IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S HAND WAS CUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT TO CLEAN UNDERNEATH IT. THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTMENT SPRINGS NEEDED RUBBER PROTECTIVE CAPS ON THE TOP TO PREVENT CUTS OR PERSONAL INJURIES. UPDATED
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
60–25K
1125–50K
1050–75K
1575–100K
24100–150K
12150K+
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
What owners actually said
109 reportsWHEN MY VEHICLE REACHED 49,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKES REPLACED. MY CAR IS NOW AT 59,000 MILES AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FLOOR. THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT RISER UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ACTUAL FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP TEMPORARILY FIXED THIS …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FLOOR. THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT RISER UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ACTUAL FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP TEMPORARILY FIXED THIS BY INSERTING FOAM RUBBER BETWEEN THE SEAT RISER AND THE FLOOR. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAK AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO DIRT ROADS AND REPLACED THE HUBS, ROTORS, AND BRAKES. THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TWICE, AND NEED REPLACING AGAIN. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM
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
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
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS MAKING A SOUND FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE WEATHER MAKING THE BRAKES SOUND. THE BRAKES ARE NOW SO DEFECTIVE THAT WHEN THEY ARE PRESSED, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *JB
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *SC
WHILE DRIVING SLOWING OVER SOME RAILROAD TRACKS THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
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.