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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

What owners actually said

109 reports
85,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10649586

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2014
Electrical System

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

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

NHTSA ODI #10644681

130,000 miles · Oct 3, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING CAUSING HIM TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY AND CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE CRASH DIDN'T DEPLOY THE AIRBAG, BUT CAUSED SEVER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, RESULTING IN IT BEING TOTALED. IT WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD WHERE IT WAS SOLD AS SCRAP. FORTUNATEL…

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MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING CAUSING HIM TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY AND CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE CRASH DIDN'T DEPLOY THE AIRBAG, BUT CAUSED SEVER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, RESULTING IN IT BEING TOTALED. IT WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD WHERE IT WAS SOLD AS SCRAP. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY INJURED, AND DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. I CONTACTED GM AFTER RECEIVING THEIR RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER, 2014. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE THERE ASKING JUST FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE CAR SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR CRASHED. THE REPRESENTATIVE DECLINED THE CLAIM STATING THEY COULD NOT INSPECT THE CAR. THE CLAIM # IS [XXX]. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR AS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL NOTICE AND FELT NO OBLIGATION AT THE TIME TO REPORT IT TO GM. I ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT, AND CAN FORWARD THAT TO YOU IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641159

35,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY, WHICH CAUSED THE SECURITY CHIME TO ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY, WHICH CAUSED THE SECURITY CHIME TO ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10640436

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2014
Electrical System

I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL ON 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALEROS, AND THE DEALER, AFTER I HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT, TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THE RECALL, BUT I JUST HAD TO BUY ANOTHER KEY. THAT'S NOT THE WAY I UNDERSTAND RECALLS. I DON'T BUY SOMETHING, BUT IT SHOULD BE THEY FIX SOMETHING. I'VE NEVER HEAR…

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I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL ON 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALEROS, AND THE DEALER, AFTER I HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT, TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THE RECALL, BUT I JUST HAD TO BUY ANOTHER KEY. THAT'S NOT THE WAY I UNDERSTAND RECALLS. I DON'T BUY SOMETHING, BUT IT SHOULD BE THEY FIX SOMETHING. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A DEALER ARGUING WITH THE CUSTOMER ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS EITHER, BUT I'M GOING TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE. HOWEVER, I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONTACT YOU FIRST, BASED ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE RECALL NOTICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637887

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

165,340 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury

JUNE 2010(IRVING, TX) - THE GEAR SHAFT BUTTON POPPED OUT WHICH MADE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT STICKING SOMETHING HARD INSIDE, LIKE A PEN . VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO START, TYPICALLY AFTER THIRD TRY IT WOULD START. . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC F…

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JUNE 2010(IRVING, TX) - THE GEAR SHAFT BUTTON POPPED OUT WHICH MADE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT STICKING SOMETHING HARD INSIDE, LIKE A PEN . VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO START, TYPICALLY AFTER THIRD TRY IT WOULD START. . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRED AS I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AT THE TIME, . I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IN WHICH MY ALERO WAS TOTALED AFTER FAILING TO STOP BECAUSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED, THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 165,340 AT THE TIME OF FAILURE *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633512

20,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ UPDATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/21/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10632121

35,570 miles · Sep 8, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR VARIOUS ENGINE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND PERFORMED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NOTIFICATION, INCLUDING DRIVING WITH A SINGLE KEY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,570.

NHTSA ODI #10631662

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.