2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical and lighting problems: headlights and dash lights that dim or flicker, and turn signals that work only intermittently. Steering noise and difficulty turning, especially to the left, is the other frequently recurring theme, along with occasional overheating. Many reports come from cars with well over 50,000 miles, and several owners say dealers could not reproduce or identify the cause.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Headlights and dash lights flicker or dim

   • 50 complaints (25%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2015

   Complaints describe headlights and instrument lights that dim, flicker, or nearly go out while driving, sometimes along with the heater blower changing speed on its own. Several owners say the flickering is worse in cold weather and tied to engine speed or acceleration. Some had the alternator or voltage regulator replaced; others report the dealer found no error codes or blamed the A/C compressor, and the dimming returned. Reported from as low as a few thousand miles up to well past 100,000 miles, often in cold weather and during acceleration.

   What to check: Drive the car at night in cold weather if possible and watch for pulsing or dimming of the headlights and dash lights; ask whether the alternator or voltage regulator has been replaced and whether the symptom returned.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue and while driving down the road the headlights will go dim to the point of almost being off. Not only is this dangerous to me and my family of 4 it is dangerous to others driving towards me. I have taken this back to the dealership where I have bought it on several occasions and the problem still remains after 2 alternators and a computer was replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10056794, filed 2004-02, 20,000 miles

   “Purchased my intrique in october of 1999, at that time I noticed in the evening while drive the outside lights would brighten and dim extensively, where to the fact oncoming drivers would flash their bright lights in my eyes causing me hard time viewing the road, can you imagine what they thought when my lights were doing this to them, and who knows how gright the beam was in their eyes, because it seems as a power surge going on. With no controlof mine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10051115, filed 2003-12, 1,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Turn signals stop working intermittently

   • 21 complaints (11%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2016

   Owners describe turn signals that quit working at random, sometimes for minutes and sometimes for weeks. A common workaround in the complaints is pressing the hazard switch twice or cycling the hazards to make the signals resume, and some reports mention a bulb socket that burned or a flasher unit replacement. Temperatures and humidity are often mentioned as factors. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 115,000 miles, with some at higher mileage.

   What to check: Test all four turn signals and the hazards, and try the hazard-switch trick to see whether the signals cut out; check the bulb sockets for heat damage or burnt plastic.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue and the turn signal lights work intermittently or not at all. The mechanic couldn't find anything wrong with the lights when the car was put on the computer. According to consumer reports, it looks like the same problem occured in the 2000-2001 Oldsmobile alero. The only way I can get the turn signal lights to work again is by pressing the hazard warning switch twice. Sometimes this will make the turn signal lights work for a few minutes or up to a few weeks. What can I do from here?”

   NHTSA complaint #10047185, filed 2003-11, 68,800 miles

   “3 problems. I think they are all electrically related. First, is one that has been noted on this site about the interior lights and headlamps dimming occasionally for long periods of time. Second is the right front blinker doesn't always blink when signaling, it just stays on. At least the interior turn signal blinks fast to indicate that a problem exists. Lastly, the engine has misfired on several occasions now causing the service engine soon light to come on. Now, this problem was fixed at the place I purchased the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10045309, filed 2003-11, 76,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start and stalling

   • 40 complaints (20%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2021

   Complaints describe the car failing to start or stalling while driving, sometimes with the security light on, and then restarting after waiting 15 minutes to half an hour. Owners report crankshaft and camshaft sensor, starter, and ignition switch work, and several say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or found no fault codes. Some reports connect the stalling to bumps in the road or to the passlock system. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low mileage up to over 200,000 miles.

   Recall 14V400000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall (campaign 14V400000) was completed, and whether crank or cam sensors or the passlock system have been serviced; start the car several times, including after it has sat warm, before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1: no events leading up to problem 2: the pass lock in my 2000 olds Intrigue is worn out, randomly causing my car to turn off. Sometimes the car will not start. 3: appx $500 replacement cost. Not counting the diagnostic fee or towing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10320558, filed 2010-03, 155,000 miles

   “Trouble starting the car on occasion, misfiring on occasion and outright no starting LED us to have the crankshaft sensor, starter and camshaft sensor (twice) replaced, at a cost of over $900.00. Further we responded to recall n140350 unintended ignition key rotation . The dealer replaced a rubber ring in the key to stop the weight of the keys from turning the ignition off. (I think?) after all that the car does start but occasionally on the highway it will stop running, with no other noticeable problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11187272, filed 2019-03, 52,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering noise, popping, and hard left turns

   • 22 complaints (11%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2015

   Complaints describe a popping, snapping, or shuddering noise when turning the wheel, often worse once the car is warm or in mild weather, and sometimes when braking while turning. Others report that turning left becomes much harder than turning right, or that power assist drops out. Owners mention replacement of the rack and pinion, intermediate shaft, tie rods, and power steering pump, and some say the dealer could not identify the cause at first. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 85,000 miles and above, frequently after the car is warmed up or in weather above about 50 F.

   What to check: Turn the wheel fully both directions while parked and at low speed and listen for popping; compare steering effort left versus right, and check the power steering hoses and rack for leaks or prior replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2000 olds intirgue's power steering fails only when I turn to the left. I will not drive the car as I think it is dangerous. In reading online, I have discovered that GM recalled this problem on 98 and older cars, but has done nothing for the newer cars although they are aware of the problem. $1300 is a very expensive fix for a car that is not very old and I refuse to pay it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10088351, filed 2004-08, 49,500 miles

   “We have a 2000 olds Intrigue. While it was still under warrenty we had the steering intermediate shaft replace and the steering tie rod replaced. The steering has always seemed to be a problem. 2000+ miles after the warrenty went out the power steering rack went out which will cost approximately $1200. There was a pop noise when I was backing up and from that point there was no power steering for left turns but for only right turns. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10037440, filed 2003-09, 62,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine overheats or loses coolant

   • 14 complaints (7%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners report overheating, in some cases in cold weather, and repairs involving the thermostat and thermostat housing. Some complaints describe coolant loss and coolant contamination, including one case where gasoline was found in the coolant, and others mention head gasket leaks and warped or corroded head bolts. Costs reported by owners for the larger repairs were substantial. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 115,000 miles, with some cases linked to cold ambient temperatures.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for coolant residue or a sweet smell, and ask whether the thermostat, intake gaskets, or head gaskets have been replaced; watch the temperature gauge during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car's engine is overheating. I took car to dealership, but they don't want to fix the car. They claim that it is not under warrenty. I took the car to another olds dealership and they are going to replace the thermostat and thermostat housing, but this is going to cost me. This car is still under it's extended warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047729, filed 2003-11, 70,071 miles

   “My 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue began with heater malfunctioning during january 2007. The seymour, wi. Gustman dealershhip handled my complaints. Gasoline was found in the coolant, and the resulting repair bill was $3025.00 I feel that the Oldsmobile/general motors company was responsible for this defect and ought to pay for the repairs since it became known to me that they already had a repair kit , which implied that they knew of this problem beforehand. Updated 10/15/07.”

   NHTSA complaint #10186090, filed 2007-03, 67,000 miles

Buying note. Electrical gremlins and steering noise are the themes to plan for on this model year, so budget for diagnosis time and check that the ignition switch recall was performed. A thorough night drive and a cold start are the most useful tests before purchase.

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.