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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  Great First Car - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By Bamboo - July 16 - 12:20 pm

  This is simply an A to B car and nothing more. The cars quality is sub par compared to other vehicles of the era. It does offer a great first vehicle platform. Its large, cheap, handles the winter well, but gets mediocre gas mileage. There is also plenty of cargo space.

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  Beware of the Intrigue! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Josh - May 12 - 5:50 am

  This car is a nightmare, a money pit! The engine knock 3.5 litre aluminum motor is a piece of junk. It is a non-rebuildable motor and the GM replacement costs $4,500! I have been experiencing iIncurable front-end vibrations, an uncomfortable interior (the armrests are from hell), horrible gas mileage, an uncooperative climate control system, and a painful sounding stereo. It had power when I first bought it, but now it is a dog. It burns dirty, there is always soot on exhaust tips. It is probably losing compression. At least it looks nice. Please, if you are thinking about buying this car...RUN! Run the other way and dont look back!

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  Alero = "lemon" - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Timo - May 7 - 10:00 am

  In the last nine months Ive had the Alero, Ive had to bring it in to have warranty work done 4 different times. It feels cheaply made and has proven itself to be just that. I expected alot more.

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  Electrical Nightmare - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jpbrown - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is by far the most unreliable vehicle I ever had. After only four months the car began to exhibit major electrical defects and for the next five months it has been in and out of the shop almost every other week since. Gm maintains the car is sound, but the service department has been unable to correct the issue.

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  Merry Christmas! I keep my dash board... - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JC - October 28 - 3:40 pm

  Lights on all year long! My car is paid for and has been for some time. This is a good thing because it costs so much to keep it running! Wheel hubs, bearings, brakes, $$tires. I would tell anyone who asks not to buy an Alero, it is a complete lemon. I bought this car brand new, I have taken it to the Oldsmobile dealer for repair and no one can seem to fix my car. My dashboard lights are back on two weeks after it is "fixed." anti-lock, service vehicle soon, service engine soon, trac off always on!

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  junk - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GFYS123 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  No reliability. Many problems. Rotors warp in 10,000 miles. Steering problems like crazy.

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  This truck sucks - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By FormerGMOwners - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The transmission went out the first year we owned it. Everytime we take this vehicle in for servicing it is $500 plus! It never has run right and the dealer seems to have no clue re how to fix it. It only has a little over 60k miles and weve replaced the alternator, A/C compressor, transfer case, etc. The air bag light never goes off (indicating a malfunction that nobody can seem to find), speakers go off for no known reason. I dont know how well ever get rid of this POS unless we find someone who will push it off the side a cliff and we can collect some insurance $. We wouldnt have another GM product if given to us.

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  Pass It Up - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By oldswoe - September 19 - 7:50 am

  Definitely purchase an extended warranty if you get this car(luckily I did)! At 66,000 miles, I have made over $7,000 in repairs. The SmartTrak 4WD first didnt engage when needed, then always engaged. I also had the crankcase replaced, U joints, electrical problems, body problems (door hinges all became loose!) My 2002 Dodge Neon did much better in light snow that this! Never risk this purchase.

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  2001 ALERO - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Gayla Smith - September 17 - 11:33 pm

  Security light comes on and will start. This started off and on after the constant blinker noise that drives me nuts. The dealership supposedly fixed the blinker, the very next day is started doing it all over again and now the security light comes on and the car WILL not start! Called GM they said they have no issues or complaints about this! No recalls ! I have numerous other issues but this is the main one.. NOT reliable and will never buy GM again!

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  YOULL BE SORRY............I WAS !!!!!!! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By kuld@N.J - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Where do I start???It all started at 7000 miles.Matter a fact,it is still going on.The car was to the dealer about 13 times already.The problems were;check engine light(dealer said it was only gas cap problem,The next day I broke down on the highway.It turns out the guts inside the catalitic converter broke apart.It took 9 trips to the dealer to figure that one out and a lawyer.When that went so did the muffler.The light came on again,this time oxygen sensors blew.From there on the car has been back for a alternator,door gasket,gas cap problems and a fan motor next week.