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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  So far so good - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By sharon - April 24 - 1:33 pm

  My alero 2003 has been so far pretty good. Going on a 2,000 mile trip within the next couple of days. Only problem I have is front driver side tire seems to have problems - rotate every 2,500 miles and gas mileage not the greatest. Used to buy Fords but they have the worst paint jobs in my opinion. Rust out. Chevs never have rusted; my dad always bought Oldsmobile so thought I would take his advise.

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  Loser - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By vinesman - March 19 - 2:00 am

  We had high hopes for our Premiere, having had GM pull us out of our former Chevy Venture lease. It has been a reliability nightmare. The ventilation system does not deliver the same temp of air between the front and back (almost 25 degree diff). GM master techs cannot correct it. The alternator has died four times, and still the vehicle has issues. We also have a 2 inch pile of service invoices for over two dozen nickel and dime repairs. At first, we thought we had the perfect minivan loaded at the right price. Buyer beware - Olds phaseout plays appears to be impacting quality. Bottom line - look elsewhere.

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  oldsmobile alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By juanv87 - March 3 - 5:19 pm

  seriously i dont recomend this vehicle to no one i bougth my car in 2010 since them i bee having too many problems this is the worse car ever, they should have a recall for this vehicle

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  Awful Car - couldnt sell it fast enough - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By az66bug - February 15 - 6:09 am

  Last GM car I will ever buy, was a loyal GM fan until this piece of crap. These cars were around $40K new and 7 years old and could barely get $4500 with 96,000 miles on it - although Id probably would have gave it away as much as I hated it. The 4.0 v8 always leaked oil - the oil pan gasket at $1500 a pop to replace; replaced water pump twice, struts were going, power steering leaked, sunroof broke and countless other problems. The only good thing Id say is that it was comfortable and some what stylish design. Unless you get this car for free, Id stay far way from this car, it will suck every penny out of you. To those with a great experience with this car - congrats and lucky you.

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  Glad I bought the Extended Warranty - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Bill - January 29 - 4:40 am

  I bought this car with 12K miles on it. Came off of a fleet lease. No problems the first year. In the 2nd year had to replace right front wheel bearing, 6 months later the left front wheel bearing 35k miles on it. At 55K had to replace the fuel pump and some additional parts associated with the fuel system. At 74k had to repair and replace many parts of the air conditioning system. Good thing I had the extended warranty total repairs come to $4800. This car is a glorified Grand Am. Will not consider another GM vehicle after this car experience. Hello Honda/Toyota.

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  A Lemon! - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Meeme - January 22 - 9:10 am

  I have had this car for ove a year now and I have put so much money into it that if I saved it all I could have paid this car off.. The pass lock locked my car first. 3 mechanics couldnt figure out what was wrong. All together $1000 fixed the problem. My Ford that I paid $1000 didnt give me as many problems as this! Brakes, bearings, spring coil, A/C, drum and the pass lock. All together well over $5000 put into it already! It makes me sick to my stomach. I will never again get an Oldsmobile! No wonder they shut down their production. The sound system is great but I would rather have a reliable car instead.

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  Brakes - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By bcglc - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought car for wife and I too have had this car in for the brakes. Before car reach 20,000 Miles I had the brakes done 4 times. Each time I got a LAME excuse that it was our driving habbits. at around 32,000 I got fed up and went to Autozone and bought the best Rotors and Brake pads I could find, Installed them myself and have not had a problem since. Car now has around 62,00 miles on it--I will never buy anothe Olds/GM product along with a Chrysler product that I had problems with previous to this one. I own a Ford Ranger with over 100K miles and it still runs great, Gas Plugs and check the oil....

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  I wouldnt suggest it.. - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By wreckedher - January 17 - 1:39 am

  An Oldsmobile Alero was my first daily driver. It had 88K miles on it when I got it. The first thing I noticed was that the car shifted hard. Even if it shifted from 2nd to 3rd at a measly 2300RPM the car would jolt when it shifted. The second thing I noticed was that the car rode horribly. I got complaints from passengers all the time. The 3rd thing I found out is that my engine was burning 3 quarts of oil at 91K miles. The vehicle started every time I got in it without issue, but the car itself just wasnt great. It drove, rid and acted like a $1000 car. In the end I sold it for $2500 then paid it off so I could buy a $2000 car and have no payments. Havent been happier.

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  Ok car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By gumbi71 - December 21 - 2:15 am

  Purchased this car used and within the first week the sunroof brackets broke, body had rust cavities in it within the first year of owning and at about 85,000 miles both windows stopped working (2 door model). Not so impressed with the design under the hood... Still gets me from point a to point b. It has helped having the knowledge to do my own work. Would not recommend this as a first car with how much get up and go mine still has and how untrustworthy it is in snow.

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  Problems - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By SML - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive also had Rotor problems from the onset. It currently has 61,000 miles on it and has and oil leak from the engine and a transmission leak. ABS sensor in the wheel bearings and to costly to repair when they go on the fritz.