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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Oldsmobile ALERO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

109 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

92,781 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 109 complaints (43.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues2220.2%
Braking behavior1412.8%
Engine operation1311.9%
Steering behavior87.3%
Transmission and shifting54.6%
Fuel system concerns54.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
47
Exterior Lighting
14
Engine
13
Air Bags
12
Electrical System:Ignition
5
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
5
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
5
Fuel System, Gasoline
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System47
Exterior Lighting14
Engine13
Air Bags12
Electrical System:Ignition5
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch5
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal5
Fuel System, Gasoline5

Electrical System: 47; Exterior Lighting: 14; Engine: 13; Air Bags: 12; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
24
150,000 and above
12
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99924
150,000 and above12

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 12

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004
3
2005
2
2006
4
2007
7
2008
7
2009
5
2010
5
2011
5
2012
4
2013
5
2014
32
2015
7
2016
5
2017
7
2018
3
2019
1
2020
1
2021
1
2024
3
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20043
20052
20064
20077
20087
20095
20105
20115
20124
20135
201432
20157
20165
20177
20183
20191
20201
20211
20243
20262

2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 7; 2008: 7; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 5; 2014: 32; 2015: 7; 2016: 5; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 3; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10135455 · 2005-09-06 (September 6, 2005)

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.…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135455 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10186970 · 2007-04-04 (April 4, 2007)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186970 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10105423 · 2004-12-28 (December 28, 2004)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105423 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10473027 · 2012-08-30 (August 30, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, SHE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT WANTED TO MAKE THE PROBLEM KNOWN AND STATED THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE FILED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT OCCURRED IN HER VEHICLE BUT SHE WAS JUST BEING ALERT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10473027 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10251280 · 2008-12-10 (December 10, 2008)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN RUSH HOUR GOING APPROX. 55 MPH AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE GAUGES SHUT DOWN, LOST POWER STEERING. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE, PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART CAR. MY CAR HAS SHUT DOWN PREVIOUSLY TO THIS INCIDENT AND FEEL AS THOUGH IT NEEDS SERIOUS INVESTIGATION. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEEN KILLED. THIS ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN IN A SPIN OUT AS WELL THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS RANDOM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10251280 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10553995 · 2013-11-27 (November 27, 2013)

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPLAINT FILED ON 11-22-13,ODI# 10553362,ABOUT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR,THEY WANT TO REPLACE...IT WAS REPLACED ALREADY ON DEC.30,2009.I AM MAKING A LIST OF ALL OF THE WORK I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR STARTING FROM THE MILEAGE OF 7635,MAY,18,2005.IT WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD,AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE GASKET PAN ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKING.OCT.6,2006,TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AGAIN,AND THE COOLER LINE SEAL WAS REPLACED.NOV.1,2006,THE GENERATOR AND ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED.MILEAGE WAS26,419.JUNE 13,2007,TRANSMISSION LEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 95,562 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553995 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10553362 · 2013-11-22 (November 22, 2013)

I BOUGHT IT IN DEC.2004,THE LAST 2-ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE,I TOOK THE BLACK SITTING ON THE LOT OF FREEMAN OLDS, IRVING TX. I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE IN2006 I HAVE ALL OF MY PAPERWORK. BRAKES WENT OUT, POWERTRAIN WENT OUT. THEN I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THEMORNING WHEN I CRANKED IT. AND STILL DO TO THIS MORNING,IT IS AWFUL. LAST YEAR IT DIED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WOULD NOT START,I EVEN HAD THE PLANO TX. POLICE TRY TO BOOT IT FOR ME. BATTERY I THOUGHT. HUFFINES HAD IT TOWED IN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP FOR THEM,BUT IT WAS MY FAULT THEY CO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10553362 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10376822 · 2011-01-16 (January 16, 2011)

AS I'M READING DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND NOW THIS SITE TO FIND A SOLUTION AS TO WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, I SEE I SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE... I TOO HAVE A 2004 ALERO THAT WILL CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER... THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON... WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL GO OFF... LATELY IT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON, NOW IT WON'T START! IN THE MORNING I WILL TRY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE TRIED WITH TURNING THE KEY UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF, BUT THIS IS REALLY ASHAME THAT THIS MANY PEO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10376822 at NHTSA ↗