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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

What owners actually said

184 reports
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS PROGRAMMED BY AN I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS PROGRAMMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. RK

NHTSA ODI #10593705

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2014
Electrical System

2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WOULD SHUT DOWN AT TIMES DURING LEFT TURNS UNDER 35 MPH. KEPT A LOG ON THESE EVENTS UPDATED 3/28/14*CN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10583813

93,000 miles · Apr 14, 2014
Air BagsEngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE DEFECT RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF CONSTANT ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10579641

45,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED AB…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10578611

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE IN THE GM RECALL. WHEN STARING THE CAR AT TIMES THERE IS A DELAY WITH DASH BOARD LIGHTS COMING ON. ALSO WINDOWS NOT WORKING ,RADIO, AND SENSOR LIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY TECH IT MAY BE AN IGNITION PROBLEM BUT WHEN IT WAS ON THE COMPUTER SAID SOMETHING DIFFERENT. MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON THEN HE SAID…

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I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE IN THE GM RECALL. WHEN STARING THE CAR AT TIMES THERE IS A DELAY WITH DASH BOARD LIGHTS COMING ON. ALSO WINDOWS NOT WORKING ,RADIO, AND SENSOR LIGHTS. I WAS TOLD BY TECH IT MAY BE AN IGNITION PROBLEM BUT WHEN IT WAS ON THE COMPUTER SAID SOMETHING DIFFERENT. MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON THEN HE SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN WHICH HE WOULD NEED TO BREAK MY STEERING COLUMN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 152000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573195

100,900 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngineFire

TODAY I STARTED MY CAR WITH MY AUTOMATIC STARTER THEN 7 MINUTES LATER I HEAR A HORN NON STOP BEEPING I LOOKOUT MY DOOR AND MY CAR IS SMOKING AND IN FLAMES FROM HOOD. INVESTIGATOR TELLS ME IT TOTALED. AFTER THEY PUT THE FIRE OUT I LOOK IN CAR AND ONLY ONE AIR BAG CAME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566241

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

64,000 miles · Nov 6, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, BUT REALIZED THERE WAS A SHORT WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS AS SOON AS I WOULD PUSH THE HAZARD LIGHTS IN A LITTLE THE BLINKERS WOULD START WORKING. RECENTLY PUSHING THE HAZARD LIGHTS DOES NOT MAKE THE BLINKER BLINK, NOR DOES IT CAUSE THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO WORK ANYMORE. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THIS IS A COMMO…

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THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, BUT REALIZED THERE WAS A SHORT WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS AS SOON AS I WOULD PUSH THE HAZARD LIGHTS IN A LITTLE THE BLINKERS WOULD START WORKING. RECENTLY PUSHING THE HAZARD LIGHTS DOES NOT MAKE THE BLINKER BLINK, NOR DOES IT CAUSE THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO WORK ANYMORE. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 ALERO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551159

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

120,000 miles · Oct 16, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

I LIVE IN A HOT "AMBIENT" ENVIRONMENT, THE SOUTH. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF MY 2003 ALERO OLDSMOBILE. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR STICKS AND WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS GETTING WORSE. IT IS ALSO AFFECTING THE REST OF THE CAR AND ITS PARTS. MY BRAKES ARE PROBABLY GOING OUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCELE…

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I LIVE IN A HOT "AMBIENT" ENVIRONMENT, THE SOUTH. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF MY 2003 ALERO OLDSMOBILE. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR STICKS AND WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS GETTING WORSE. IT IS ALSO AFFECTING THE REST OF THE CAR AND ITS PARTS. MY BRAKES ARE PROBABLY GOING OUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING STUCK AND ME HAVING TO HOLD THE BRAKES DOWN WHILE ITS REVVING PAST 3000 RPMS IN PARK. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY CLAIM THAT MY VIN ISN'T EFFECTED. I HAVE READ ABOUT AND TALKED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2003 ALERO OLDSMOBILE AND THEY ALSO WERE TURNED AWAY AND SAID THAT THEIR VINS WERE NOT EFFECTED. I THINK THAT GM MIGHT NOT BE TAKING THIS RECALL SERIOUSLY BUT I AM POSITIVE THAT THIS RECALL IS VALID FOR MY CAR AND IT IS SCARY WHEN I HAVE MY TWO BOYS THAT ARE UNDER FIVE IN MY BACKSEAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STICKS AND CONTINUES TO DO AND EVEN WHEN I TURN OFF MY VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON IT CONTINUES TO DO SO. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT YA'LL WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP ME . THANK YOU SO MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480759

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.