Overview & Reviews

At the dawn of the automobile, Oldsmobile was there. Owned by General Motors, Oldsmobile was the most senior domestic marque and one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, with a run that spanned some 107 years.

Ransom E. Olds was born in Ohio, but moved to Lansing, Michigan, to work in his father's machine shop. His experiences there helped whet his appetite for all things automotive, and he soon garnered enough expertise to develop a gasoline-powered vehicle. Joining forces with other partners, Olds cofounded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. By the early 1900s, the company had introduced the nation to upscale models like the Curved Dash and had risen to become the best-selling car company in the United States.

Ransom Olds eventually left the company and it was sold to General Motors in 1908, where it became known as the Oldsmobile Division. More than ever, Oldsmobile became the brand of choice for car buyers seeking vehicles steeped in luxury and sophistication. Early models like the 1915 Model 42 Touring Roadster offered sleek lines and style aplenty. The 1918 Model 37 was its first model to offer a closed top, ensuring that the brand's well-heeled buyers had protection from the elements.

Oldsmobile had another hit in the 1920s with the Model 46, a V8-powered touring car that seated seven. The manufacturer did its part to make sure that the decade's elegance wasn't lost on its automobiles. It introduced fancy chrome-plated trim that served to raise the glamour quotient of its already eye-catching vehicles.

The '30s was a decade of innovation for the brand. The company wooed customers with its "Knee-Action" independent front suspension, an affordably priced option that served to improve ride quality. The company also offered one of the earliest automatic transmissions, freeing drivers from the rigors of the clutch with its four-speed "Hydra-matic" system.

Postwar, Oldsmobile gave consumers the Rocket 88. The car offered new levels of performance, giving the North American market its first taste of the short-stroke, overhead-valve V8. The car was adored by enthusiasts, and was chosen to serve as the pace car for the 1949 Indy 500.

The 1950s saw Olds continuing to distinguish itself as a purveyor of fine performance machines. With a name inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, its 1953 Starfire show car offered a fiberglass body, a stylishly low beltline and most importantly, a 200-horsepower engine. The car was one of the first to display a wraparound windshield, and in the years following, many other manufacturers adopted this styling cue.

Oldsmobile's innovations continued into the 1960s. The manufacturer was the first since the 1930s Cord to taste success with a front-wheel-drive vehicle, in the form of its sporty Toronado. The '70s saw Olds breaking new ground in the area of safety. In 1974, it introduced a Toronado equipped with a driver-side airbag; Olds was the first domestic automaker to offer this feature. Around this time, the company's Cutlass had also become one of America's favorite cars.

Less successful was the company's effort to get on board with diesel technology. In 1978, Oldsmobile introduced a 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine as a response to that decade's fuel crisis; the engine was meant to appeal to buyers desperate to save money at the pump. Rising diesel prices and the unreliability of the engines caused the program to suffer, and Oldsmobile was eventually forced to terminate its efforts on this front.

In the '80s, Oldsmobile left its competitors in the dust when its Aerotech — piloted by noted racecar driver A.J. Foyt — set a closed-course world speed record of 257 mph. The company continued to have a huge hit with its Cutlass; the model spent much of the decade atop the sales charts.

The '90s saw Oldsmobile's introduction of Guidestar, the first onboard navigation system combining mapping and satellite positioning. The company made history yet again when its race-modified Aurora V8 won the Indy 500, making Olds the first manufacturer to pace and win the race in the same year.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Oldsmobile's sales were in a rut. The brand's identity had suffered over the years due to parts-sharing and rebadging within the GM camp. GM ultimately decided to pull the plug, and the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in model-year 2004.

User Reviews:

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  Pretty Bad Car option - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By markcan - December 24 - 10:00 am

  One of the worst cars I have ever purchased as a sales rep on the road.

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  PROBLEMS PROBLEMS PROBLEMS - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Garyca - April 14 - 10:46 am

  Purchased 2004 replaced the following: -2004 trans, fuel pump -2005 alternator, cam sensor -2006 coolant reservoir, starter -2008 crank sensor -2008 rack and pinion (pwr steering) -2008 all 4 pwr window switches -2008/9 4 pwr window regulators -2009 stereo, water pump, tensioner pulley and idler pulley -2010 instrument panel, rear view mirror, cracked stereo bezel, visors (covers are falling off), all speakers (all dead), pwr window weather strip, valve cover gaskets (oil leak, main pwr wndow switch, climate control, blower motor resistor, blower motor (rusted), a/c compressor. Worst vehicle ever built, this is why gm is failing.

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  Very unhappy - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Very unhappy - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car not knowing what I was doing...the transmission went out on us 1 year after purchace. The heating system went out along with several other machanical problems. I will never by another GM again!

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  Lemon - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Craig L. in IL - August 26 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I purchased this vehicle for peace of mind. We were so wrong. In 1 1/2 years of ownership our Bravada has spent over 100 documented days in the service shop. Here is a list of our problems. Doors racked, bad A arm, bad heated sets, air and heat not working, replaced throttle body, worn weatherstrip, hesitation, bucking, bad transfer case control module affecting the AWD, fading rubber trim, replaced brake pads and rotors at 20,000 mi. You name it, it has happened to this vehicle. I will never buy another GM vehicle. We took our case to court and won. Dont be afraid to go for it if you have problems.

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  Oldsmobile NEEDS to Replace every Alero - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Becky - August 14 - 3:33 am

  I bought my vehicle in June of 2002, thus far I have replaced brakes, rotors, intake gasket, waterpump, fuel filter, power steering pump, and now my transmission is slipping, have any of you realized that there is n o way to check the transmission fluid on your own? Not to mention the tires I have had to replace. The dashboard is raised due to sun damage. It appears to me that a bunch of monkeys could have done better when they decided to build this car. I had contacted Oldsmobile many times and they seem quite content that a bunch of fools like us made them rich. The car is paid for, but the repair bills are adding up. I will NEVER buy AMerican Made Again!!!!!!!

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  No More AJ (American Junk) - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By NoMoreAJ - May 21 - 10:00 am

  When we bought the car the gas gauge didnt work. My wife found this out the 2nd day of ownership when the thing ran out of gas. The alternator went out. The front brake calipers froze. the fornt steering linkages all needed to be replaced. The ball joints went bad. Then the transmission started to go... And thats when the Bravada had to go. We traded it in for a 2003 Toyota Highlander. The Highlander is a beautiful car. The Bravada is the last American car I will ever buy. We have a 2002 mustang. We cant wait to unload that turkey before it lets go. The battle cry in our household is "NO MORE AJ (American Junk)" .

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  Test driver - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By ssomers - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I an A test driver for General Motors. I paid for this when I bought a New Oldsmobile. This cas has been back to the dealer eight times now. Mr Goodwrench makes the problems worse, as often an making them better. No more GM cars for me.

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  Stay away - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By A real waste - April 1 - 3:03 am

  I bought this car new, at the time when olds was thinking of discontinuing the line. From year four (after the warranty - mileage over)to present, it has cost me $5K to $7K per year in repairs. It is a sink hole. Everything from not starting when it feels like it to not being able to turn the wheel without major vibrations. Everything was changed. I should have given up a long time ago.

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  Aleros are death traps - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Sherri Bett - January 8 - 3:43 am

  My brake pedal went to the floor a lot and I almost got seriously hurt in 2000 with this thing. The mechanics kept fixing the brakes and a month later Id be back at the shop.

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  worse car ever - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dale - July 27 - 8:03 pm

  this car is the biggest pos ever...fuel pump went out...now the brakes suck big time...cant figure why the brakes freeze up....would never tell anyone to buy one.....DO NOT BUY