OLDSMOBILE ALERO · model year

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO

702 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999OLDSMOBILEALERO carries 702 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 12 fires, 18 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1999 ALERO is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor with 45 filings, followed by electrical system (38) and visibility:power window devices and controls (32). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 1999 ALERO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

702
Complaints
20
Crashes
12
Fires
18
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

702 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR45
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS32
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE14
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL13
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS13
SUSPENSION12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION11

Recent Complaints

20171219STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER EFFECTIVE AND DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE FOR THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

20171209CrashFireAIR BAGS

WHEN I GOT ACCIDENT NOVEMBER 3 2004 AND AIRBAG NOT COME BLOW YET. I GOT INJURY HEAD AND BROKE LEG ON RIGHT.

Mileage: 45

20170119SUSPENSION

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING IT TO RUB AGAINST THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING! THIS HAPPENED ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH! *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20170119WHEELS

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING IT TO RUB AGAINST THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING! THIS HAPPENED ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH! *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20161025AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR BUT IT HAS RECALLS I WOULD LIKE TO GET FIXED

20161025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR BUT IT HAS RECALLS I WOULD LIKE TO GET FIXED

20161025FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR BUT IT HAS RECALLS I WOULD LIKE TO GET FIXED

20161012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE NO OTHER KEYS ON THE KEY CHAIN. HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD OFTEN FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHAT WAS MORE DISTURBING, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION IN ANY POSITION. NUMEROUS TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. *JB

20150709ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSING THE FANS, FUEL GAUGE, AND AIR BAGS TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 170,000

20150709FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSING THE FANS, FUEL GAUGE, AND AIR BAGS TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 170,000

20150709AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSING THE FANS, FUEL GAUGE, AND AIR BAGS TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 170,000

20150707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WANT TO REPORT THE IGNITION SWITCH ON A 1999 OLDS ALERO V6. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY CAR 3 TIMES NOW SINCE AUG. 2013. THERE HAS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECASUE MY SECURITY LIGHT COME ON AND MY AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COME ON. SO I HAD IT TESTED AND ITS NOT GETTING ANY ELECTRICAL TO IT TO COME ON. AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT HAPPENS EVERTIME. SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR WOULD THEY BE ONE IN NEAR FUTURE.... BECASUE I DONT 300-400 EVERYTIME IT GOES OUT.

Mileage: 280,000

20150615ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH AND KEY ISSUES. *SMD

20150513ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION RECALL REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE PRIOR TO THE RECALL. *SMD THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND IGNITION WERE REPLACED. *JB

20150312ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY GAVE HER A NEW KEY ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION, WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED FOR FREE. *JB

20150224ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER RECEIVED REPAIR FOR RECALL FOR VEHICLE AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER THAT WAS DONE IN AUGUST 2013. *TA

20150223ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT KEYS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENTERED INTO THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER. THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20150211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET VEHICLE FIXED DUE TO A RECALL AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. *TA

20150108ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAD THE RECALL DONE BUT MY CAR KEEPS DYING AND WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING I CAN NOW REMOVE MY KEY AND ENGINE STAYS RUNNING. THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT AT LEAST 10 MIN FOR CAR TO START. I HAVE A BABY AND WITH THIS COLD WEATHER PLUS BEING STRANDED IS NOT SAFE. I WAS TOLD ALL THE DEALER DID WAS A NEW KEY/INSERT. THE WHOLE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER A NEW RECALL. THE DEALER TOLD ME FOR $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE THAT COULD LOOK AT THE CAR. NEVER DID THIS UNTIL THE DEALER DID THE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20141215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

Mileage: 122,000

Compare 1999OLDSMOBILEALERO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO have?
The 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO has 702 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 12 fires, 18 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO?
The most-complained component for the 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR with 45 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS.
Is the 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.