← New search

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

What owners actually said

109 reports
162,000 miles · Jul 14, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884842

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

200,000 miles · May 6, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NHTSA CA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WOULD ONLY UPDATE THE KEYS; IT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10863644

90,000 miles · Nov 25, 2015
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE KEY, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE KEY, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10806734

150,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SECURITY AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SECURITY AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10782393

134,212 miles · Sep 17, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,212.

NHTSA ODI #10764629

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE I…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10763614

196,000 miles · Aug 7, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO THE FAULTY PASS LOCK SYSTEM. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM AND IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL PUMP, THE STARTER AND THE A…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO THE FAULTY PASS LOCK SYSTEM. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM AND IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL PUMP, THE STARTER AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START BY LOOSENING THE BATTERY AND THE IGNITION KEY TURNED INTO THE ON POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

NHTSA ODI #10747098

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2015
Electrical System

2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NOVEMBER 19, 2014, SHE ASSUMED THE RECALL HAD PERFORMED. HOWEVER, ON FEBRUARY 20, 2015, SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE D…

Read full complaint

2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NOVEMBER 19, 2014, SHE ASSUMED THE RECALL HAD PERFORMED. HOWEVER, ON FEBRUARY 20, 2015, SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED AND THE CURRENT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE KEY AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE INITIAL RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10702636

7,000 miles · Feb 19, 2015
EnginePower TrainFire

[XXX]: AFTER A DAY OF LIGHT DRIVING AFTER BEING STATIONARY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF IN COLORADO SPRINGS CO (COOL WEATHER) UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMP NEEDLE WENT FROM COOL TO ALMOST OVERHEATED IN THE UNDER 30 MINS IT TOOK TO GO FROM ONE STORE PARKING LOT TO THE NEXT NEARBY ONE. THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY OVERHEATED & SP…

Read full complaint

[XXX]: AFTER A DAY OF LIGHT DRIVING AFTER BEING STATIONARY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF IN COLORADO SPRINGS CO (COOL WEATHER) UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMP NEEDLE WENT FROM COOL TO ALMOST OVERHEATED IN THE UNDER 30 MINS IT TOOK TO GO FROM ONE STORE PARKING LOT TO THE NEXT NEARBY ONE. THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY OVERHEATED & SPARKS / 1' FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE SIDES OF THE FRONT HOOD. UPON BEING SHUT OFF THE FLAMES RECEDED, AFTER APPROX 30MINS SITTING THE HOOD WAS LIFTED & FLUIDS CHECKED (ALL WERE AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS). THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN & RAN IDLE FOR 20 MINS & THE SPARKS / FLAMES REAPPEARED AGAIN SO THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN & A RIDE CALLED. UPON BEING PICKED UP THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE RAN FINE AGAIN FOR THE MOST PART WITH ONLY SLIGHT OVERHEATING - IT WAS TAKEN FOR AN ENGINE WASH / UNDER HOOD AT AN APPROPRIATE FACILITY TO REMOVE ANY FLAMMABLE / COMBUSTIBLE RESIDUE. HAD TO BE DRIVEN AT SPEEDS UNDER 50MPH TO RETURN HOME WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10684255

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.