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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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136,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineLatches/locks/linkages

2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. MOST ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAIL AT TIMES. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. REAR DOOR LOCKS HAVE TO PLAY WITH REMOTE LOCKS BEFORE DOOR OPENS ACTS AS THOUGH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE ON CAN NOT OPEN DOOR FROM IN OR OUT. EVENTUALLY AFTER PUSHING …

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2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. MOST ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAIL AT TIMES. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. REAR DOOR LOCKS HAVE TO PLAY WITH REMOTE LOCKS BEFORE DOOR OPENS ACTS AS THOUGH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE ON CAN NOT OPEN DOOR FROM IN OR OUT. EVENTUALLY AFTER PUSHING ON REMOTE LOCK IT OPENS. BRAKES ALWAYS GRINDING EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENTS. ENGINE HAS ALSO, TICKED NOT KNOCK JUST TICKING SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THE CAR. MANY TIMES THE CAR DOES NOT START FIRST TRY AFTER SECOND IT STARTS BUT ALL ELECTRICAL HAS TO RESET EXAMPLE RADIO, CLOCK ECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359024

120,000 miles · Jan 21, 2009
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO THAT I HAVE FOUND TO HAVE A VERY IRRITATING PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. WHAT HAPPEN IS WHEN YOU GO TO START YOUR CAR SOMETIME THE IGNITION DOESN'T RECOGNIZE YOUR KEY AND THE CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE IT THINKS FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER THAT SOMEONE IS STEALING THE CAR. WHAT …

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I HAVE A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO THAT I HAVE FOUND TO HAVE A VERY IRRITATING PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. WHAT HAPPEN IS WHEN YOU GO TO START YOUR CAR SOMETIME THE IGNITION DOESN'T RECOGNIZE YOUR KEY AND THE CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE IT THINKS FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER THAT SOMEONE IS STEALING THE CAR. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT YOU KEY IN TURN IT TO THE A/C POSITION AND WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT TURNS OFF THEN TURN IT BACK TO OFF, TAKE THE KEY OUT AND THEN IT WILL START. I WAS WITH OUT A CAR FOR 3 WEEKS LOST WORK AND HAD TO FIND MY KIDS A WAY TO SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND HE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE TO HAVE FIXED UNTIL I GOOGLED IT ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WERE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND A WEB SITE WITH THE EXACT SAME STORY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED THE GMC PLACE TO TRY TO GET THIS PROBLEM RECALLED BUT JUST BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE GMC FEELS LIKE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED ALL THE TIME LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED. I HOPE YOU CAN GET SOMETHING DONE SO THAT HARD WORKING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF DOESN'T GET PUSHED AROUND. THE WEB SITE I WENT TO WAS WWW.COMPLAINTS.COM THE KEY WORDS TO FIND THE HORRIBLE STORIES IS ALERO, DEFECTIVE, DETERRENT, OLDSMOBILE, PASSLOCK, SYSTEM, THEFT. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255801

60,981 miles · Dec 10, 2008
Electrical System

THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND HAD TO FIDDLE WITH IT TO WORK, SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND HAD THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER CHANGED ALONG WITH THE KEY(?). COST WAS OVER $500.00 WITH MILEAGE AT 60,981. JUST PAST WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR SOME OF THIS AT THIS MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251442

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2007
Electrical System

MY OLDSMOBILE ALERO JUST HIT 60000 MILES, AND IS NOT STARTING AND IS STALLING. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET, BUT IT SEEMS ELECTRICAL. THE SECURITY LIGHT HAS COME ON WHEN IT STALLS SO I AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE RELATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10186970

43,000 miles · Mar 17, 2007
Electrical System

CAR WOULD NOT START, SECURITY LIGHT ON. PASSLOCK SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING PER DEALER. REPARI WAS MADE, NEW KEYS ISSUED, BUT STRANGLY ENOUGH, OLD KEYS STILL WORKED. I'VE SEEN OTHER NOTES OF PASSLOCK SENSOR PROBLEMS IN OTHER ALEROS. SAFETY? YES-CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.

NHTSA ODI #10185384

20,000 miles · Sep 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

DT: BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 2004 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT TH…

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DT: BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 2004 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEMS.. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 20,000 MILES IT HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AND BRAKE SHOES REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE STILL MAKING A HUMMING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT OR WITH THE BRAKES.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL, DOOR PANELS, WINDOWS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE TRANSMISSION OR FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING, THE BLINKERS WERE BLINKING TOO FAST, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING, THE CARPET LINING WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE, THE BACK TRIM AROUND THE SEATS DIDN'T FIT PROPERLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135455

50,000 miles · Aug 28, 2005
Electrical System

2004 OLDS ALERO KEY WILL NOT TURN HAVE TO SWAP KEY AROUND UNTIL IT TURNS. SOMETIMES WHEN IT DOES FINALLY TURN THE STARTER WILL HESITATE TO DISENGAGE. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES ON FORUMS SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR ALERO TOWED AND HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH/CYLINDER REPLACED. I FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER BEFORE …

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2004 OLDS ALERO KEY WILL NOT TURN HAVE TO SWAP KEY AROUND UNTIL IT TURNS. SOMETIMES WHEN IT DOES FINALLY TURN THE STARTER WILL HESITATE TO DISENGAGE. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES ON FORUMS SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR ALERO TOWED AND HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH/CYLINDER REPLACED. I FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER BEFORE THE PROBLEM WORSENS LIKE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134423

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.