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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

Power Train complaints

7 reports
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113,000 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO START AND THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO START AND THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI #10678892

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2014
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10638019

125,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED AND OUT OF PARK. I FIRST WENT TO THE GM WEBSITE WHEN THE JUNE 2014 RECALL FOR 2003MY ALERO STARTED AND IT SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. I READ A SUBSEQUENT STORY THAT THE GM WEBSITE RECALLS.GM.COM WASN'T ACCURATELY DISPLAYING RECALLS WHERE NO PARTS ARE …

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FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED AND OUT OF PARK. I FIRST WENT TO THE GM WEBSITE WHEN THE JUNE 2014 RECALL FOR 2003MY ALERO STARTED AND IT SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. I READ A SUBSEQUENT STORY THAT THE GM WEBSITE RECALLS.GM.COM WASN'T ACCURATELY DISPLAYING RECALLS WHERE NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. WENT TO THE SITE AFTER THE REPAIRS THIS PAST WEEKEND AND IT SAID MY CAR WAS RECALLED. AFTER CALLING THE SUPPORT NUMBER AND HAVING THEM LOOK UP THE VIN, THEY DIDN'T SEE MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN THEIR SYSTEM ALTHOUGH THE CALL CENTER TECH STATED THE PROBLEM SOUNDS SIMILAR TO EXISTING ISSUES. HE PROVIDED A GM SR # AND REQUESTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO FOLLOW UP, BUT IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A DIAGNOSIS OUTSIDE OF RECALL. UNSURE BASED ON DIFFERING REPORTS FROM GM ON THE VEHICLE BEING SAFE OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619053

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2014
Power Train

I HAVE POWER WINDOWS IN MY ALERO AND THE CLIPS KEEP BREAKING EVERY TIME I HAVE THEM REPLACED!! I HAVE REPLACED THESE CLIPS 4 TIMES!!! IS THERE A WAY TO FIX THE WINDOW ONCE & FOR ALL SO THAT I CAN USE IT? THIS WILL NOT PASS NH STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THE WINDOW WORKING PROPERLY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564294

69,298 miles · Feb 3, 2006
Power Train

CAR SEEMED TO BE FINE..ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE.. TOOK IT TO A CLOSE SHOP AND HE SAID A SLEEVE WITHIN THE DRIVEN SPROCKET ASSEMBLY HAD SHIFTED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT, BLOCKING THE OIL FEED HOLE FOR THE SECOND CLUTCH....HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING!ESTIMATE WAS 1500-2000!!!I HAVE A CAR THAT…

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CAR SEEMED TO BE FINE..ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE.. TOOK IT TO A CLOSE SHOP AND HE SAID A SLEEVE WITHIN THE DRIVEN SPROCKET ASSEMBLY HAD SHIFTED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT, BLOCKING THE OIL FEED HOLE FOR THE SECOND CLUTCH....HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING!ESTIMATE WAS 1500-2000!!!I HAVE A CAR THAT I STILL OWE 7000 FOR THAT I CAN DO NOTHING WITH!MAYBE GOD WILL SEND ME 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10149372

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2005
Power TrainSuspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE RPM'S INCREASED WHEN BRAKING AT 37-40 MPH. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10115896

750 miles · Jan 11, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 750 MILES. ATAINED SPEED OF 65MPH FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN ACTED AS IF IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, I MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR AT 45MPH AND PROCEEDED TO NEXT SAFEST PLACE TO STOP. AFTER STOPPED I SHIFTED TO D AND THEN TOOK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I STOPPED AGAIN AND WA…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 750 MILES. ATAINED SPEED OF 65MPH FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN ACTED AS IF IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, I MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR AT 45MPH AND PROCEEDED TO NEXT SAFEST PLACE TO STOP. AFTER STOPPED I SHIFTED TO D AND THEN TOOK OFF AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I STOPPED AGAIN AND WAITED A FEW SECOND THEN TOOK OFF AND IT BEGAIN TO SHIFT NORMALLY AGAIN. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER, THEY DID A DIANOGSTIC TEST AND IT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES I NOTICED A POOL OF ANTIFREEZE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AND EVIDENCE OF IT LEAKING ONTO MY FRONT RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY FILLED MY ANTIFREEZE LEVEL BACK UP AND DID A TEST AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK, THEY SAID IT MIGHT OF CAME OUT OF THE DRAIN HOLE WHERE IT WOULD NORMALLY LEAK WHEN THE BEARING IN THE WATER PUMP GOES OUT.... HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY MORE LEAKS, SOMETIMES SMELL BURNT ANTIFREEZE. ALSO AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES THE NUMBERS AND LETTERS ON THE BUTTONS ON THE RADIO WERE BECOMING WORE OFF, WHICH SEEMS WAY TOO EARLY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106127

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.