Illustration2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLED TWICE ON THE ROAD WHILE TRYING TO MAKE LEFT TURN. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ON BOTH OCCASIONS. UPDATED 04/15/11
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Alero years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
2225–50K
1950–75K
3375–100K
27100–150K
13150K+
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
Fuel System, Other complaints
3 reportsI WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ABOUT ONE MINUTE LATER, THE CAR DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 50 MPH. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR DID START BACK UP THIS TIME. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS ENGAGED BEFORE AND WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ABOUT ONE MINUTE LATER, THE CAR DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 50 MPH. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR DID START BACK UP THIS TIME. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS ENGAGED BEFORE AND WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE SUGGESTIONS WE FOUND ONLINE AND GOTTEN IT TO START BACK UP...I JUST DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW SOME SORT OF RITUAL TO GET MY CAR TO START; NOT TO MENTION, THE SAFETY ISSUE OF HAVING A CAR DIE IN WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MPH. *TR
03 OLDS ALERO FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED AND MODULATOR SPARK PLUGS FUEL FILTER CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR WON'T START FLASHERS HAVE A PROBLEM TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS CONTINUES INTERMITTENT START CAR IN DRIVEWAY FOR 3 MONTHS NOW STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT SURGES THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD CAR BUT NOT. …
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03 OLDS ALERO FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED AND MODULATOR SPARK PLUGS FUEL FILTER CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR WON'T START FLASHERS HAVE A PROBLEM TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS CONTINUES INTERMITTENT START CAR IN DRIVEWAY FOR 3 MONTHS NOW STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT SURGES THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD CAR BUT NOT. CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED. *TR
Official recalls
214V400000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.