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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  Fuel Injector Problems - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By grand slam - August 18 - 2:00 am

  The Cutlass is a decent car at best. It has been in the shop many times. Most recently for all 6 new fuel injectors. I should have bought the extended warranty. Too many mechanical problems. Be careful if you buy it used. Gas mileage is a shade below what the sticker said.

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  Thank god for warranties - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Tickedoff - August 11 - 10:00 am

  I own a 2000 gls, brakes are horrible, windshield leaks, problem w/turn signals (would not turn on until hazzard switch pressed several times) Not to mention its not worth anything!

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  No more GMs - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Frank - August 8 - 12:50 am

  I bought this vehicle new in 2002. It had a sticker price of over $35,000. I now have 50,000 miles and cant wait to unload it. The vehicle has AWD and is a nice looking van but it has one flaw. Its a GM! I have had to replace the wheel bearings twice, the heater in the front sear twice and now the rear gasket needs replaced at a cost of $900. GM of course is not willing to assist in the repair even though there are only 50,000 miles. I have a 1997 Dodge Caravan with 105,000 miles and it never needed any repairs other than normal maintenance. I am getting it repaired and then trading it in on anything other than a GM. I would not recommend a GM and I will never ever buy one again.

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  HIGH MAINTENANCE! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JO - August 4 - 12:03 pm

  Im the 3rd owner of the alero that I purchased from my parents in 01. They found it to be very uncomfortable & difficult to get in & out of. It was one of many issues that I would have with the car. Ive owned it now for 8yrs & every year Ive had to put $ into it!I lost count on how many wheel bearings have been replaced.Ive replaced engine; airconditioning unit; gas tank; alternator; starter; just to name a few. Currently; the engine is knocking; the car screams with ac or heat on; needs u joint; gas guage doesnt work. Its been very high maintenance & I would not recommend it.

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  Whats wrong with the Brakes????? - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Astrodude - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Lets face it. Ive read all the reviews from others and there are serious brake problems with this car that must be manufacturing issues. I have had warped rotors 3 times within 70,000 miles and the first time was at only 19K. I think a recall is in order for the brakes. On a positive note, the interior of this car is awesome. Ive never had a car with more comfortable seats. Im somewhat disappointed with the gas mileage too.

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  Looks nice on the outside. Poison inside - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Kmarz555 - June 8 - 5:10 am

  Where to start? Within the first year I owned it; the entire transmission went out. Luckily, the warranty covered that. However, the abs system on this thing is the worst Ive ever seen. The ABS light always comes on, they want hundreds to fix it. The worse though is the knock sensor issues. I spent $2000 to fix it once, as soon as I got it back, it went out again. I took into the dealership for that one repair alone over 10 times! They still cant figure it out--the service manager claims its a manufacturing defect. The front CV joints sound like theyre about to fall off--every time I turn I hear a loud rubbing noise (Those have been replaced too). Overall, Ive suffered too long...

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  GM Strikes (Out) Again!! - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Sharrrona - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Alero with the highest of expectations. The car is very aestetically pleasing and is fun to drive. Unfortunately that is not enough to make up for the GM reliability. The sticker priceon my car was $22,000 and I paid $18,000 and thought I was getting a deal. 3 years and $6000 in repair bills later, I beg to differ. Please steer clear from this and other GM Products!!! Great car if you have the occasional grand to put in it.

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  Mixed Feelings - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By dane_1 - May 17 - 10:00 am

  We chose the Bravada 2002 for my wife mainly because of the seats - she had two back surgeries last year and the front seats suites her very well. We had been looking at SUVs from Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Ford, Toyota, etc. I was a little concerned about the quality (both external and internal) and reliability, however we havent had any major problems. I too would had liked the driving to be more like Toyota Highlander - more car like, but its a SUV of the old type - despite the well suited re-design for the 2002 model.

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  Fun but junk - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jnichols77 - March 24 - 9:36 am

  I purchased my Alero used four years ago and have put on 60,000+ miles on it. It has a peppy 6 cylinder engine, the transmission is great, braking is good, and driveability is good. Its interior quality and build is terrible though. I have replaced the driver window hardware twice, replaced both engine head gaskets, rear door rubber, etc. There is nothing major wrong, but all of the small things add up. I love the car for commuting but cannot trust it anymore on the interstate. If the interior had better quality materials and the overall build quality was better, this would be a great car. Without these, this an average car with better alternatives from imports.

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  Avoid the Bravda - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Dennis Horner - March 7 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle has a number of issues: a. not "tight" b. the reliability of the vehicle in terms of windows, seats, door locks, is not good. c. transmission is not smooth d. the AWD seems to make a grinding noise when turning sharply e. mileage was tauted as good for an SUV. My prior Jeep with an 8 cyl. got better all around mileage. f. in spite of claims, the straight 6 does not have the speed of the Jeep 8. g. despite the claims, the engine does not have the towing power of the Jeep 8. h. the AC has malfunctioned three times... just wont cool. Then it reverts to cooling again before it reaches the dealer for a fix.