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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

21 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

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

125,000 miles · Jun 15, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10874339

141,271 miles · Dec 14, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WAS DRIVING ON IN TOLL ROAD WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON BY GOING TO MANUAL. THEY ALSO FLICKERED ON & OFF EVEN WITH CAR OFF AND KEY OUT OF IGNITION. HAD RECALL ON IGNITION, RECALL 143510, ADVISED GM AND DEALER OF PROBLEM. THEY SAID WASN'T COVERED BY RECALL. STILL A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664129

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON IS PUSHED BACK WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVE MY HAZARD LIGHTS IF NEEDED. ALSO, THERE WERE SOME UNIDENTIFIED LIGHTS STUCK ON THE DASHBOARD. *MW

NHTSA ODI #10654351

78,452 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE BLINKERS ONLY WORK 5 % OF THE TIME. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT IN THE REAR SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. NEITHER BLINKER WILL WORK. I NOTICE A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE 2001 OLDS ALERO FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2004 OLDS ALERO THAT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE BLINKERS DO NOT WORK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH…

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THE BLINKERS ONLY WORK 5 % OF THE TIME. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT IN THE REAR SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. NEITHER BLINKER WILL WORK. I NOTICE A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE 2001 OLDS ALERO FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2004 OLDS ALERO THAT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE BLINKERS DO NOT WORK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON 2004 OLDS ALERO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654218

97,000 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE TURN SIGNALS RANDOMLY STOP FUNCTIONING. THEY CAN GO FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING AND BACK IN ANY GIVEN DRIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUSES MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT IT QUICKLY STARTS DOING IT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648450

105,200 miles · Sep 20, 2014
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2004 ALERO GOES IN AND OUT ALL OF THE TIME. THE HAZARDS WILL WORK BUT NO TURN SIGNALS. IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THAT I'M TURNING OR CHANGING LANES. I ALSO GOT PULLED OVER FOR NOT USING MY BLINKER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T WORK. ALSO MY HORN HASN'T WORKED FOR A LONG TIME. THAT IS ALSO A SAFET…

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THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2004 ALERO GOES IN AND OUT ALL OF THE TIME. THE HAZARDS WILL WORK BUT NO TURN SIGNALS. IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THAT I'M TURNING OR CHANGING LANES. I ALSO GOT PULLED OVER FOR NOT USING MY BLINKER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T WORK. ALSO MY HORN HASN'T WORKED FOR A LONG TIME. THAT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637775

130,000 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10557454

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.