Is the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero a bad year?
557 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Alero years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero are in line with other Alero years. Brakes, exterior lighting and visibility and wipers stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Alero owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 46,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 136 (24%) | 25k–77k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 131 (24%) | 50k–93k miles · ahead | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 49 (9%) | 53k–84k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structure | 29 (5%) | 43k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 89 (16%) | 60k–138k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 66 (12%) | 48k–106k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 31 (6%) | 47k–119k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 22 (4%) | 68k–145k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 27 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 25 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 18 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 16 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 46,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 557 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 15 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Dec 2019.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Premature intake manifold gasket failure on GM sohc V6 engines causing an external coolant leak. This is common knowledge to mechanics and parts stores.
I have a 2000 Oldsmobile alero. My rotors have been replaced 3 times while still under warranty and whereby the shim kit was placed.
Driving on parkway, at 65 mph. Car lost all power. No warning lights, no chimes. This happened four times on one trip.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 46,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero: 5
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (Upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
Certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that may experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative. When the turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn that could result in a crash.
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles equipped with manual transaxles (Rpo M86) fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 114, "Theft protection." In this situation, the key can be removed from the ignition while the transmission is in a forward gear, which is not permitted by the standard.
Vehicle description: these vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of FMVSS no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact." The console cover on these vehicles does not stay closed when a specified vertical load is applied. In the event of a crash, the console cover could open and the cover or items stored under it could injure an occupant.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Oldsmobile: 76
Repair instructions Oldsmobile sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Turn signal failures
Turn signal failures
Erratic fuel gauge
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Erratic fuel gauge
Neighbouring years
2001 Alero: 364 complaints, keep it.
Every Oldsmobile Alero year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · All Alero years side by side
Other Oldsmobile models: Oldsmobile Aurora · Oldsmobile Bravada · Oldsmobile Intrigue · Oldsmobile Silhouette. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero a bad year?
557 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Alero years. At 46,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (136), exterior lighting (131), visibility and wipers (49), body structure (29), electrical system (89).
How many recalls does the 2000 Oldsmobile Alero have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-400), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 03V-327), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 00V-372) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.