Overview & Reviews

Following a string of truly forgettable small-car efforts in the 1980s and '90s, Oldsmobile celebrated its centennial anniversary by introducing the all-new Alero to compete with the popular and well-established import competition of the day. While it failed to truly capture the hearts and minds of consumers or chalk up many conquest sales, Olds' small car story ended on an upbeat note with a stylish and decently designed effort.

Available as a sedan or coupe, the Oldsmobile Alero was considered by most to be a sporty-looking car thanks to its bulging wheelwells, sleek greenhouse, fluted side panels and large jewellike taillights. The front-drive Alero was also relatively entertaining to drive. Buyers could choose four-cylinder or V6 power. Initially, the Alero came with an automatic transmission only, but a five-speed manual eventually made an appearance.

Handling was nicely balanced and braking was strong. Inside, an artfully designed two-tone dash faced comfortable front seats that were firm and supportive. All controls were easy to see and use, with large knobs and buttons. Unfortunately, all-around refinement didn't match that of the leading imports.

The phase-out of the Oldsmobile brand spelled the end for the Alero. For a shopper interested in an affordable used coupe or sedan from the early 2000s, the Oldsmobile Alero should do nicely as long as one is aware of the car's faults and lame-duck heritage. Service can be handled at select GM dealerships -- you might want to focus on Pontiac, as the Alero was mechanically similar to the Grand Am.

Most Recent Oldsmobile Alero

The Oldsmobile Alero debuted in 1999 as a replacement for the slow-selling Achieva. Coupe and sedan body styles were offered, as were three main trim levels: entry-level GX, midgrade GL and top-line GLS. GX and GL models came standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that made 150 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Optional on GL and standard on GLS was a 3.4-liter V6 that made 170 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission choice at the time was a four-speed automatic.

Incremental improvements saw it through the next several years. A year after the car's debut, Olds offered a sport-tuned suspension package for the GL. For 2001, an optional five-speed manual transmission became available on four-cylinder models, and the car's antilock braking system was updated. If you're looking at four-cylinder Aleros, take note that for 2002 Oldsmobile replaced the 2.4-liter engine with a quieter and more fuel-efficient 2.2-liter engine. It made 140 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque.

Inside, we found the Oldsmobile Alero offered a user-friendly control layout and seats that were generally comfortable -- though materials quality throughout was a step or two behind that of competing imports; even the leather in the GLS looked and felt too much like vinyl. For those with lots to carry, though, both the coupe and sedan offered a generous 14.6 cubic feet of trunk capacity.

Although neither engine was particularly quiet, the four-cylinder provided adequate power in most situations while the V6 delivered spirited performance. The Alero's suspension tuning was firm and allowed some fun around twists and turns, yet ride quality remained smooth enough to make the Olds suitable for weekday commuting. The steering offered little in the way of road feel, however, and the brakes were strong but could be difficult to modulate due to an overly stiff pedal.

User Reviews:

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  I think my alero is a great car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By halpain - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had my alero for years now it was mine to begin with now its my sisters and she is enjoying it as much as i did it runs great....we go out of town alot and i know my alero isnt going to leave me stranded i love it and i recommend it to anyone

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  2003 Olds Alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JAMMINJED - October 12 - 11:06 pm

  Its been a great vehicle. It has a sporty feel to it even with the 4 cyl engine. I can get from 0-60 in about 7 seconds easy. Its not bad for only 140hp and a heavier car than most with this size of engine. I love the sharp turns and handling.

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  Maybe the last - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ae3beck - October 10 - 10:00 am

  My father works for GM, so I decided to go with this car, but even with an employee discount you will lose BIG on resale value. GM customer service is terrible. I have never seen someone give this kind of service after you spend $20K on there product, never, they act like you should prove problems with the car were not caused by you. I am looking to get rid of this car before my resale drops another 8 thousand dollars, thats what it did the first year we owned it.

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  A Good Car at a Reasonable Price - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By David - September 28 - 12:16 am

  I bought my Alero GLS new. The included 5-year/60,000 mile total warranty offer is what convinced me to buy it over a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry. I have been totally pleased. There are small annoyances: too much road noise, the front cup holder, and a few too many (warranted) repairs. But the car is a blast to drive, and I felt I got a lot of car for much less money than I would have paid for either of the other cars. My greatest complaint is the long start / two-try start which the dealer says is normal. It isnt, and its embarrassing. Overall a very good value over the 4 years I have now owned it. If they were still made, Id probably buy another in a year or so.

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  2 Year Review - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By donutman - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This car has been very reliable over the two years I have owned it. I have not incured any breakdowns...yet. The car has had two problems, one of which the dealer resolved. The outside mirrors would vibrate while driving. This was solved by replacing both mirrors with parts of a newer design. The dealer has been unsuccesful in finding and removing any of the rattles and buzzes in the interior of the car. They were also not able to get rid of a strange sizzling type of noise from the back seat area caused by driving on wet surfaces.

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  Fun Car, but Buyer Beware - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By T - September 7 - 2:30 pm

  I bought my 1999 Oldsmobile Alero new in 2000 and only put on about 5,000 - 5,500 miles a year on it. The car has had no major problems other than the brakes which I have had to replace three times. Specifically, I replaced the brake pads three times and rotars once on all four wheels ($500.00 total). This is not too bad considering the car has been driven for six years. UNTIL.... the car hit 36,000 miles (funny right after the warranty ran out). The transmission went and it cost $1,900.00 to fix. There has been problems with the seals and gaskets to the tune of $400.00 and now it is in the shop for the alternator. This is all within the last 400 miles after turning 36,000. So, buyer beware. The car handles great, has awesome speed, and I love the ride - it is fun, but it only has so much life in it!!

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  Head Gasket - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By zig - September 5 - 8:53 pm

  This has been a good vehicle overall, but have had some problems with brakes. I just had to put a head gasket in this motor with 50,000 miles on it, GM warranty did cover the repair cost.

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  Best Car I Have Owned - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By td121402 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  The Alero is a great car. Without a doubt I am off the chart when it comes to miles driven/year. I bought my Alero with 23000 miles and within 12.5 months have 60000 miles on the odometer. If anyone can give an evaluation of a cars durability I can. When I bought the car the rotors were slightly warped. The dealer fixed the problem before I picked the car up. I only mention this because others on this site have mentioned rotor problems with this car. The problem has not returned in 36000 miles. No other problems

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  My Alero Experience - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By lisa - August 6 - 10:00 am

  This car is stylish and fun to drive - when it works. My brakes have been replaced 5 times, last time they put a special GM "kit" on so that it wont happen again. I have replaced the drive belt twice, the power steering pump twice, my radio antenna and air conditioning recently stopped working and Im tired of throwing money into it. I had one minor bumper scrape, it was expensive to fix, but it held up very well in the accident. Id say it was a lemon, but I am not the only person with these problems.

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  Not to happy - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jasonvqmzm2 - July 25 - 9:51 am

  Bought the car this year, 2014. Had 144k miles on the car at purchase. Fuel pump went out at 146k and found it had been replaced before. Now, the anti-theft system is kicking in when going down the hwy and killing the engine. Ignition switch is jamming up and have to wiggle key to turn and start the car. Being told now that the ignition lock cylinder can fail causing anti-theft system fault and no start conditions. Have towed car home twice in last month because of this problem. GM wont issue a recall on this because they claim it isnt a safety issue. What is safe about your engine cutting off, going 70 mph on the interstate?