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2004 Oldsmobile Alero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero are lower than the model-year median of 279.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

78 reports with mileage · 31 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

57 reports
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63,000 miles · May 27, 2026
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while turning the key the vehicle failed to start. The blinkers were inoperable at times. There was an abnormal grinding sound detected while turning the ignition. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campai…

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The contact owns a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while turning the key the vehicle failed to start. The blinkers were inoperable at times. There was an abnormal grinding sound detected while turning the ignition. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who test drove the vehicle and determined the failure was due to the ignition switch. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #11740303

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2024
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

I have exhaust coming into the car through the vent when thermostat is in use, my back seats are not in the clip and flip up with no problem and I have a 8 year old son who sits back there, my break pedal will lock and I cannot apply pressure, my dash lights just stopped working I believe the ECM is bad, my headlights go from br…

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I have exhaust coming into the car through the vent when thermostat is in use, my back seats are not in the clip and flip up with no problem and I have a 8 year old son who sits back there, my break pedal will lock and I cannot apply pressure, my dash lights just stopped working I believe the ECM is bad, my headlights go from bright to dim, car does not seem to keep acceleration power very well

NHTSA ODI #11625161

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2024
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngineCrashInjury

Airbag no deployment Loss of power steering Brakes to floor Car died Recall ignored prior and still today after set up now off their schedule Friendly Chevrolet rich Gardner

NHTSA ODI #11580823

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE HAZARD AND TURN SIGNALS DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I BOUGHT A NEW TURN SWITCH, PUT A NEW FUSE IN AND EVERYTHING AND NOTHING WORKS. WHEN I DRIVE ON THE ROAD THE TURN SIGNAL DOESNT COME ON AND SOMETIMES IT CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11372378

198,765 miles · Feb 18, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSE TO LEAK ON EQUIPMENT UNDER INSIDE AND OUT DASHBOARD WITCH CAUSED EROSION AND DEFECTS TO OTHER OPERATING EQUIPMENT LEAD TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING,SOME OPERATIONS OF WILL WORK, SOME WON'T. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN,THE SECURITY SYSTEM ON CAR DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SINCE…

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NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSE TO LEAK ON EQUIPMENT UNDER INSIDE AND OUT DASHBOARD WITCH CAUSED EROSION AND DEFECTS TO OTHER OPERATING EQUIPMENT LEAD TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING,SOME OPERATIONS OF WILL WORK, SOME WON'T. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN,THE SECURITY SYSTEM ON CAR DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SINCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON HIGHWAY 55MPH. AND THE CAR COMPLETELY TURN OFF, I TURNED IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN CAR BACK ON IT WAS VERY SCARY MOMENT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT I WISH I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF MISERY FINANCIALLY EMOTIONALLY FEEL SAFE WITH GM SEALING FRONT WINDOW PROPERLY ON ALERO I WOULDN'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE! SO NOT PROPERLY SEALING AND WIRING DIAGRAM NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED IN MY OPINION ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE IN ANY GM MOTORS MODELS NOT JUST ME BUT OTHERS TOO . I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP ME AS MUCH I HELP OTHERS IN MY CAR N MY DAILY LIFE TO GET BY NOT MUCH TO ASK TO FEEL SAFE! THE CAR WAS NOT SEALED RIGHT IN FIRST PLACE. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED MY PROBLEMS OWNING THIS CAR. I NEED EITHER HELP WITH CAR TO GET FIX PTHE RIGHT WAY. OR I NEED A NEW CAR I HAVE A DISABLED MOTHER AND GRANDPA THAT DEPEND ON ME AND I NEED A RELIABLE CAR TO PROVIDE DAILY TASKS APPOINTMENTS THE LIST GOES ON. I COULD REALLY USE A PIECE OF MIND JUST TO KNOW I'M DRIVING A SAFE RELIABLE CAR TO DO MY GOD SERVICES EVERY DAY I'M BEGGING!!

NHTSA ODI #11180995

133,000 miles · Nov 9, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET AMARILLO (2200 E I-40, AMARILLO, TX 79103) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO NEW KEYS FROM THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT START THE VEHICLE AND THE SECU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET AMARILLO (2200 E I-40, AMARILLO, TX 79103) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO NEW KEYS FROM THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT START THE VEHICLE AND THE SECURITY INDICATOR FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #11150336

80,000 miles · May 25, 2017
Electrical System

THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON FELL INTO THE DASHBOARD AND THE BLINKER SIGNALS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THEY WILL SOMETIMES STOP WORKING WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, OTHER TIMES WILL WORK FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN RANDOMLY STOP AGAIN FOR NO CONSISTENT AMOUNT OF TIME. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE TO REPAIR I SEE THAT IT IS VERY COMMON …

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THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON FELL INTO THE DASHBOARD AND THE BLINKER SIGNALS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THEY WILL SOMETIMES STOP WORKING WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, OTHER TIMES WILL WORK FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN RANDOMLY STOP AGAIN FOR NO CONSISTENT AMOUNT OF TIME. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE TO REPAIR I SEE THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH OTHER CARS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10991614

136,000 miles · May 17, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

I OWN A 2004 ALERO OLDSMOBILE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN 2008. IT LATER ONLY HAD ONE RECALL WHICH WAS FOR THE IGNITION ISSUES. WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND IN DRIVE THE KEY IS STILL ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR STILL REMAINS ON AND IN DRIVE. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING MY BLINKERS NOT WORKING 100% OF THE TIME, (NHTSA…

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I OWN A 2004 ALERO OLDSMOBILE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN 2008. IT LATER ONLY HAD ONE RECALL WHICH WAS FOR THE IGNITION ISSUES. WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND IN DRIVE THE KEY IS STILL ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR STILL REMAINS ON AND IN DRIVE. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING MY BLINKERS NOT WORKING 100% OF THE TIME, (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # FOR THIS ISSUE IS 03V327000). I CAN PRESS THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON QUICKLY AND FREQUENTLY WHILE PUSHING ON THE SIGNAL STICK AND THAT SOMETIMES WILL MAKE THEM WORK, OTHER TIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK AND NEITHER MY SIGNALS NOR HAZARD SIGNALS WORK AT ALL. LASTLY, AND MOST FRIGHTENING, IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED, AND WILL JUMP AS THE RPM'S BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH, (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # FOR THIS ISSUE IS 07E021000). THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED AND A FEW TIMES THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY DID SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, I'VE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, AND WAIT 10-15 MINUTES BEFORE I ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TESTED FOR OVER 3 HOURS AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE OR BATTERY, WHICH IS WHY I AM CERTAIN IT IS THE FUEL PRESSURE RECALL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE KEY RECALL I BROUGHT THIS UP TO THEM AS WELL, (AS MY WINDOWS ALSO DO NOT WORK), I PURCHASED A NEW GAS CAP AS INSTRUCTED HOPING THAT WOULD FIX THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE CAR STALLING OUT, IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THERE ARE RECALLS THAT MY CAR FALLS UNDER AND THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, I ASKED WHY THESE LIFE THREATENING RECALLS WEREN'T ABLE TO BE FIXED ON MY CAR, I WAS TOLD THEY WEREN'T LISTED ON MY VIN. PLEASE HELP MY VEHICLE AND THE MILLIONS OTHERS BE UPDATED WITH THE NHTSA TO REQUEST THE MANUFACTURER TO REVIEW THIS MORE CLOSELY IN RELATION TO THE ONES ACTUALLY AFFECTED BY THESE ISSUES. THESE ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POSE AS A THREAT NOT ONLY TO MYSELF AND FAMILY BUT TO OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME.

NHTSA ODI #10986256

150,000 miles · May 2, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. AFTER DRIVING AND ARRIVING AT HER DESTINATION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN EVERY DAY OCCURRENCE EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. AFTER DRIVING AND ARRIVING AT HER DESTINATION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN EVERY DAY OCCURRENCE EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN APRIL OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 8-2930117201 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10983123

202,640 miles · May 2, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,640.

NHTSA ODI #10983078

Official recalls

1

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.

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.