2004 Oldsmobile ALERO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 20.2% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 12.8% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10097580 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 15,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098850 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING SLOWING OVER SOME RAILROAD TRACKS THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098850 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 10134423 · 2005-08-28 (August 28, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134423 at NHTSA ↗
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 10152141 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 26,785 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154812 · 2006-04-07 (April 7, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 48,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170391 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
WHEN 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
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170391 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗