Oldsmobile · Alero · 2003
3
Recalls
184
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero has 3 recalls and 184 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (56 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Sep 4, 2026
The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is electrical system with 56 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy Status
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
The contact owned a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and crossing an intersection, a speeding police vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle and the front driver's side wheel was bent. The air bags failed to deploy and the ...
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Driving and everything quit but the engine nothing on the dash worked, door locks unlocked lost headlights, radio anything Electrical was gone
1200 MILES AFTER J02 RECALL CAR RUNS SLUGGISH GOING UP CANYON. STOP CAR AND ENGINE IS MISFIRING. TURN AROUND AND COAST DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON THEN STOP AND PARK CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED WHAT I SHOULD DO. COAST OUT OF THE CANYON...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CAR RANDOMLY BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO DISCOVER THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I MO...
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CONTINUATION OF A PRIOR COMPLAINT (10908068). ON 9/20/16, PRIOR DEFECTIVE STARFIRE RS-C ULTIMATE TOURING TIRE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SIMILAR STARFIRE TIRE (U30H LDJ) AT PEP BOYS. PAID $42.41 (TIRE HANDLING CHARGE, WHEEL BALANCE, ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY, AND VALVE STEM). ON 10/13/16 ...
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CONTINUATION OF A PRIOR COMPLAINT (10908068). ON 9/20/16, PRIOR DEFECTIVE STARFIRE RS-C 2.0 ULTIMATE TOURING TIRE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SIMILAR STARFIRE TIRE (U30H LDJ) AT PEP BOYS. PAID $42.41 (TIRE HANDLING CHARGE, WHEEL BALANCE, ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY, AND VALVE STEM). ON 10/13...
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WHILE DRIVING ON I-295 NORTH NEAR HAMILTON TWP, NJ AT AROUND 6:45PM AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A 2-INCH SQUARE HOLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL AND THE DRIVING SURFACE WAS DRY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PEP ...
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CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES HER AND THERE HAS HAD A FUEL LEAK FOR AWHILE NOW AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL NOT START..
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE RESULTING IN THE DEVICE STOCKING AND BECOMING STUCK INOPERABLE. AT FIRST IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RUN POSSITION. IT WOULD FEEL STUCK AND TOOK SOME WIGGLING AND SHAKING IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. WHICH PROGRESSED TO BEING STUCK PERMANENTLY...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 184 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Oldsmobile models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 184 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero are electrical system (56 reports), vehicle speed control (9 reports), air bags (8 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.