2001 Oldsmobile Aurora

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

67/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Steering	14	11%
Engine and engine cooling	14	11%
Electrical system	11	8%
Exterior lighting	11	8%
Service brakes	9	7%
Vehicle speed control	8	6%
Visibility	8	6%
Power train	6	5%
Suspension	4	3%
Engine	3	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

MY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND IT JUST FEELS FUNNY WHEN I DRIVE IT NOW AFRAID A TIRE MIGHT FAL OFF
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

THE ENGINE RANDOMLY DIES OR STALLS WHILE IN TRAFFIC AT RANDOM TIMES AND WILL NOT TURN BACK ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THE STALLING OCCURS AND THANKFULLY ONLY ON CITY STREETS. CODES HAVE NOT BEE
NHTSA complaint: Steering

I RECENTLY PURCHASED FOUR (4) GOODYEAR EAGLE ULTRA GRIP GW-3 TIRES (235/55R17) FROM SAMS CLUB IN DOVER, DELAWARE AND THEY WERE SHIPPED FROM THE GOODYEAR WAREHOUSE ALL WITH A DOT DATE OF 3614 ALMOST 4-YEARS OLD! I DONT
NHTSA complaint: Tires

POWER STEERING PUMP LINE WAS MELTED INTO THE BOLT NEAR THE LINE , ALSO THE BODY OVER A YEAR BEGAN TO RUST...SO IT TOOK 800.00 TO FIX IT
NHTSA complaint: Steering

I BOUGHT THIS 2001 AURORA USED IN 2015. THE CHECK ENGINE WAS ON AND WHEN I QUESTIONED PREVIOUS OWNER HE STATED IT WAS A SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS PUT ON A
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THIS CAR KEEP BURNING OUT THE BATTERY KILL THE BATTERY IN FIVE DAYS DEALERSHIP CAN,T FIND THE PROBLEM CAN YOU HELP ME
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG, STABILITY, AND BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

I'VE NOTICED ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WOULD START THIS CAR, AND THE RPM'S WOULD GO VERY HIGH. AFTER A WHILE IT STOPPED DOING IT. THE LAST TWO WEEKS WHILE DRIVING IT ACCELERATES ON IT OWN. NO NEED TO TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL. THIS C
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Service brakes 00V114000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.

Risk: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	74	good
Longevity est.	75	good
Maintenance	76	good
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	57	average
Efficiency	38	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 30% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 38% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 54% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 57% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 74: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 75: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2001 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 76: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora?

Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 14 of them (11%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.