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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  could-a-been-better - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TJ - December 6 - 2:00 am

  over all its a good car just poor build quality like the dash is rippled/ buckled, the fan blower only works on high, the blinkers work only when they want to. (have to fiddle with the emergency light button to make the blinkers work)

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  Great - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By spotgal - November 29 - 10:00 am

  I agree,when first driving it,fell in love, but the cupholder is just above the gear shift. pinched my fingers,but overall once you get used to that, and purchase a smaller coffee cup....everything is wonderful!

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  Alero consumer - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Rosebud - November 27 - 10:00 am

  My alero has been reliable and economical. I like the design and it has many features for a small car. Overall impression is very favorable

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  Owner - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By A - November 26 - 3:46 pm

  My 1999 Oldsmobile Alero has 102,000 miles and the motor is gone. I had to replace the wheel barings 2 times in the 4 years that Ive had it. The power windows not very reliable and are very expensive to fix. Basicly, every 6 months there was something wrong with it. I fell in love with the car the first time I saw it. Its very fun to drive.

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  Stay away from GM - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Patrick - November 26 - 12:50 pm

  Major repairs: Transmission blew up at 95,000 miles, although 80% of my driving is on the highway. Replaced fuel pump at 60,000. Minor repairs: Two stuck front calipers. 1 front wheel bearing, intermittent driver side power window. Leaking intake gasket and transmission gasket. Power steering hose disconnected. Fan resistor replaced twice. I do expect the car to have some things to fix once in a while, but I do not accept a premature transmission or fuel pump failure. GM, you fooled me.

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  Not bad for a cheap american car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By manicstoic - November 20 - 2:00 am

  Have owned an Alero for three years and 45,000 miles. Cons: cramped, questionable quality on interior design -- have had a couple of things break on me. Pros -- no repairs, knock on wood. Has been reliable, good gas mileage, pretty good acceleration for a 4 cyl -- better than our 2001 Altima. Actually, more fun to drive than the Altima, too.

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  Good and Bad - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Dave - November 12 - 9:10 pm

  Have owned this alero for a few years now, and its been a pretty good car overall. Only true repairs were the LIM gasket and one of the wheel hubs. Otherwise no major problems...BUT...the security system acted up once, preventing us from starting the car, costing a new starter till we figured it out. The paint on the hood is terrible, the rear doors are rusting, and the rear quarter panels are rusting too. The plastic is flaking off the interior in places. The dashboard is starting to bubble. The "low tire pressure" light is on constantly. Most importantly, it starts every day, and even with the V6, I got 27 mpg on the last tank, which was mixed driving. Nice car, but...

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  Great Ride - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ethan - October 30 - 8:20 am

  we bought this car with around 15,000 miles on it, and there is now around 96,000 on it, and the only thing i have ever had to do to it is have the passlock replaced and brakes, never one single problem with this car ever. this has to be one of the most reliable, bang for the buck, i have ever purchaced. i have even put on a magnaflow cat back and a K&N intake on it and watched the MPG rise even higher, on high way i can manage over 30+ mpg and i even have a V-6 and over 200hp now. if your in the market for a great car and by the years passing pretty cheap now. jump on it. im 26 and this is my 15th car and best one to date for reliability.

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  Very fun!! I love mine! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By mysticachica - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive loved it, its great for families, or people just starting out! Tons of space. Had a few problems, but normal things that any car would have! Very cheap in price, but pretty good quality.

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  Ryanz review - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ryanz - October 9 - 2:03 pm

  This car has been a great car. Very little problems. The car has 128,000 on it. The expected fixes like brakes, tune up. The only major fix was getting new suspension from the very, very bumpy roads.