Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Oldsmobile Alero owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving on a gravel road at 30 miles per hour when steering and brakes did not work went in the ditch just about flipped the car the ins company said to bad can not do nothing the recall ended that night to late.
While driving in icy conditions, I momentarily lost traction. The power to the engine immediately shut off, causing me to lose power steering and brakes. My car spun about three times, and I finally came to a stop facing traffic. Thankfully, the road was empty, so I was not injured. I am especially worried because my car is part of gms recall, but is not eligible for a new ignition cylinder. GM claims that a new key will fix my problem, but there was nothing on my key at the time of the incident, so I know this is a lie. GM is continuing to endanger the lives of its customers by not fully addressing this defect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and smoke emitted from the front of the vehicle. All of the warning indicators on the instrument panel illuminated and the front end of the vehicle caught fire. The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Key gets stuck in ignition now I can't even turn the car on to take it to dealership to have recall taken care of- beeping will not stop when key is removed and car battery drained. Key also gets hot when in ignition
I bought a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero in July of 2003. Within 2 months of purchase my power steering started to leak fluid. Since that date I have taken it to various shops to check the problem. Two mechanics state that it's the rack and pinion that needs to be replaced, while two others changed out a hose and the power steering reservoir itself. After having these two "problems" were fixed I am still putting in power steering fluid on a daily basis. This is an extreme fire hazard and I am tired of putting out money when it it obvious that I am not the only person out there that is experience problems with the rack and pinion on their Alero.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while entering a residential driveway, there was an abnormal popping sound heard from the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a certified mechanic who advised that the steering column was fractured and the fuel lines were cracked which caused fuel to be spilled. The dealer was contacted and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 189,000. The dealer was made aware of the problem. Also the sales man had been contacted and told the car had issues. Updated 11/09/2011
Car shuts off while driving at all speeds. All power is lost (including steering). Sometimes (while driving on the highway) it turns itself back on after a few seconds - and I keep on driving, sometimes I can shift to neutral and restart and shift back to drive, but usually I have to turn my hazard lights on and mussel the steering wheel off to the shoulder and try to restart it. Then - the 'security' light is on and it won't let me start the car. I've found countless posts online about this problem. I can't believe there isn't a recall. Isn't GM being sued for a very similar problem?
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. 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from under the hood as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the under carriage and brake lines needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 187,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 10/02/14 the consumer stated the front suspension cross member is rusted and steering box is now loose. Updated 03/2/2015
Regarding 2000 Oldsmobile Alero: experienced steering failure when making right turns. Steering would completely lock when making right turns at slow speeds and when making slight steering adjustments to the right even at high speeds. Car was not drivable. I have seen recalls on several other GM vehicles (different model years) for the same problem. I had to replace the rack and pinion unit, costing over $950. If this is a common problem in GM vehicles, then why is there not a recall?
Steering complaints in other Alero years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the steering of the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, 4% of the model year's 557 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Oldsmobile Alero steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Oldsmobile Alero steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 144,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.