Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Oldsmobile Alero owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I plugged in the cigarette lighter and about thirty seconds after I lit my cigarette the wires behind the dash(instrument panel) began to smoke and caught fire. The wire coverings was burnt off to show bare wires shorting my entire car. The fuse located under the hood in the fuse relay center that went to the cigarette lighter was melted and burnt into the relay box. No electrical in my entire car works!!!
Was involved in a frontal collision on 3/5/03 and the air bags failed to deploy in my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. I was traveling 40-45 MPH southbound on scottsdale rd when another car turned left in front of me. The impact bent the impact bars, moved my compressor to the other side of the vehicle, hood, bumper, fender damage, the preliminary estimate without doing a tear down is at $5000.00. I have suffered neck, shoulder and leg injuries. I contacted GM and they said a certified GM rep will go look at the car and take pictures and will contact me on the 29th. I received a call from a man who did not identify himself at the dealer ship and said he was a private investigator for GM and down loaded the info off the computer in the car and the air bag should not have gone off, and told me I need to have them start repairing the vehicle immediately. …
I noticed during the thanksgiving holiday 2014 that my turn signals work when they want to . I was turning right and my mom was riding with me when she noticed that my turn signals was not working left or right. So we made it to our doctors appointment and when we were leaving they working . It's weird because by changing the bulbs the turn signals are still going in and out when they want too. And we noticed light fluid leakage but it was not leaking in November when I brought my very own first car for cash and I had the oil changed so I took it back to jiffy lubes and the tech could not find a problem, this week January 21, 2014 my steering wheel is making this strange whistling noise when I make a turn, and my security light has came on and will not go off. So I decided to check the safety GM recall listing for help.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. While traveling 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle immediately accelerated to 80 MPH and then slowed back down. When the contact stopped to get fuel, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the fuel pump failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic who stated that the ignition switch, casing, and relay switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failures ceased. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign numbers: 07e021000 (fuel system) and 03V327000 (exterior lighting). The failure mileage was 43,000. Updated 8/21/15 updated 10/18/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that the ignition failed and caused the engine to stall while driving 55 MPH. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the guardrail. The contact suffered injuries to the left shoulder and neck, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The driver was able to restart the engine and the vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system) in September of 2014; however, the part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available.
I recently had my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero key ignition fail me. I had the recall done on the keys. All they did was put a plastic key cover on my keys. I got stranded due to my "new" keys not allowing my key ignition to turn over at all. I started to do research and have found many complaints that GM won't fix the ignition problem just drills a hole in the top of the key to make it seem lighter in weight and then just covers the original key with plastic. I can't afford this kind of thing happening. I was stranded for several hours due to this. What if this happens to someone with children?
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving at low speeds, the engine stalled and the power steering seized without warning. The vehicle crashed into a pole. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and declined to repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Related recalls
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.
Electrical complaints in other Alero years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA has 130 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, 36% of the model year's 364 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › anti-theft › control module (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-400 (ignition, Jul 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 3 fires and 3 injuries and 1 death to electrical system 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.