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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  Danny - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Danny - December 11 - 6:56 pm

  I bought my Bravada used with 55K miles on it. I enjoyed driving it. My complaints concern problems with electric system, in that various warning lights come on for no reason, especially the "ck all wheel drive" light and the "check engine light". It is fine to drive in winter but, even with all wheel drive, I wish I had not bought it.

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  Do Not Buy - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By kendra james - December 5 - 2:00 am

  This is my first and last experience with an Oldsmobile. The check engine light comes on more than the headlights. As for comfort, interior design, etc. I wouldnt know...I spend more time in a rental than in the van. All in all.. I am not impressed in the least.. I am an American and proud of it but trust me...buy Japan...

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  Buy foreign, not an Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Zach - November 18 - 6:50 am

  This car is easily the worst car on the road. Had brakes replaced two months after purchase, then the power windows started to go. Driver-side replaced twice, passenger replaced once and needs to be replaced again. Alternator went out twice, electrical problems are constant, it took Oldsmobile 6 years to recognize a flaw that causes your hazards and turn signals to fail. Wheel bearings have been replaced at least 4 or 5 times, leather peeling off steering wheel. This car eats antifreeze like theyre Pringles. There are many many more problems, just do yourself a favor and dont buy an Alero. Send a message to American auto manufacturers and buy foreign.

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  Avoid - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Roger - October 17 - 3:23 pm

  I bought my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero in September 2003. This car is without question the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I have lost track of all the repair work required to keep this vehicle running. Some of the bigger issues were the windows, fuel pump, defroster, tire pressure indicator, and brakes. I throw more money at this car than what it was worth. The quality of craftsmanship was absolutely horrendous. This car is a bust! Anyone thinking of purchasing one should seriously reconsider.

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  Too many flaws!!! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By grimbaldi - October 12 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Alero GL equipped with the 2.4L engine 2DR with approx. 19,000 miles on it as a program vehicle. Within the 1st 6 months of owning this vehicle I had to have the following items fixed/replaced: Replaced Struts Reseal rear windshield Re-mount trunk Deck lid Drivers side window fell into door (broken power window mech.) Had to replace Rotors @ 38,000 miles Aside from these problems the car has not been too bad thus far. Engine & road noise is a considerable detriment to this car. Also the deflation of the cars value has been extremely disappointing!!! This car becomes practically worthless not long after owning it.

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  Transmission - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By T S - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Beware of transmission problems. Im not a rough driver, and Ive just bought my 3rd transmission and only have 66,000 miles on it. Ive had it looked at by a few different transmission repair shops and all of them said that GM didnt do a very good job on this transmission. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

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  SO UNHAPPY - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By SRUBISH - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE THIS CARD 6MONTHS AND HAD IT BACK TO DEALER 8 TIMES. AXEL REPLACED, BOTH BEARINGS, BELT AND BELT ASSEMBLY, BRAKES TWICE, ROTARS ONCE. 02 SENSOR, GAS CAP FROM VAPOR LEAKS. I ALWAYS LOVED THESE CARS UNTIL I OWNED ONE.

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  Alero: A Lemon for Every Regreting Owner - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Mr. Nvrownaoldsagain - September 17 - 10:00 am

  I have about 34K on this car it is my wifeÂ’s. It has been in the shop WAY too many times for minor repairs. Although once for the transmission slamming into gear when we were moving cross country. The paint is falling off the door trim and its been 2 months and the dealer can not get the part from GM? It had 3 mirrors put on the drivers side because of shaking and they cant fix that. When it is not in the shop it does ride nice, is comfortable and stylish. But its poor build quality makes us despise the car.

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  Very Disappointed - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By jeneep - August 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought this just just before Halloween last year - not quite one year - with 101,000 miles. I had no issues with the car. Most were with the dealership for not taking care of regular maintenance before I bought it. I had actually enjoyed the power it had! And then my transmission failed on me. Im a single mother and the sole reason I bought this car was because I thought it was reliable. Apparently I should have researched more because its a well known problem on other boards. Here I am stuck with a $1700+ fix on top of the loan I already have. Thanks a lot, Oldsmobile! Research the car - I wouldnt trust the transmission, and Im sure you dont want the expensive fix.

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  Reliable and surprisingly long lasting - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By benjito - August 21 - 5:41 pm

  This car now has 208000+ miles on it and it still runs great. All of the motor mounts have been replaced, but it still vibrates like crazy when its in drive and the brake is on. I am afraid it may be the transmission, but at least I get a full-body massage at every stoplight. The interior keeps threatening to fall apart. I keep making small repairs to the brackets that hold the drivers side mirror adjustment and the ash tray beside the steering wheel. The trac-off light is quite a pest though and it [the car] sometimes hesitates or skips when the driver accelerates. Very good handling and pretty decent spunk to the engine. Overall way worth the money, I would recommend this car to anybody.