NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
13 reportsClear category filter174,000 miles · May 5, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TOP PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TOP PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
NHTSA ODI #10863470
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
80,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or Other
GOT MY CAR TOLD TO SHOP IT WAS RUNNING WHEN GOT CAR WOULD NOT START UP THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN
NHTSA ODI #10786338
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2014
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/24/14*CN
NHTSA ODI #10633174
78,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
SteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE HEARD FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION AREA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE ONLY RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE FOLL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE HEARD FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION AREA. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE ONLY RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD AND WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN
NHTSA ODI #10616721
28,130 miles · Jun 17, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering
CAR HAS REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF AT SPEED, SOMETIMES RESTARTING, TWICE NEEDING TO BE TOWED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598824
95,740 miles · May 29, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UPON MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UPON MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,740. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE...UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10594793
237,907 miles · Jul 17, 2013
Equipment Adaptive/mobilitySteering
TRAVELING DOWN AN INTERSTATE HWY. LOST STEERING. HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. JACKED THE CAR UP AND FOUND THE NUT ON THE BOLT THAT HOLD THE RACK AND PINION TO THE FRAME HAS COME OFF AND BROKE THE BRACKET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525345
105,897 miles · Oct 23, 2009
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury
PURCHASED 2003 ALERO ON OCT 8, 2009 ON OCT. 9TH CAR WOULD NOT START OR JUMP, ABS AND SECURITY LIGHT WAS ON, RADIO TURNED OFF. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHO LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID NOT DO ANY WORK TO IT. ON OCT 15 WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING T…
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PURCHASED 2003 ALERO ON OCT 8, 2009 ON OCT. 9TH CAR WOULD NOT START OR JUMP, ABS AND SECURITY LIGHT WAS ON, RADIO TURNED OFF. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHO LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID NOT DO ANY WORK TO IT. ON OCT 15 WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE ABS LIGHT AND SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES. THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS LIMITED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY CODE THEY COULD GET TO REGISTER WAS THAT THE ABS CODE WAS ON. WAS TOLD THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING ELSE BUT DIAGNOSTICS WAS LIMITED ANYWAYS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE ANYMORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10289460
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2006
Steering
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED A BROKEN MOUNT ON THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BROKEN MOUNT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A SHARP JOLT SUCH AS HITTING A CURB OR A POTHOLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10169052
Official recalls
2Jul 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.
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 ↗
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