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

- Bronx, NY, USA

Appropriate handling- submission from re 2000 Oldsmobile Alero vehicle defects the consumer stated he has been unsuccessful at getting the recall repairs rectified free of charge. The consumer referenced recall # 00V140000.

- Washington, DC, USA

I have a 2000 olds Alero. Gl 6 cyl 3.4, 4 door. I had to replace the engine about 3-4 years ago and this past spring the head gasket blew, so I had to invest in that. I am very adamate on taking care of my car and oil changes. Also, the whole dash cover and passenger air bag cover is peeling away. I noticed this is several Alero's I have seen in a parking lot. My main concern is the engine though. How many times am I going to have to invest thousands of dollars for the motor issues. Is there anything that can be done about the motor issue?

- Camby, IN, USA

Engine shuts off going down highway. Will not restart for several minutes. Able to drive a few miles and will do it again. After having it towed the service center cannot find the problem. Has done the same thing four more times.

- Stockton , IL, USA

Car dies without any warning. Car consistently misfires, hesitates. Occurs quite often. Especially dangerous on the highway and hills. Purchased the car used in May. Dealer had it for a while putting in a new serpentine belt and after the first stall, the catalytic converter. Didn't even have it ten days, when it first stalled and had to be towed. Brought it back to the dealer, changed spark plugs. Had it about a week, died on a hill with my two children in the car, started to roll back into another car. Muffler was worked on. Died again on the highway at 55mph. Called dealer, brought it back to his service person and he felt it, but no codes showed. Dealer was done with helping. Warranty on engine and transmission expired 08/01/09. Brought car to another mechanic, changed crank sensor. Car died two more times. Wrote a letter to GM, brought car to their mechanic. Asked GM to assist since there have been so many complaints concerning the same issue. To me this is a manufacturer defect, not a maintenance issue. Too many people have had this same complaint, some at the purchase of the vehicle new, some like me, bought it used. GM needs to accept this responsibility, before someone is seriously injured or worse dead. As a single mom, my children are everything to me. Their life should not be jeopardized because of a car's malfunction, nor should anyone else's. I can't get rid of this car in good conscience, knowing another person may buy this vehicle and could lose their life or someone else's. please review the complaints on line and previously made. This is a safety issue. The saddest part is GM could make this right and won't. please know that I would appreciate your investigation into this issue. Thank you.

- Garfield, NJ, USA

When trying to start car, it want turn over such as start at all. Could be from bad spark plugs or bad connection somewhere. This does this very so often sometime after the car has been driven some distance. This situation has not been fixed yet, but has put a new starter and battery on there. Do not have the money to keep putting into it if it does not fix the problem the first time.

- Lexington, KY, USA

2000 olds Alero. Shuts off while driving. Read numerous other reports on the Alero. Same problem.

- Corfu, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that she heard a loud grinding noise coming from the engine. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle would stall simultaneously. Prior to the failure, the engine warning indicator would flicker on and off. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Saluda, SC, USA

1. not sure what events have caused the engine failure. 2. my car shuts off while I'm driving. The steering wheel locks and I have to pull over to the shoulder, put the car in park and try to start the engine again. It has happened numerous times while driving on side roads under 40mph, but recently happened while I was driving on the highway at 60mph. This issue happens at least twice a week, sometimes repeatedly in the same day. This is a very dangerous problem because there is no warning signs that it is going to happen. I was very luck to be in the slow lane so I could pull over to the shoulder without having to weave through traffic without being able to control the car. 3. we have brought the car into two different repair shops and neither of them were able to pinpoint the problem. They gave us several "maybe" solutions, but were stumped as to what the true problem was. Possible solutions included fuel pump/line, ignition switch, etc., but without a sure fix we were unwilling to spend that kind of money for a "maybe" solution.

- Hopkins, MN, USA

My 2000 Oldsmobile Alero has had serious problems with it since purchasing it in June of 2002. To date, I have had to replace my waterpump, intake manifold gasket, tires, brakes and rotors consistently (three or more times ayear). The most recent problem is my gas gauge will indicate that I have 1/4 tank and to my surprise the car will not start unless more fuel is added. The engine also sounds rough, I have both service engine lights on, along with my low tire pressure, anti lock brake light on and I have new tires, replaced a gas cap, and the lights went off, but then come back on. I am also positive that my car will not pass inspection. The cosmetic defects are that of the dash board starting to peel and come loose. I have read up on that GM responded to a problem with all 2000 Oldsmobile Alero about the gas problem and I contacted the dealer dorschel and spoke with service manager lou, GM agreed to add a different filter so that the gas was draining back into the tank, it was also mentioned in the article that dealers could be fined thousands of dollars daily if not complied with, but because it was not an actual recall, the dealer denied my request to fix. After reading the multiple complaints about these vehicles, I am shocked that they have not been recalled, the should be as they are not safe cars in my opinion. I am challenging you to take a ride in my car with your family and see if you feel safe, because not only am I out 13,000 that I paid for the car, but also if I have to estimate probably another 6,000 in repairs. That is ridiculous. I expect a written response from your office within 30 days of what you intend to do to investigate these problems. Not only read my letter, but you should google in 2000 Oldsmobile Alero and see the disgust of performance people are complaining of.

- Nunda, NY, USA

At approximately 40,000 miles after having had the oil changed, my coolant light came on. When I took it to be checked (even though the fluids were all checked as part of the oil change), it was low. This happened each time I had the oil changed in the winter. Finally, in November I was told that it was a leak in the intake gasket.

- Arlington, VA, USA

I bought my olds, Alero used in July of 2002 and nothing but problems, it stalled on me on the interstate just a few months after I bought it. The mechanic said he fixed it only to get it back and stall again and again. I spent so much money on it trying to find out what was wrong. The mechanic didn't know and did not refund me my money. My lights on the dash stay on, the check engine light and the trac and water and oil change light. My cigarette lighter does not work again and the button you push in to put the stick shift in reverse has fallen off. The dash upholstery is messed up. The radio never came in right. I bought a lemon. Just the other day my car stalled again on the bridge and I was almost killed, my 13 year old daughter and my 13 year old niece were with me and they were crying scared, we were almost rear ended. I finally got it to start and made it to my house, my car was missing and making a popping noise. I started my car an hour later and it was fine. I need some help. What can I do? please email me back at sweetkallen@aol.com or call me on my cell#(225)802-0394.

- Port Allen, LA, USA

Leaking intake manifold gasket. Coolant and oil mixing together and loosing both. Have to keep refilling oil and water tank. Had this problem fixed at a cost of over $810. It should have been a recall issue back in March 2003 when Oldsmobile was aware of it.

- Florence, KY, USA

After experiencing loss of coolant in my 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, I was informed that I needed a new intake manifold gasket (it was leaking) which would cost almost $700 to fix. Although my vehicle is no longer under warranty, I feel that a leaking intake manifold is a premature repair for a vehicle only 5 years old and only 51000 mi. I have done some searching and know that I am not the only GM owner with this problem. This problem is obviously a manufacturer defect not to mention a potentially dangerous one. Any longer and I would have had a ruined engine that could have caught fire or stalled on the highway. GM needs to take responsibility for this problem.

- Norristown, PA, USA

2000 Oldsmobile Alero motor, ignition, fuel pump and catalytic converter had to be replaced.** answer required***. although the engine was replaced the check engine light remained illuminated. The turn signal don't work. The A/C only work on high. The vehicle shakes while idling. The brake pads have been replaced 2-3 times per year. The brakes were replaced the rotors had to be replaced.

- Norman, OK, USA

Engine blew. All the warnings lights are on across the dashboard. We bought this car used for our son and after having it for about a 18 months the engine blew. The dealer that fixed it said he should have paid attention to the warning light. My son changed the oil on time always and the lights never went out. Tried to get the lights out to no avail. Paid $2800 to have used engine put in by the dealer and the dash lights are still on. Some sort of electrical problem because heat/defroster only work on high even after replaced engine installed. This has been a nightmare for a young man with his first car.

- Dravosburg, PA, USA

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.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

The 3.4L V6 engine regularly lost coolant, and the reservoir had to be refilled about once a month. Also noticed thick white goo on the oil cap (but not on the oil dipstick), and heard a ticking sound after starting the engine, which went away after the engine warmed up. The dealer said the head gasket was leaking, and the repair cost $1,100. The engine had 53,000 miles at the time of the repair, which is well beyond the warranty, but this type of problem would have developed several thousand miles ago, before any symptoms were noticeable. It is very disappointing to have major engine work done with so few miles (also had to have serpentine belt replaced), especially when the Alero's sales brochure brags about "long life fluids, including coolant, that will last up to 100,000 miles or more." When the dealer replaced the head gasket, they said that replacement part is the same as the original (GM had not made any design changes to the part), so this will most likely be a recurring problem for the life of the engine. Overall, IM happy with the carS design and performance, but itS upsetting to have such high cost repairs on a car I plan to drive for several more years.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

I bought the car used in 2001 with 30K miles on it. I bought the extended warranty to carry me over to 75K miles. I first had to replace the ignition. Then I had to get a new fuel filter and fuel pump. I have had to replace the brake pads approx 4-5 times in 2 years. The rotors twice. They both need changed again. The air conditioner had to be serviced because the switch was broke and it was blowing air at all vents including the floor and windshield. Then, the motor went out. At approx 65K miles. A used motor was paid for by the warranty company and installed after sitting at the dealership for over a month. This was in January. At that same time the exhaust had went out. I was told my warranty would not cover it because it was not the catalytic converter it was a piece that hooked onto it. Finally after they replaced the motor the put a new catalytic converter in. Then comes the cd player. It ejects at random and skips. It also gives error codes frequently. Then I started having problems with the lights. The ABS light and the trac off light stay on along with the check engine light. I was told the check engine light was on because the fuel injectors were clogged. Well, yesterday I took the car in for a fuel injector cleaning and flush. I also had a tune up, oil change, tires rotated, air filter installed, new fuel filter, and new spark plugs. Still I am having a fuel problem of some sort. The car idles and misfires very badly. It shakes badly enough to make you nauseous. It also misfires when you speed up and sometime sputters like it does not want to go. This was after everything was done. Then I am told it sounds like my catalytic converter is going out again after only 8 months. They should be responsible for these problems. I would not say that but I have done extensive research online and found that every single complaint mentioned the brake system but 50% of them mention the fuel system and several mentioned the engine problems.

- Pauls Valley, OK, USA

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?

- Lancaster, NY, USA