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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  I HATE THIS CAR - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ashley Dawn - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Since I have bought this car I have spent over $6,000 in repairs. In fact, right now Im having my engine rebuilt. I thought this was a low maintenance car. Sell yours while you can.

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  Cutlass - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By TGarvey - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Has a problem with fuel injectors, they have been cleaned 3 times and replace twice in a year a half period. Have spoken with GM and will not acknowledge a problem with them. If I have had problem with the fuel injectors the car is a great ride and is overall good but would never recommend a General Motors product. The car is roomy and has a spacious trunk.

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  Straight Up Lemon - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By reddstunta - June 29 - 2:00 am

  This car is junk and was made too fast. The only good thing is that I have not had any motor problems. The inside is garbage, my top light just fell down, my driver side window borke twice, sometimes it does not crank, the rubber around the windshield is continuing coming up. The worse of all the dash board is coming up and look all wrinkle. This car is a lemon and practically worthless. It had a nice body style and outer appeal but it toatal garbage. I will never buy another. I hate this car, there is a new problem with it constantly.

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  Bad money after bad - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By broke down - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Had problems with this car from the get go. Weve replaced the transmission, front differntial, bearings, fuel injectors, etc. I keep thinking that the car should be brand new by now, but like clockwork once a quater it is in the shop with a $1,000 plus bill. I could save for a new car if it would just run a few months without a mechanics bill.

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  Dont Bother - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Skip - June 12 - 10:40 am

  With 2 young children, thought we HAD to have a minivan. Shouldnt have been this one. Heated seats gave up within first 3 months. Fan control resistor at 5 months. A/C condenser cracked at 70K miles. Intake gasket started leaking at 80K. Poor build quality, and the noisiest highway vehicle Ive driven since my 76 K5 Blazer.

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  You will be sorry if you purchase Alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Stevfonso - May 29 - 10:00 am

  After one week of ownership car was back to dealer for 7 problems. Everything was not fixed or problems have returned. Dealership has the worst customer service I have ever experienced. When you experience several problems from your Alero, dont expect any help from the No Customer Service Assistance Center. Beware of the brakes, steering wheel shakes and vibrates in your hands. GM knows about this problem, but who knows what they are doing about it? The V-6 is only good for low-end power. The gas mileage is horrible for this size car 23mpg while driving mostly on the expressway.

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  This sad old Alero - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Brian - May 20 - 12:00 am

  This is the worst vehicle that I have ever owned. Thank God we bought a extended warranty. The starter went bad, fly wheel cracked, passenger electric widow stopped working, leaked gas from the engine, power steering started to leak, oil was getting into radiator, passenger door leaked when it rained, passlock theft security went bad. We traded car off before the extended warranty was up. Vehicles like this make you really think about ever buying a GM vehicle again. You pay good money for a vehicle and this is what you get.

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  Keep looking. - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Keith Colledge - March 27 - 5:47 am

  119K when I bought it, so far I have redone the rear brakes, one wheel bearing, numerous lights, major and with no warning oil leak,thermostat, tie rod end,and battery. Im told it needs a rack and pinion, ($800) and the crankshaft position sensor keeps malfunctioning. All in 3 years, 17K miles.