2003 Oldsmobile AURORA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
91,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Structure: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 2 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 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10081642 · 2004-07-09 (July 9, 2004)
VINYL COVERING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CRACKED AROUND THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAY DEPLOYMENT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087139 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A TOWED HITCHED TRAILER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT A DETERMINATION HAD NOT BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168411 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)
1. WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR CONDITION THE CAR WILL CUT OFF, THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN FIX. 2. CAR IS CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. 3. WINDOW WHIPERS COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO AND THEY WILL NOT CUT OFF WITH THE SWITCH I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN IN ORDER FOR THE WHIPERS TO STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269629 · 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING AND HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WOULD CALL GM TO CHECK IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE REPAIRED FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY. GM STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT COULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS WITH A 10% DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405853 · 2011-06-10 (June 10, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851280 · 2016-03-23 (March 23, 2016)
I HAVE A FUEL LINE ON MY CAR THAT IS CRACKED AND I HAVE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR THE FUEL LINE ONLINE AND AT O'REILLY BUT THAT PART DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE. I HAVE CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND THE PHONE RECORDING SAYS THAT MY CAR HAD 3 OPEN RECALLS. WHEN I TALK TO A PERSON THEY TOLD ME NO THOSE RECALLS WERE CLOSED ON MY CAR. BUT FOR ONE SPECIFIC RECALL IT DESCRIBES MY EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE NON EXISTENT PART THAT IS CRACKED ON MY CAR. THAT PART ALSO HAS A DATE FOR BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. I'VE TALKED TO THE GM DEALER NEAR W…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100761 · 2018-06-10 (June 10, 2018)
DASH BOARD LITE SAYS "AI R BAG PROBLEM" EVERY TIME YOU START THE ENGINE
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100761 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.
02V222000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2002-08-09 (August 9, 2002)
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V238000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.
Consequence: FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗