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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.

About this comparison →

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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78,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10579131

107,650 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

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 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

NHTSA ODI #10578880

102,000 miles · Feb 26, 2014
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10566013

60,000 miles · Dec 31, 2013
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10557945

75,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10463934

81,328 miles · May 15, 2012
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10458517

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #10428830

87,500 miles · Jul 1, 2011
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #10410176

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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.

NHTSA ODI #10367802

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2010
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10359966

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.