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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  Go alero - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Chris - August 4 - 6:04 am

  Bought my alero 5 years ago at 230k it's at 250k now and going strong good solid car

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  Do not buy this car! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Caseyc - December 29 - 2:00 am

  This car is mediocre at best. I have had numberous problems with this car. In the 3 years I have owned this car, I have replaced the brakes 5 times, the cruise quit working, the middle overhead light pops out and falls out on occasion, the upholstry on the dash has begun to pull up, both of the electric front windows have broke twice, the right front sun visor clip broke and my blinkers quit working. I definitely would not recommend purchasing this vehicle.

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  Buyer beware - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By macinman - November 28 - 4:06 pm

  I bought this car back in February and the thing has since blown up, only had 120,000 miles on when died, things that went wrong were the intake manifold, head gasket, fuel pump, transmission started to slip, and many many small problems.

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  Bad mistake - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rnschooltigger2007 - November 1 - 7:13 am

  When I bought this car in 2001, I loved it, the sun roof, the V6 engine, the cornering...... things soon started to unravel. The car goes through pads and rotors about every 20,000 miles, i have had to replace front pads and rotors at least 6 times already. Some of the major repairs I have had (which I have never had with any other Japanese/Asian car) 1. head gasket seal - $700 (need again) 2. In take manifold - $700 3. Catalytic converter - $663 4. car alarm ignition kill switch sensor $480 5. Power steering pump $220 (which needs to be replaced AGAIN) 6. Direction signal relay switch $480 7. Power window regulator $280 Thank god my dad works for GM & I got a $3200 discount

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  Nice Ride! - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Temperob - August 29 - 2:00 am

  Well I just traded in my 98 Ford Contour Sport on a used 03 Alero. I was very happy with the Ford but this GM is making me smile every time I drive it. The brakes are a bit numb but they work like a champ, and the steering is a little vague but when driven hard this car really comes to life. It has a nice ride quality and a very pleasing exhaust note. So pretty much you can tool around down with the family or drive thought the canyon roads with confidence, good blend of Sport and Economy.

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  LEMON CAR - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By bethany - August 18 - 10:00 am

  3.4L v6. 03/00 75633mls, leather interior, 11,000 from a dealership the biggest mistake i made. Nice looking car, but the quality sucks! Lets see the cruise control doesnt work, half the time my blinker lights go out, upholstry on the dashboard is peeling, something wrong with the gas gauge, passenger side window dropped down, the cd player goes out sometimes, coolant leaks, passenger side door is hard to open, twice the engine had to be fixed, sometimes the engine doest turn over, no matter how much or how many time you refill the coolant the coolant light doesnt go off. i think because of the coolant problem the engine makes noises.

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  big mistake - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By shelby - August 16 - 3:56 am

  I have had this car for only 3 or so years and have already had to change the fuel pump (2x) brake pads (4x) power window regualutor (2x) and already have to do that again! Ive already had alot of problems w/ the security system which causes it not to start and i have to take it in and get the whole system reset. power steering pump went out, wheel bearing needs to be fixed. my service engine light, anti-lock brake light and change oil light are always on. this car has costed me alot of time, inconvenience and money.

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  No more GM cars! - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Luke - July 10 - 12:26 pm

  Bought this car used at about 60,000 miles and have put on another 60,000 driving to school/work. Driving and fuel efficiency arent bad (although theres a big difference between winter and summer MPGs), but maintenance is a constant headache. I was actually vindicated to read on some of these other reviews about problems Ive had: the leaky gasket issue, wheel bearings, starters, etc. Overall a sub-par vehicle which was obviously designed to last about 70-80 thousand miles and then be thrown away. Next car: something dependable like a Toyota or Honda - if my Alero is still worth anything at trade in when I can finally pay off the loan, that is.

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  Love The Look - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By john2551 - June 26 - 7:53 am

  I purchased a 2000 Bravada about three months ago. It only had 55,000 miles on it and was a good deal (so I thought). It looks and drives good but I cant depend on it at all. I just had 2,000 in repairs for the differential, and now the air conditioner is going bad. I love the car but I should have known better then to buy it, I just didnt want an Explorer or a Mountineer.

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  Nice Looking, but it stops there - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Vaughn31 - May 17 - 7:06 am

  I bought my 2dr Alero 3.4L GLS, Gold Package Alero used in 2003 with 15,000 km. I am now at 98,000 km and have had all the Alero problems. The window motor regulator went twice, brakes and rotors 3-4 times now, hub assembly twice, intake manifold gasket, head gasket, ignition failure, broken seat. Several things. I love driving the car, it has good V6 power, a sunroof, and looks nice with the Gold package, but I am not sure what to do with now. I am still paying for it, but am thinking of cutting my losses and buying a HONDA!