2003 Oldsmobile ALERO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
184 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 128 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 184 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 35 | 19.0% |
| Engine operation | 29 | 15.8% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 9.8% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 9.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 79 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
Electrical System: 79; Air Bags: 22; Engine: 17; Electrical System:Horn: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Steering: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 13
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 56 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 44 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2003: 5; 2004: 7; 2005: 14; 2006: 10; 2007: 13; 2008: 11; 2009: 10; 2010: 10; 2011: 9; 2012: 6; 2013: 2; 2014: 44; 2015: 23; 2016: 13; 2017: 4; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 35 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007083 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE CONSOLE AREA NEXT TO THE GEAR SHIFT HAD BECOME HOT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. *JB SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022096 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042736 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045029 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL SETTING OFF A FUSE WHICH SHORTED OUT THE AIR BAG MODULE. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 19,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050273 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH IN THE RAIN CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A LARGE ROCK HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF THE ROCK AND HIT THE EMBANKMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061898 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
THE VEHICLE DIES. WHILE CRUISING AT ANY SPEED, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES & STEERING FAILED DUE TO THE ENGINE DYING. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN, IT MIGHT STALL 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY, THEN TWICE THE NEXT DAY. THEN GO 4 DAYS WITH NO OCURRENCE, THEN IT WILL STALL ONCE A DAY FOR 3 DAYS. THEN GO A WEEK WITH NO OCURRENCE, THEN STALL 4 TIMES A DAY FOR 5 DAYS, ETC., ETC. IN EVERY OCURRENCE, IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START BACK UP. AT HIGH SPEEDS, IT IS EXTREMELY TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, UNDER EXTENDED WARR…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064725 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKE PEDAL DESCENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE BECAME NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FOR STOPPING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073926 · 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS,BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. P
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073926 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V528000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY STICK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE BRACKET AND NOT RETURN TO THE ENGINE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR LIFTS HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM AND REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V400000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗