← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

184 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

2003 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

NHTSA ODI #10391939

84,527 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL REPEATEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY AND OFTENTIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL REPEATEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY AND OFTENTIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE FUSE BOX YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN THE WEEK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS THEN REPLACED AND THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,527.

NHTSA ODI #10389721

97,000 miles · Feb 22, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO ---- TURN SIGNALS ARE INTERMITTENT. TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING AND FAIL TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF INTENTIONS TO TURN CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF TURN SIGNAL FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384063

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2011
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THE SECURITY LIGHTS IS FLASHING, CAR WILL NOT START. SO GO AND TURN KEY TO ON POSITION WAIT 10 MINUTES BUT TODAY IT WAS 20 MINUTES UNTIL LIGHTS STOP FLASHING THEN TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION BEFORE TRYING TO START. TODAY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. SO I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION UNTIL I …

Read full complaint

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THE SECURITY LIGHTS IS FLASHING, CAR WILL NOT START. SO GO AND TURN KEY TO ON POSITION WAIT 10 MINUTES BUT TODAY IT WAS 20 MINUTES UNTIL LIGHTS STOP FLASHING THEN TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION BEFORE TRYING TO START. TODAY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. SO I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION UNTIL I CAN GET HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10383851

122,000 miles · Nov 5, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I NOTICED AN ISSUE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD BECAUSE I HAD BEEN PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK BECAUSE THE CAR ACCELERATED BY WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL...ALTHOUGH I WAS PULLED OVER ALREADY TO INVESTIGATE WHY THE CAR ACCELERATED YET I STILL RECEIVED A TICKET .WASN'T TOO SURE WHAT HAPPENED ON 11/4 AT…

Read full complaint

I NOTICED AN ISSUE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD BECAUSE I HAD BEEN PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK BECAUSE THE CAR ACCELERATED BY WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL...ALTHOUGH I WAS PULLED OVER ALREADY TO INVESTIGATE WHY THE CAR ACCELERATED YET I STILL RECEIVED A TICKET .WASN'T TOO SURE WHAT HAPPENED ON 11/4 AT ABOUT 3:10PM I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT TURNING THE CORNER , THE PEDAL STUCK OR WOULDN'T STOP NOT TOO SURE BUT I LOST ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE TRYING TO AVOID A CAR ON THE RIGHT I SWERVED AND HIT THE CAR ON THE LEFT THUS DESTROYING MY CAR AND THE OTHER CAR IN THE PROCESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364171

90,000 miles · Nov 1, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT THE MECHANIC DID TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN BLEW DAILY BETWEEN 2AM AND 3AM FOR NO PARTIC…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT THE MECHANIC DID TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN BLEW DAILY BETWEEN 2AM AND 3AM FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10363479

115,383 miles · Sep 25, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10357441

85,000 miles · Sep 14, 2010
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COVERING FOR THE AIR BAG WAS SHIFTING AND THAT 2/3 OF THE COVERING WAS UP IN THE AIR. THE SURFACE WAS NO LONGER SMOOTH. THE CONTACT HAD A SEAMSTRESS INSPECT THE SURFACE. THE SEAMSTRESS ADVISED…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COVERING FOR THE AIR BAG WAS SHIFTING AND THAT 2/3 OF THE COVERING WAS UP IN THE AIR. THE SURFACE WAS NO LONGER SMOOTH. THE CONTACT HAD A SEAMSTRESS INSPECT THE SURFACE. THE SEAMSTRESS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD POTENTIALLY DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #10355464

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2010
Exterior Lighting

BLINKER INDICATOR ON 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SPORATICALLY WORKS, CAUSING EXTREME DANGER WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE IT PREVENTS DRIVER FROM NOTIFYING OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD OF LANE CHANGES, LEFT/RIGHT HAND TURNS, OR VEHICLE PROBLEMS WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BUT VEHILE FAILS TO RESPOND. 2003 ALERO SPORATICALLY MAKES "CLICK" …

Read full complaint

BLINKER INDICATOR ON 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SPORATICALLY WORKS, CAUSING EXTREME DANGER WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE IT PREVENTS DRIVER FROM NOTIFYING OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD OF LANE CHANGES, LEFT/RIGHT HAND TURNS, OR VEHICLE PROBLEMS WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BUT VEHILE FAILS TO RESPOND. 2003 ALERO SPORATICALLY MAKES "CLICK" NOISES SUCH AS WHEN ONE USES THE BLINKER, EVEN THOUGH DRIVER HAS NOT INITIATED BLINKER USE AND BLINKER INDICATOR LIGHTS DO NOT DISPLAY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE "CLICK" NOISE SPEED VARIES, SOMETIMES EVERY SECOND, OTHER TIMES IT "CLICKS" AS IF IN A FRENZY "CLICK-A-CLICK-A-CLICK-A-CLICK-A..." AND SO ON. WHEN BLICKER ACTUALLY IS PUT TO USE BY DRIVER, SOMETIMES IT OPERATES AS A BLINKER SHOULD, IE, STAYING ON UNTIL EITHER THE TURN IS MADE OR THE DRIVER MANUALLY RETURNS THE BLINKER INDICATOR BACK TO IT'S STANDARD POSITION, OTHER TIMES IT WILL TURN ITSELF OFF PREMATURELY, IE, WHILE THE DRIVER IS STILL WAITING TO TURN, BEFORE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED - AND BLINKER INDICATOR REMAINS IN THE "IN USE" POSITION...BLINKING LIGHTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE JUST STOP WORKING AS IF THE DRIVER TURNED THE BLINKER OFF HIM/HERSELF. OTHER TIMES WHEN BLINKER IS USED, NOTHING HAPPENS. NO BLINKER INDICATOR LIGHTS APPEAR ON OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO INDICATE TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT A TURN/LANE CHANGE IS ATTEMPTING TO BE MADE. ACCORDING TO OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 9/1/10, THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT FOR THE 2003 ALERO, ALTHOUGH OTHER LATE MODEL ALEROS HAVE HAD A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. SEE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V327000. THE ONLY OPTION AT THIS POINT FOR 2003 ALERO OWNERS TO PREVENT THEIR VEHICLE FROM BEING A ROAD HAZARD IS TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP FIX THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AT A COST OF $120-$200 OUT OF POCKET, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE ON LATE MODEL ALEROS....OR WAIT AROUND FOR OLDSMOBILE TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR A VEHICLE 7+ YRS OLD AT THIS POINT AND FIX FOR FREE AS THEY SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353363

60,000 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Electrical System

2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. HORN WENT OFF CONTINUALLY AT APPROX. 330 H. AND FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY DIED AT 400 H. NOW I AM LEFT WITHOUT A HORN, BECAUSE I WILL NOT PAY $800 TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES OF GM'S FAULTY MANUFACTURING THAT CAUSES THE SWITCHES TO CONTRACT AND CONTACT SOME STUPID WIRE. DEAR GM, I LOVE THE JAPANESE ;) …

Read full complaint

2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. HORN WENT OFF CONTINUALLY AT APPROX. 330 H. AND FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY DIED AT 400 H. NOW I AM LEFT WITHOUT A HORN, BECAUSE I WILL NOT PAY $800 TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES OF GM'S FAULTY MANUFACTURING THAT CAUSES THE SWITCHES TO CONTRACT AND CONTACT SOME STUPID WIRE. DEAR GM, I LOVE THE JAPANESE ;) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344819

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.