess oil burning and oil leaks. I am particularly concerned about the problem with the manifold intake gasket as I took my vehicle in with regards to loss of coolant while it was still under warranty and the service form states that evap system was performing to spec. I plan on complaining again, but probably to no avail. I am considering litigation.

Filed Mar 8, 2005 · Body, Brakes · 25 miles · CA

On march 3, 2005 my 2000 oldsmobile alero gl v6/3.4l would not start. On march 4, 2005, all 3 distributor coils were replaced as well as all 6 spark plugs. The car worked fine until march 7, 2005 when while driving the car for about 10 minutes, the car shut down. It coasted to the side of the road and I could not get it to start again. In both instances the car seems to try to start but is unsuccessful. In my online research, this appears to be a very common problem with no known resolution for other owners of the alero. Additionally, after the window fell into the driver side door, on october 19, 2004, I had the mechanism for the driver side window replaced. In december 2004, the same window failed to work at all. I have not had it fixed again. The water pump was replaced after a sudden coolant leak completely depleting the system in november 2003, and the same situation occured again requiring the water pump to be replaced again in february 2005, a little over a year later. One of the cigarette lighters stopped working in june 2004. The service engine light, tire pressure light, and coolant light come on intermittently with no apparent problem. The interior dome light is touch and go, meaning if I touch the case, it may or may not go on or off. The front brake system has been replaced more times than I can count on my one hand in the nearly 3 years that I have owned it. The signal lights would stop functioning and buzz hideously until I pressed the hazard button. Water has collected in the front passenger floorboard and in the trunk from seal failure. The engine seems to burn oil quickly.

Filed Dec 6, 2004 · Engine, Steering · 48,000 miles · PA

1. I started to get loud popping noises when turning my steering wheel in either direction. . Coolant leak getting progresssively worse and I am smelling ethylene glycol in the interior of the vehicle.*ak I have looked up both items and found them to be inherent problems with my 2000 alero. The first is related to the steering arm/gear problems and the second is to the plastic intake manifold gasket defect. I am facing nearly $1600.00 in repairs. I wish I would have researched these items before buying this car used even with 35,000 miles on it. It has just turned 60,000 miles.

Filed Sep 3, 2004 · Engine · 38,500 miles · MO

2000 alero gls with the 3.4 l v-6 had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced due to failure and coolant leaking. The car had 38,000 miles on it at the time of the failure. This is the third gm vehicle I have seen that had this problem. A 2000 malibu with the 3.4 l and a 2000 bonneville with the 3.8l. All of these cars had the new dexcool coolant in them.

Filed Mar 12, 2004 · Engine · 40,000 miles · IN

I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero. I just recently bought this car used with approximately 35,000 miles in october 2003. At around 40,000 miles in february of 2004, I discovered that I had an coolant leak. While the manual says with the "dexcool antifreeze" I should not have had to replace any coolant until 150,000 miles, I had refilled around three times within around 4,000 miles. I took it to a gm dealer who informed me that I needed a new intake manifold gasket, along with many other small parts associated with the I.m. Gasket, that came to a total bill of around $600. My intake had to be completed taken apart and resealed because the dealer said that oldsmobile had used a "weak sealant". I have filed a complaint with oldsmobile, but was informed that it would not be a recall until more people complained to them. I have seen many consumer complaints on this subject, and if more people complain we may be able to get our money back. This was a defect on my car because of faulty eqiupment and parts used in the manufacturing, and I feel that no matter if I was the first to complain or the thousandth person to complain, an intake manifold gasket should not have malfunctioned and had to have been replaced on a car that only has 40,000 miles. Oldsmobile really needs to take credit for their actions in replacing faulty equipment on the cars they have made, no matter if they are going out of business or not.

Filed Feb 2, 2004 · Engine · OH

I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero gls. On or about 1/3/04, the fill coolant light came on. I refilled the coolant level. Since then I have put 2 and 1/2 containers of coolant in the car. The car was the losing coolant quickly but it was not leaking in the ground. I had it checked by two separate mechanics and was told that the coolant is running into my oil and my engine has blown a head gasket. There is no warranty on the car. I don't understand how a car of 4 years old can blow a head gasket. The car is still reasonable young.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 57,000 miles · IL

Coolant leaking from engine area, told intake manifold gaskets needed replacing. 3.4l engine

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Visibility · 51,947 miles · NY

Lower intake manifold gasket failure causing leakage of coolant into the engine and onto pavement. This type of gasket failure is unacceptable at such low miles. August update: since filing the complaint, I had the intake manifold gasket replaced (along with the other gaskets, seals, and rings that are typically replaced in this procedure) by the olds dealer here in my area. This was done at mileage 51947 on 2/11/03 for my 2000 olds alero that was purchased new on 7/6/2000. As for cost, I was able to do some negotiating with the service manager. About one month earlier, I had taken the car in to get the drivers side window repaired. It had fallen out of track (for the second time), and I raised the issue that this was unacceptable, and that their competitor cars do not do this (non gm vehicles). Having negotiated a low price on this window repair, the service manager remembered me for the intake manifold repair. I raised a number of issues and facts surrounding the intake manifold gasket and was able to get the entire repair done for $276.75, along with an oil change and serpentine belt replacement, included. I have not noticed and problems with coolant leakage since the repair was preformed. Another concern that I have is, since my repair was done in february 2003, but the service bulletin is dated march 2003, were old parts used in my repair and will this happen again?

Filed Nov 11, 2003 · Engine · 40,000 miles · CO

The gaskets on the alero engine are not compatible with the type of materials used on the engine causing them to leak very early in life. If coolant leaks into the engine it could cause damage and potential hazard while driving.