THE WANT OFF ON A COLD NIGHT AND WOULD NOT STOP. PULLED THE RELAY WHEN IT GOT WARM PUT IT BACK IN. WORKED FOR A FEW DAY IT MY HORN AND IT GOT STUCK AGAIN. *JS
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Alero years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Electrical System complaints
57 reportsFAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE AS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACE. THE CAM SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR MODULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE WAS TAKEN TO THE D…
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FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE AS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACE. THE CAM SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR MODULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE REOCURED SHORTLY AFTER. THE DEALER FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER THEN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE DID NOT REOCURED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,650. AZ
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VE…
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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. RK UPDATED 4/22/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING AND WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO RUN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 04/24/2014 *JS
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING GENERAL MOTORS PASSLOCK ISSUES SINCE IT HAD 60000 MILES ON IT. I CAN NO LONGER TRUST IT TO START, AND HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUN WHEN I HAVE TO BE SOMEWHERE ON TIME. *TR
HORN STARTED GOING OFF AND WON'T STOP. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ONLINE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. HE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RESET IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. HE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RESET IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF THE KEY AND SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER WERE REPROGRAMMED. UPDATED 07/12/12
THE SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME AND IF SOMEONE IS BACKING UP AND THEY CAN'T SEE YOU THE HONK DOES NOT WORK. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TURN BACK TURNING SIGNAL IS NOT WORK AT ALL TIMES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER A TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED, THE OPPOSITE SIGNAL WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER A TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED, THE OPPOSITE SIGNAL WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A DAY, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY START IT. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A DAY, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY START IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO: PASSLOCK ANTITHEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES ABOUT ONE OUT OF 10 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN BAD PARTS OF TOWN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WAITING AND BEEN LATE TO WORK SO MUCH THAT I HAVE TO GO OUT TEN MINUTES EARLY AND LEAVE THE CAR RUN. GM HAS…
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2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO: PASSLOCK ANTITHEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES ABOUT ONE OUT OF 10 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN BAD PARTS OF TOWN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WAITING AND BEEN LATE TO WORK SO MUCH THAT I HAVE TO GO OUT TEN MINUTES EARLY AND LEAVE THE CAR RUN. GM HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
114V400000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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