1997 Oldsmobile Aurora Problems

What owners report

Reports for this model year are dominated by gasoline leaks from the plastic fuel rail and underhood fuel lines, often noticed first as a strong fuel smell in the cabin or engine bay and in some cases as fuel spraying onto the engine. Most complaints arrive well past 80,000 miles, though some describe leaks with far lower mileage. A second cluster involves electrical faults, including headlights or parking lights that stay on by themselves, theft-deterrent starting delays, and occasional engine-bay fires whose cause was not always identified.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from fuel rail and lines

   • 44 complaints (35%)
   • median 111,977 mi at 7.7 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2014

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor while driving or after parking, sometimes noticing fuel dripping under the car or spraying from a pinhole in the plastic fuel rail or delivery line near the engine. Several say the smell appeared first through the vents or in the garage, and some found gasoline pooled on top of the engine. Complaints frequently note that the vehicle was checked against recall 04V110000 and reported as not covered, or that only part of the fuel plumbing was replaced; dealers and the manufacturer are described as stating the repair was already done or that the VIN was outside the campaign. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 150,000 miles, with many between 60,000 and 115,000, and often noticed during parking, idling, or starting rather than at speed.

   Recall 04V110000

   What to check: Smell the engine bay and around the fuel rail after the engine has run, and look for any dampness or residue on the plastic lines and rail. Ask whether the fuel rail replacement under recall 04V110000 was performed and whether the fuel lines were also replaced, since complaints describe those being charged separately.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1997 olds Aurora started leaking gas from the plastic fuel line under the hood.I had remembered there was a recall on this and called Oldsmobile and they told me my car was not under the recall #04014. I don't understand how this could be since they figured this out in 2004 and my car was made in 1997... The date on the plastic fuel lines is 5/10/1996.”

   NHTSA complaint #10394039, filed 2011-04, 184,300 miles

   “Fuel spraying from small holes in plastic sections of the fuel rail assembly. Gasoline was all over the top of the engine, which in my opinion is not very safe. Not to mention the puddles of gasoline that were being left behind on the ground due to this leak. We fixed this problem in house, and being that this problem seems to be at the default of the manufacturer, we would like a refund for the service preformed not only for this automoblie, but also for the two other 1997 oldsmoblie Aurora's that we own. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10046750, filed 2003-11, 115,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Lights staying on or flashing by themselves

   • 10 complaints (8%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 10.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2017

   Owners report headlights, parking lights, or brake lights coming on at random while the car sits, sometimes in hot weather, sometimes with the key off. Several say the only way to keep the battery from running down was to disconnect it after each drive, and one dealer attributed the switch behavior to heat. Others describe turn signals or hazard buttons that stuck and produced a burning smell or smoke from the steering column area. Reported from about 70,000 to 200,000 miles, with several owners noting the behavior in warm weather or on hot days.

   What to check: With the car off and the key out, watch the lights for a few minutes to see whether anything comes on by itself, and check the battery holds charge overnight. Ask whether any lighting switch or turn signal stalk has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While parked, on a hot day, my parking lights came on and will not go off. I have to disconnect & reconnect the battery to save it from discharge every time I drive it. Im afraid it may catch fire (from other reports I've heard.)”

   NHTSA complaint #10233819, filed 2008-07, 105,000 miles

   “I was beginning a sunday morning drive today in my 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora. It was a few hours ago with my family on the expressway on I-480 west enroute to our vacation. After I hit my right turn signal to change lanes so I can get off at our exit. The turn signal lever was stuck. There was an intense burning smell and seconds later smoke start steaming from my steering. I pulled the 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora over and pressed down on the hazard button to release it and notice that the hazard button was stuck too. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10162513, filed 2006-07
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Oil and coolant leaks at head bolt threads

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 68,103 mi at 7.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2009

   Owners describe oil and coolant leaks traced to deteriorated threads in the block for the head bolts, leading to head gasket leakage, rough running, overheating, and in one case oil sludge and an engine replacement recommendation. Repairs were quoted in the thousands of dollars at the owner's expense. A separate report describes coolant leaking through the oil pan casting. Mostly reported between roughly 38,000 and 68,000 miles, and again around 100,000 miles for related engine damage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check for coolant or oil seepage at the top of the engine near the head gasket and look under the car for drips. Ask whether head gasket or head bolt thread repairs have been done and watch the temperature gauge on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Per dealer diagnosis, threads in block for head bolt(s) have deteriorated causing head gasket leaks (antifreeze & oil) due to poor GM design. This results in rough running, overheating and poor driveability. Repair cost of $4500 + tax, all of which is customers responsibility. This reiterated by Oldsmobile help line on 6/6/05.”

   NHTSA complaint #10124397, filed 2005-06, 49,124 miles

   “While traveling the consumer started to smell gas, then the light came on. The vehicle shut down and had to be towed. The dealer states the engine needs to be replaced, there is oil sludge.”

   NHTSA complaint #10113039, filed 2005-02, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Starting delayed by theft-deterrent system

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe intermittent no-start or delayed-start conditions with a message telling them to clean the key and wait about three minutes before retrying. Some report replacing keys, cleaning the ignition switch, or testing the ignition switch and microchip without finding a fault, and being stranded repeatedly. Others mention the information center resetting as though power had been lost while the car was parked. Reported at various mileages from about 89,000 upward, with the problem appearing intermittently over months.

   What to check: Try several cold starts, including a start with a second key if one is available, and ask whether the ignition switch or key reader has been serviced. Note the time it takes to crank before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ignition failure. Error message to clean key and wait 3 minutes. The key has a microchip, and the microchip has been tested and is working correctly. The ignotion switch, when tested is showing to be working properly. No one can give me a reason for the malfunction, but I have been stranded numerous times due to the malfunction.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078796, filed 2004-06, 103,000 miles

   “When I try to start my vehicle I am forced at times to sit and wait 3 minutes before the car will start due to the pass-key theft-deterrent system. I have replaced my key and cleaned the ignition switch with electronic contact cleaner. Nothing helped. Some days / weeks / months are better then others. The max time I had to sit and wait was 12 minutes. Heaven forbid I have to drive away in a life or death situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10112759, filed 2005-03, 115,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering column play and rack mounting problems

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2010

   Owners report looseness or play in the tilt steering column that developed over time, with the steering assembly dropping when gripped at one point and pivots suspected of backing out. Other complaints describe hard steering on left turns and, in one case, a loud pop followed by fluid loss, a missing rack mounting bolt, and a cracked rack housing with rusted bolts. Reported between about 117,000 and 150,000 miles, typically after years of use rather than at low mileage.

   What to check: With the engine off, try to rock the steering wheel up and down and pull the tilt lever through its range to feel for play. Look for power steering fluid under the front of the car and have the rack mounts inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1997 Oldsmobile Aurora. I have owned this vehicle for the past 6 years. Over the past year, I have noticed some play in the tilt steering column. My research has revealed an inherent problem that these model of cars have had with the pivots in the steering-tilt mechanism backing themselves out. One day I climbed into the car to back down the driveway, and the whole steering assembly just plopped into my lap. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10279380, filed 2009-08, 102,000 miles

   “Steering wheel almost completely off in my son's hand.. Service manager said the car should of never been sold. This default could of killed my son. This car stayed in the shop more than it was drove. One problem after the other. I gave the car back to kings nissan when another problem with wiring and fuse came up. Mechanic said the car would end up catching on fire. I had enough. This company is very rude and does not take care of their customers or complaints.”

   NHTSA complaint #10056207, filed 2004-01, 68,000 miles

Buying note. The fuel system deserves the most attention on this model year: verify in person whether the recall replacement was done and whether the plastic fuel lines were also addressed, since complaints repeatedly describe leaks and smells afterward. Beyond that, check thoroughly for oil and coolant leaks, test the lights and starting behavior with the car cold, and look at steering column play during a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.