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2000 Oldsmobile Alero

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Alero.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2000 Oldsmobile Alero is a passenger car that utilizes a 4.5-quart engine oil capacity with 10W-30 API viscosity specification. This model year represents the peak of owner complaints within the 1998-2004 range, recording 581 total complaints with exterior lighting emerging as the primary concern, while the vehicle carries five recalls over this period. In the context of the model's reliability history, the 2000 Alero sits at the highest complaint milestone—contrasting sharply with the 1998 baseline of just 2 complaints—which signals a notable deterioration in owner satisfaction relative to the model's launch year.

Model year2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-60R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172 alt 25322835
Engine air filter	25161977
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301811 alt 19301813
Front wiper blades	22711468 discontinued · alt 22711469
Serpentine belt	88984195 alt 10101899
Thermostat	24577288 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	186.6 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	107.1 in
Curb weight	3027 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	9.2 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	12 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	41-942
Spark Plug Gap	0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	41-940
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.75 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	58.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	52-58
RPM	42-55 @ Idle rpm
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	55.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	48-55

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	81 ft-lbs / 85 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	85 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0015 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.433 in / 1.031 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

129 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

129 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	Bolts 1-8	40 ft. lbs
2	Bolts 9-10	30 ft.lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2000 model year sits at the peak of the Alero's federal complaint volume, with 581 complaints, five recalls, and five investigations — all generational highs compared with 504 complaints and one investigation in 1999 and the steady decline that followed (376 in 2001, 280 in 2002, and 109 by 2004). While recalls remained elevated at five through 2001 before tapering, investigations dropped sharply after 2000, and technical service bulletins actually continued climbing to a 2003 high of 467, suggesting ongoing service issues even as raw complaint filings fell. The 2000 model's most reported complaint areas were Exterior Lighting (112), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (93), Electrical System (61), and Engine & Engine Cooling (58), with 20 crash-related and 8 fire-related complaints on file; the data does not specify root causes. This concentration of complaints, recalls, and investigations makes 2000 the most heavily flagged year in the generation's federal record. Given that later model years show materially lower complaint and investigation counts, a 2000 Alero is not the strongest choice within this generation, and buyers should weigh the higher reported incidence of lighting, brake, electrical, and engine cooling complaints against price and condition.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

374

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

581

Owner complaints

20 involved a crash · 8 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’98 ’99’00’01 ’02 ’03 ’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 581 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting112

Service Brakes, Hydraulic93

Electrical System61

Engine & Engine Cooling58

Visibility27

Air Bags23

Power Train15

Structure14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V400000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 03/07/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on…

00V372000Power Train:Manual TransmissionReported 13/11/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES (RPO M86) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO… Remedy: DEALERS WILL DISABLE THE 5TH/REVERSE INHIBITOR BY REMOVING A RETAINING PIN AND REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 374 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
General Communication	2024-08-26	Electrical System	Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It…
18-NA-099	2024-06-17	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Alero. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 25161977 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301811

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Alero take?

4.5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Alero have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.