Fuel System complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
"Takata recall" I was having trouble startting my car so I went to auto dealership and bought a key which cost $38.. It worked great for maybe a month. Then I took my car to car wash and turned the ignation switch off and got out of car. When I was ready to go, the car would not start. Had to hire a wreaker to haul it to the house. The car still won't start.
2004 Oldsmobile Alero ongoing problems with turn signals and hazards inoperable most of the time. Most electrical components fail at times. Window regulator failed. Rear door locks have to play with remote locks before door opens acts as though child safety locks are on can not open door from in or out. Eventually after pushing on remote lock it opens. Brakes always grinding even after replacements. Engine has also, ticked not knock just ticking since I've purchased the car. Many times the car does not start first try after second it starts but all electrical has to reset example radio, clock ect.
Purchased vehicle August 2003 at 29,000 miles. Front left wheel bearing bad just inside warranty time - under 36,000 miles. Shortly after, front right wheel bearing went bad - not in warranty. Now at 129,000 miles, front left wheel bearing is bad again. Not using OEM equipment this time as it isn't cost effective to pay for OEM equipment - when it obviously lacks quality. I'm assuming my front right wheel bearing will go bad soon - better start saving for that repair! Next issue - horn blows without provocation and will not stop - 3:00 in the morning. Next issue: fuel issue, where you have to turn the key to the on position for 10 minutes then car will start. Does not happen all the time but usually when you do not have the extra 10 minutes.
Vehicle lost power while driving on three occasions. On other occasions, the vehicle would not start after turning over. Three repair shops could not find the problem but the general consensus was that it had to do with the fuel delivery system. Many identical complaints can be found online (I.e., carcomplaints.com) and everything from replacing the fuel pumps, relay switches, batteries, anti-theft systems to washing out the fuel tank has been tried to know avail. The shop cannot fix the problem, and it will be hard to sell the car honestly with the problems it has. There is a mass of people who believe this should be a recall from the factory, and although I doubt it makes any difference, I am one more person in that mass.
Kept cutting off won't stay crunk long ignition is jammed loud screeching noises from the springs alternator might be the reason electrical issues fuel pump I had to leave my car at a friend's place I'm not working due to the COVID pandemic not able to afford repairs I really need my transportation someone referred me to this site
These cars are nightmares. I replaced the intake manifold gasket (extremely common issue, well documented online), the oil pressure sensor broke off the engine and leaked all of oil out, replaced the thermostat, learned how to deal with a constantly defective security system (passlock defect causes a no start, extremely common and well documented online), and now the car will crank but not fire (also extremely common, but due to the nature of the problem, the online resources can only provide one of a hundred different places to start attempting to diagnose). A no start should not require a mechanic to throw a full battery of tests at the car. There is no way this car should have been legal to sell, it is a money pit and a hazard to anybody around them. …
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. …
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
NHTSA investigations
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Odi opened pe02-066 to evaluate the scope and consequence of engine power-loss due to fuel starvation induced by in-tank modular fuel pump strainer restriction.the subject pumps use an external ?sock? Strainer to filter fuel flowing to the pump inlet.this filter can sometimes become clogged, resulting in a reduced flow of fuel to the engine.GM has subsequently modified the strainers to reduce this…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Alero years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (41), 1999 (32), 2000 (31), 2002 (18) and 2003 (11) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Oldsmobile Alero fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for any Oldsmobile Alero model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Oldsmobile Alero fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles; 26% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery › fuel pump (23 mentions), followed by the fuel injection system (8).
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.