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2003 Oldsmobile Alero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 279.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 56 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine complaints

17 reports
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74,350 miles · Jul 20, 2019
Engine

1200 MILES AFTER J02 RECALL CAR RUNS SLUGGISH GOING UP CANYON. STOP CAR AND ENGINE IS MISFIRING. TURN AROUND AND COAST DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON THEN STOP AND PARK CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED WHAT I SHOULD DO. COAST OUT OF THE CANYON WITH THE ENGINE OFF. TURN ENGINE ON AFTER SEVERAL…

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1200 MILES AFTER J02 RECALL CAR RUNS SLUGGISH GOING UP CANYON. STOP CAR AND ENGINE IS MISFIRING. TURN AROUND AND COAST DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON THEN STOP AND PARK CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED WHAT I SHOULD DO. COAST OUT OF THE CANYON WITH THE ENGINE OFF. TURN ENGINE ON AFTER SEVERAL MILES AND NO MORE PROBLEMS. DRIVE HOME CAREFULLY. NEXT DAY THROWS SEVERAL CODES AND RUNNING SLUGGISH. SEVERAL DAYS LATER CODES ARE GONE RIGHT BEFORE IT GOES TO DEALER. THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IF CAR HAS NO ACTIVE CODES OR SYMPTOMS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER TURN CAR ON AND CAR IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND HAS SEVERAL PENDING CODES. CAREFULLY DRIVE HOME. CODES DIDN'T SAVE. FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE TO DEALER AROUND JUNE 25TH WHILE CAR IS MAKING THE KNOCKING NOISE BUT NO CODES AND THEY THINK IT'S A LIFTER BUT NOT SURE. I LEFT THE CAR AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. LITERALLY THE SAME DAY I PICK THE CAR UP IT IS KNOCKING AND CONSISTENTLY DOES SO FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. JULY 5 ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEING HIT BY A HAMMER AND THROWS P0011 CAM TIMING ADVANCED. OIL PRESSURE IS 5PSI AT IDLE AND 40PSI AT 5000RPM. HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T MAKE THE DRIVE AND THEY SAY IT IS PISTON SLAP WITHOUT EVEN OPENING THE ENGINE THEY DETERMINE IT IS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALL. AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE WITH THE TIMING COVER, OIL PAN AND ONE VALVE COVER OFF AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEM TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE AFTER THE RECALL. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THE DEALER TO ACTUALLY TEAR IT DOWN TO DIAGNOSE IT.. CODES THROWN SO FAR ARE P0011 P219A P0301 P000A P0420 KNOCKING SEEMS TO BE WHEN OIL WARMS UP AND OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO ABOUT 30PSI AND BELOW.

NHTSA ODI #11233626

90,000 miles · May 8, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10984370

110,000 miles · Jun 7, 2016
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR JUMPED UP ITO 6 AND 7 RPMS IN THE RED GOT STUCK EVEN WHEN PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED STAYED THERE I THE RED FOR A FEW SECONDS WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS FINALLY DROPPED AND STARTED KNOCKING.

NHTSA ODI #10872877

91,000 miles · Jan 29, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, ONLY CRANK. STARTED NEXT MORNING AND HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. REPAIR SHOP SAID TO TAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR FIX. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN GM VEHICLES AND M…

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TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, ONLY CRANK. STARTED NEXT MORNING AND HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. REPAIR SHOP SAID TO TAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR FIX. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN GM VEHICLES AND MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING. THERE IS A WAY TO START IT SOMETIMES BY WAITING TEN MINUTES WITH KEY IN ACC AND THEN TURNING OFF AND THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND THEN RE STARTING. THIS IS WORKING BUT NOT ALWAYS. APPARENTLY GM IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO CORRECT IT. I AM AFRAID THAT I MAY BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE OR THE SECURITY SYSTEM COULD POSSIBLY TURN THE CAR OFF. ALSO THERE IS DISCUSSION THAT THIS MAY ALSO BE A BAD IGNITION SWITCH BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SWITCH, ONLY THE KEY!

NHTSA ODI #10822967

23,227 miles · Dec 29, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE PASS LOCK ASSEMBLY AND THE LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE PASS LOCK ASSEMBLY AND THE LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,227. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10816798

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2015
EngineSteering

MY IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT INVOKE THE ENGINE. IT HAS HAPPENED COUPLE OF TIMES WITH MY ALERO. LAST YEAR AS PER THE RECALL NOTICE GM DEALER CHANGED THE KEYS AND NOT THE ENTIRE IGNITION MODULE. HAVE SPENT OVER USD 350 IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS AND AGAIN TODAY THE OLDS ALERO IS STOP WORKING. THE IGNITION DOES NOT SEEM TO TURN ON.

NHTSA ODI #10809363

117,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING FOUR TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10806203

162,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000. MA 09/25 UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10735086

127,000 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Engine

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A WHILE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A WHILE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10678869

66,000 miles · Jan 16, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10673004

Official recalls

2

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 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 also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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 September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Nov 1, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.