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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

Visibility complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2014
Exterior LightingVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT BOTH TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT BOTH TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10640548

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

PURCHASED 2003 ALERO IN 2004, 2ND ONE (I LOVED THE FIRST ONE), WITH 32K MILES. VINYL OVER PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS PEELING - DEALER FIXED AT NO COST - NOW IN 2010 IT PEELED OFF COMPLETELY. AT 39K HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. ONE OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BRACKET BROKE - WAITING FOR THE WINDOW TO FALL INTO THE DOOR. A…

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PURCHASED 2003 ALERO IN 2004, 2ND ONE (I LOVED THE FIRST ONE), WITH 32K MILES. VINYL OVER PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS PEELING - DEALER FIXED AT NO COST - NOW IN 2010 IT PEELED OFF COMPLETELY. AT 39K HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. ONE OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BRACKET BROKE - WAITING FOR THE WINDOW TO FALL INTO THE DOOR. AT ABOUT 50K THE TURN SIGNAL CLICKING STARTING WITHOUT USING THE SIGNALS & IS STILL DO IT TODAY. I HAVE NOT TRIED TO FIX IT BECAUSE I HAVE READ SO MANY THING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT COST & THAT IT WAS RECALLED ON OLDER ALERO MODELS. IT HAS FINALLY GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE SIGNALS ONLY WORK PART TIME AND I HAVE TO TURN ON THE HAZARDS TO GET THE TURN SIGNAL TO WORK - ACCIDENT CAUSING I THINK SO. THE PLASTIC AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT THAT LIGHTS UP AT NIGHT NOW GETS HOT ENOUGH TO HURT IF TOUCHED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM WON'T HELP SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT MONEY AND FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCT. I THINK GM JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE OLDS PRODUCTS. IF IT WAS A PROBLEM THEN AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS NOW THEN IT MUST STILL BE A PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY WILL NOT RECOMMEND A GM VEHICLE TO ANYONE AND WILL BE GOING BACK TO FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341099

80,000 miles · Sep 24, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

I USED MY HORN TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THEY WERE IN MY LANE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HORN WAS STUCK. THE WINDOW CLIPS ON MY CAR BROKE OFF, AS I HAVE READ OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS OF OTHER 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO OWNERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS DEFECTS OF THESE TWO PARTS, AND GM WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE PROBLEM…

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I USED MY HORN TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THEY WERE IN MY LANE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HORN WAS STUCK. THE WINDOW CLIPS ON MY CAR BROKE OFF, AS I HAVE READ OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS OF OTHER 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO OWNERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS DEFECTS OF THESE TWO PARTS, AND GM WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. DUE TO THAT FACT, I AM UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE MY CAR HAS TO HAVE A WORKING HORN AND MY WINDOW MUST BE ABLE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. ALSO A THIRD COMPLAINT, THERE IS NOW COOLANT THAT IS STARTING TO LEAK INTO MY OIL, WHICH FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND COULD CAUSE A FIRE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285185

35,000 miles · Mar 24, 2008
Exterior LightingVisibility

BOUGHT THIS 2003 OLDS ALERO IN 2005 WITH ORIGINAL WARRANTY STILL IN FORCE, ALSO PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE HAD DASH PEELED BACK AND MATERIAL OVER GLOVE BOX PEELED WHEN PURCHASED, ALSO CRACKED PLASTIC ON BACK PASSENGER SIDE. MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD WAS COMING OFF AND HAS SINCE BLOWN AWAY. HAD TO PURCHASE BATT…

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BOUGHT THIS 2003 OLDS ALERO IN 2005 WITH ORIGINAL WARRANTY STILL IN FORCE, ALSO PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE HAD DASH PEELED BACK AND MATERIAL OVER GLOVE BOX PEELED WHEN PURCHASED, ALSO CRACKED PLASTIC ON BACK PASSENGER SIDE. MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD WAS COMING OFF AND HAS SINCE BLOWN AWAY. HAD TO PURCHASE BATTERY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND 4 NEW TIRES AFTER PURCHASE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED TO GET INTERIOR ITEMS REPAIRED AND WAS INFORMED THEY DID NOT DO WARRANTY WORK ON THIS BRAND OF VEHICLE, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL ANOTHER DEALER WHO SOLD THIS TYPE OF CAR. I DID AND WAS TOLD THAT NONE OF THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO, RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY ONE WAS WORKING, FOUND OUT IT HAD BEEN FIXED AND THE BRACKET UNDER WHICH HELD THE LIGHT WAS BROKEN. WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. NOW 2008 AND ALL ITEMS STILL BROKEN SINCE I DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO REPAIR, ALSO CAR PULLS TO LEFT, AND BRAKES ARE GRINDING. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS MANY PROBLEMS BEFORE AT LEAST 75,000 MILES. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222124

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2007
Visibility

DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOW FALLS DOWN, AND WON'T ROLL UP EXCEPT BY HAND. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING, AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO I'M STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. IF I GO ON LONG TRIPS, I H…

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DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOW FALLS DOWN, AND WON'T ROLL UP EXCEPT BY HAND. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING, AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO I'M STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. IF I GO ON LONG TRIPS, I HAVE TO TAPE THE WINDOW UP AND THE WINDOW IS AN EYE-SORE BECAUSE OF IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10206841

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2005
Visibility

THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED MY WINDOW HAD (3) OTHER OLDSMOBILE ALEROS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR - IT COST ME $500 TO FIX-I CAN'T GO WITHOUT A WINDOW…

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THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED MY WINDOW HAD (3) OTHER OLDSMOBILE ALEROS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR - IT COST ME $500 TO FIX-I CAN'T GO WITHOUT A WINDOW!!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10140263

49,543 miles · Oct 17, 2005
Visibility

I OWN A 2003 OLDS ALERO. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED, BOTH BACK WINDOWS FELL AND WONT' STAY UP. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY WANTED $620.00 TO REPAIR THEM. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND DECLINED REPAIR. I WAS THEN CHARGED $90. FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY PUT TAPE ON THEM! NOW ALL THE CAR THIEVES CAN SEE THE TAPE OR THE WINDOW D…

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I OWN A 2003 OLDS ALERO. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED, BOTH BACK WINDOWS FELL AND WONT' STAY UP. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY WANTED $620.00 TO REPAIR THEM. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND DECLINED REPAIR. I WAS THEN CHARGED $90. FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY PUT TAPE ON THEM! NOW ALL THE CAR THIEVES CAN SEE THE TAPE OR THE WINDOW DOWN AND HELP THEMSELVES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! I OWN 3 GM AUTOS AND HAVE A GM REWARDS CARD WITH REWARDS DISCOUNT TOWARDS MY NEXT PURCHASE THAT I WAS PLANNING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT AFTER THE POOR QUALITY AND POOR SERVICE PRACTICES, I FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I EXPECT GM TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND WILL NOT BUY ANYMORE AUTOS FROM THEM UNTIL THEY DO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140034

34,500 miles · Mar 16, 2005
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

LAST SUMMER MY FAMILY AND I LOADED INTO MY 2003 OLDS ALERO GL FOR A TRIP. THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD CLICK BUT NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT SLID FORWARD WITH MY WIFE IN IT. I'VE BEEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THIS STILL HAPPENS. NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED I DON'T LET…

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LAST SUMMER MY FAMILY AND I LOADED INTO MY 2003 OLDS ALERO GL FOR A TRIP. THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD CLICK BUT NOT LOCK IN PLACE. THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT SLID FORWARD WITH MY WIFE IN IT. I'VE BEEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THIS STILL HAPPENS. NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED I DON'T LET ANYONE SIT IN THAT SEAT OR I USE MY WIFE'S CAR WHEN CARRYING PASSENGERS TO AVOID THE REPAIR COSTS.*AK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK AND AND BROKE THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE GLASS, THE REPAIR BILL WAS ALMOST $400. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THE WINDOW HAS STARTED SQUEAKING AND RATTLING. I HAVE STOPPED USING IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE REPAIRS. A WEEK AND A HALF BACK I NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION AND A WEEK AGO I HAD TO SPEND ALMOST $450 TO REPLACE MY BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND HAVE MY SUSPENSION INSPECTED. NOTHING WRONG WAS FOUND WITH THE SUSPENSION, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MEINEKE 3 TIMES TOTAL OVER THE LAST YEAR COMPLAINING OF GRINDING AND REDUCED STOPPING POWER. BOTH TOLD ME THAT VISIBLY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND I HAD 15-20,000 MILES OF WEAR LEFT, THAT WAS LESS THAN 6,000 MILES AGO. NEW ISSUE. 3 DAYS AGO MY WINDSHIELD WASHER STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I TRIED TO OPERATE THE WASHER FLUID SHOT OUT OF THE TOP OF THE RESEVOIR AND SOAKED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10114163

15,000 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS CAME ON PERIODICALLY, AND THE WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND HAD ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER …

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS CAME ON PERIODICALLY, AND THE WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND HAD ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECRICAL WIRING WAS REPLACED BUT WHEN INSPECTED THE OLD WIRE WAS FOUND STILL IN THE VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10105154

45,000 miles · Dec 7, 2004
Visibility

2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR APPROXIMAYTELY 9 MONTHS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT WARRANTY IS OUT BACAUSE OF MILEAGE. I DRIVE ABOUT 700 MILES A WEEK FOR MY JOB, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I SIT AND PLAY WITH MY POWER WINDOW, WITH THE CAR BEING SO NEW, IT SHOULD STILL BE…

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2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR APPROXIMAYTELY 9 MONTHS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT WARRANTY IS OUT BACAUSE OF MILEAGE. I DRIVE ABOUT 700 MILES A WEEK FOR MY JOB, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I SIT AND PLAY WITH MY POWER WINDOW, WITH THE CAR BEING SO NEW, IT SHOULD STILL BE WORKING. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE AROUND $300, MAYBE MORE. I FIND THIS TO BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE CONSIDERING THE AGE OF THE CAR. IS THERE NOT A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY ON SUCH PARTS OR IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORS IN THE DOORS FOR THE WINDOW?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102271

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.