Most common 2001 Oldsmobile Alero problems
Share of the 364 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Oldsmobile Alero complaints by model year
Best Alero years: 2004, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 2000, 1999, 2001. Compare all years →
2001 Oldsmobile Alero recalls (4)
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights › Switch
Certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that May experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard warning switch. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or…
Power train › Manual transmission
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles equipped with manual transaxles (rpo m86) fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 114, "theft protection." when a driver attempts to shift from 5th gear to reverse, a shift inhibitor causes the transmission to be mechanically in 4th gear even though the shift lever…
Remedy: Dealers will disable the 5th/reverse inhibitor by removing a retaining pin and replace the shifter assembly.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero:
Erratic fuel gauge
There is no summary currently available
Turn signal failures
By letter dated August 27, 2003, GM notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03V327) involving certain model year (my) 2000-2001 Chevrolet malibu, Oldsmobile alero, and Pontiac grand am.GM's recall covers 670,740 vehicles manufactured beginning February 1, 2000 through May 1, 2001 (alero and grand am) and February 1, 2000 through May 31, 2001 (malibu).GM reports that turn…
Erratic fuel gauge
Odi opened ea 02-028 to review complaints of consumers reporting that their fuel gauge was incorrectly displaying the amount of fuel in the gas tank.the fuel gauge receives an electrical signal from a fuel tank sending sensor circuit card.a float arm in the tank moves electrical contacts that rub against the card as the level of fuel rises and falls.disruption of the electrical signal (such as caused by corrosion of…
What 2001 Oldsmobile Alero owners say
Electrical system all 130 →
The contact owns a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The consumer stated the vehicle was junked 3 or 4 yrs ago because of the computer going out on the vehicle.
The car will shut off while driving/idling. There are no check engine lights. Took it to get the latest recall fixed that had to do with this and they just gave us new keys. It did not remedy the situation! Now we are paying to fix it because it is still shutting off while driving.
Lights all 68 →
The first time it stopped working, I thought maybe I had just a burned out signal lamp, but then it started working again. It was pretty random at first, but now it will not work at all, or it will start working blink twice and then just stop. It May be "dead" for a long while and then just start back up. Usually it just doesn't work at all anymore. I have driven down the highway with it turned on and it will be 5-10 minutes later and it will start blinking again. I see there is/was a recall for this exact problem, for model years 2000-2001 and I have a 2001, but they claim my vehicle is not part of the recall. The recall is 03V327000, or GM recall 03043a. The a was because they expanded it to include these two model years from an original recall. I talked to Oldsmobile directly and they say it is not part of the recall. …
Blinkers intermittently work. Every time I take it in for diagnosis and repair the blinkers work just fine and I can't get them to not work. Normally they will work immediately after turning on engine, then after a few turns stop working. Other times they will not work at all upon turning on engine. When the problem first began, I could turn on the left and right signal a few times and then the blinkers would work. Now it has gotten so bad this no longer works. My VIN falls just outside the recall number c258800 so a dealer is working with me to see if they can get it covered. This is a serious safety risk to yourself and other drivers! I have learned that the flasher assembly is generally what needs to be replaced which about $40.00 plus tax and labor. …
Engine & cooling all 61 →
The car will shut off while driving/idling. There are no check engine lights. Took it to get the latest recall fixed that had to do with this and they just gave us new keys. It did not remedy the situation! Now we are paying to fix it because it is still shutting off while driving.
After having recall of ign. Key performed, the key became hard to turn on, catching and having to wiggle to start the engine. Vehicle has stalled while driving 3 times, loosing power breaks and steering, coast to stop, and vehicle starts again. Feel this is directly connected and caused by the faulty key and ignition system, appears the faulty key has caused the tumbler to wear-out, and any jarring of the key and or dash results in ignition to shut off. I have contacted GM and they refuse to address the problem, saying this recall would not cause the system to fail.. Saying because of the high mileage on the vehicle, it is not there fault. And I must pay for the repair.. But I pray to differ, if the defective key and ign. Unit were not at fault, then the key/tumbler would not have worn-out.
2001 Oldsmobile Alero engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 29 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero a good car?
Based on 364 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Alero rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Alero at the same age. It is one of the Alero years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero?
The electrical system — 130 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › anti-theft › control module. Next are the lights (68) and engine & cooling (61).
How many recalls does the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, the most recent from July 3, 2014 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Oldsmobile Alero?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1999 and 2001. See the full Oldsmobile Alero years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Oldsmobile Alero problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.