NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026
PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM- ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, DISABLING POWER STEERING. ALSO, HORN LIKES TO GO OFF ON ITS OWN- HAD TO REMOVE FUSE TO STOP IT. *TR
I USED MY HORN TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THEY WERE IN MY LANE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HORN WAS STUCK. THE WINDOW CLIPS ON MY CAR BROKE OFF, AS I HAVE READ OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS OF OTHER 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO OWNERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS DEFECTS OF THESE TWO PARTS, AND GM WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. DUE TO THAT FACT, I AM UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE MY CAR HAS TO HAVE A WORKING HORN AND MY WINDOW MUST BE ABLE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. ALSO A THIRD COMPLAINT, THERE IS NOW COOLANT THAT IS STARTING TO LEAK INTO MY OIL, WHICH FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND COULD CAUSE A FIRE!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT THE MECHANIC DID TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN BLEW DAILY BETWEEN 2AM AND 3AM FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.
THE PASSLOCK FEATURE IS DEFECTIVE. NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE BEEN STRANDED DUE TO MY CAR NOT STARTING. I HAVE GOTTEN A NEW BATTERY AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. WHEN THE CAR DOESN'T START I WILL DO WHAT THE MANUAL SAYS AND TURN THE KEY TO "ON" AND LET IT STAY THERE FOR 10 MINUTES, AFTER THAT IT WILL START. THAT CAN BECOME VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS AND IT IS 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS FEATURE, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL COST OVER $400.00 TO FIX. NORMAL HARD WORKING PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY JUST LAYING AROUND TO FIX A CAR, GM REALLY SHOULD DO BETTER. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT COSTING THE CONSUMER. *TR
CAME OUT AFTER WORK TO START MY CAR AND TURNED THE KEY AND GOT NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED BEFORE I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM IN THIS MODEL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET AND A CALL TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE CAR IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10-15 MINUTES THEN TURN IT OFF AND START THE CAR. WHICH WORKED BUT AT SUB ZERO TEMPS. THIS IS NOT A VERY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. AND AS THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY NOW IT IS NOT WHAT I PAID FOR. THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REMOVED AND REINSTALLED BCS. I WAS TOLD IT LEAKED AND WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T SOLVE IT THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED TWICE AND TO NO AVAIL IT STILL DOESN'T START AS IT SHOULD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL REPEATEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY AND OFTENTIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE FUSE BOX YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN THE WEEK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS THEN REPLACED AND THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,527.
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRUNK ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR THE THIRD TIME, SINCE SHE HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE GATE RELEASE ON THE TRUNK LID HAS FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LID WOULD COME DOWN WITH NO WARNING. *JB
FIRST PROBLEM: MY HORN DECIDED TO GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY STARTING AT 3AM, FINALLY HAD TO PULL THE FUSE TO STOP THE NOISE. I KEEP THE FUSE WITH ME, BUT NOW I HAVE NO HORN AND IT IS NOT SAFE, HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS. SECOND PROBLEM: TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK AT INCONVENIENT TIMES. FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT IF I TURN ON MY HAZARDS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN TURN THEM OFF, THE TURN SIGNALS WILL WORK AGAIN PROPERLY. THIRD PROBLEM: SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS, THEY FINALLY TOLD ME TO JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, AND ONCE THE SECURITY LIGHT GOES OFF THE CAR WILL START. THESE ARE ALL SAFETY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. *TR
PURCHASED VEHICLE AUGUST 2003 AT 29,000 MILES. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING BAD JUST INSIDE WARRANTY TIME - UNDER 36,000 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER, FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD - NOT IN WARRANTY. NOW AT 129,000 MILES, FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING IS BAD AGAIN. NOT USING OEM EQUIPMENT THIS TIME AS IT ISN'T COST EFFECTIVE TO PAY FOR OEM EQUIPMENT - WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY LACKS QUALITY. I'M ASSUMING MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WILL GO BAD SOON - BETTER START SAVING FOR THAT REPAIR! NEXT ISSUE - HORN BLOWS WITHOUT PROVOCATION AND WILL NOT STOP - 3:00 IN THE MORNING. NEXT ISSUE: FUEL ISSUE, WHERE YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES THEN CAR WILL START. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT USUALLY WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA 10 MINUTES. *TR
I OWN A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO THAT HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD SWITCH. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL FAIL TO OPERATE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION. LAST FRIDAY THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN AN REAR-END ACCIDENT AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. WHEN I REFERRED TO ALERO PROBLEMS AND FIXES I NOTICED RECALL ID#32353. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITH THE 1999-2001 OLDS ALERO. I FOUND THAT WHEN THE SIGNALS FAIL TO OPERATE AN UPWARD PUSH ON THE HAZARD SWITCH ALLOWS THE SIGNAL TO OPERATE. THIS SITUATION NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED FURTHER AS THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RESOLVED. I CAN NOT SPEAK FOR OTHERS BUT IF THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN INJURIES THAT CAUSED THE RECALL IN 2003 THE SAME CONSIDERATIONS NEEDS TO BE HELD FOR THE LATER MODELS IN 2002 AND 2003. THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH THIS TURN SIGNAL ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A TIRE ROTATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL. THE INTAKE GASKET AND SEALS IN THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ISSUED A CASE NUMBER. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,184 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,865. UPDATED 02/20/15*LJ UPDATED 9/11/2017*CN
I HAD THE CAR SINCE NOV 2003. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL JULY 2008 WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING. I JUST SAT THERE IN THE CAR UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME, SO I JUST CRANK THE CAR UP AND IT CRANK I WAS LIKE OK. THEN ANOTHER DAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND IT CRANK UP. THEN THE THIRD TIME IT DID IT NOW IT WONT CRANK UP. I WAS WONDERING WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION. *TR
THE OLDS ALERO HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. IT SHOWS UP WHEN YOU INSERT YOUR KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURN IT, HEAR THE ENGINE CRANKING, ONLY TO FAIL TO START. THE DASHBOARD'S RED WARNING LIGHT, SECURITY, FLASHES ON AND OFF. IT BELIEVES IT IS BEING STOLEN, THUS SHUTTING OFF THE GAS TO THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY STATED 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR, WHICH I PURCHASE USED FROM A DEALER, I BELIEVE IM THE 2ND OWER. THIS ISSURE HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE EVERY 3 WEEKS OR SO. MY DAD ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY CONTACTS BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSE, SO HE TIGHTENED THEM UP, THEN IT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE ANOTHER STRANGE ISSUE CAME UP, ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AS MY CAR SAT IN PARK FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, JUST OUT OF THE BLUE THE HORN STARTED TO "BLOW" LIKE THE ALARM WAS SET OFF, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT FLASHING SO IT WASNT THAT, ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT DID THIS TIL IT BLEW THE FUSE FOR THE HORN. AND NOW IM WITHOUT A HORN IN MY CAR, WHICH IS NOT VERY SAFE. SO I CHANGED THE FUSED, THE HORN WORKED FOR 1 DAY, THEN BLEW AGAIN, I CHANGED THE ACTUAL HORN AND ANOTHER FUSE, AND JUST 3 DAYS AGO, I HEARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, MY HORN GOING OFF AGAIN FOR NO REASON, AND THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN, DRIVING WITH NO HORN. SO IM DRIVING MY CAR THAT HAS THIS ANTI-THEFT FEATURE AND I DONT KNOW IF ITS WORKING FROM 1 DAY TO THE NEXT, THE SECURITY LIGHTS STAYS ON MY DASHBOARD SO I KNOW SOMETHING IS APPARENTLY WRONG WITH IT, USUALLY THAT WHEN I KNOW, MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN I SEE THAT LIGHT COME ON AND I HAVE TO DO THE TRICK WITH SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE IGNIGTION ON FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING IT. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND HUNDRED OF PEOPLE THT ARE, CONTACTED GM AND OLDS CORP, THEY SAY THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHNG WRONG WITH IT. SOMETHING HAS TO BE FOR ALL THE CUSTOMERS TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND APPARENTLY IS HAS BEEN GOIN ON FOR YEARS AND THEY WONT HELP.
90,000 MILES ON CAR, NEED TO REPLACE BEARINGS FOR A SECOND TIME! THE SYSTEM IS SET UP SO THAT WHEN THE BEARINGS FAIL THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ALSO FAILS. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS ON ICE/WATER WHEN MY SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILS. THIS CAR SHOULD GO MUCH LONGER ON NEW BEARINGS - THIS WILL BE MY 3RD SET. *TR
VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THREE OCCASIONS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER TURNING OVER. THREE REPAIR SHOPS COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. MANY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS CAN BE FOUND ONLINE (I.E., CARCOMPLAINTS.COM) AND EVERYTHING FROM REPLACING THE FUEL PUMPS, RELAY SWITCHES, BATTERIES, ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMS TO WASHING OUT THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN TRIED TO KNOW AVAIL. THE SHOP CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND IT WILL BE HARD TO SELL THE CAR HONESTLY WITH THE PROBLEMS IT HAS. THERE IS A MASS OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM THE FACTORY, AND ALTHOUGH I DOUBT IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE, I AM ONE MORE PERSON IN THAT MASS. *TR
MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING JUST AS IS POPULAR ON THESE TYPES OF ENGINES. ALSO MY TURN SIGNAL IS WORKING OFF AND ON. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO GM WITH NO RESPONSE OR SUCCESS. *TR
03 OLDS ALERO FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED AND MODULATOR SPARK PLUGS FUEL FILTER CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR WON'T START FLASHERS HAVE A PROBLEM TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS CONTINUES INTERMITTENT START CAR IN DRIVEWAY FOR 3 MONTHS NOW STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT SURGES THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD CAR BUT NOT. CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED. *TR
FUEL PUMP AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE FOUR COOPER MASTERCRAFT AVENGER ZHP TIRES TREAD ON ONE OF THE TIRES FAILED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WERE FLAT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHICH TIRE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE TIRE RETAILER REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A TEMPORARY TIRE . NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 06T004000 WAS RELATED TO THE TIRE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE DATES ON HIS TIRE ARE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE IS 3,000 AND THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO. TIRE SIZE IS 235/35/19 . THE DOT NUMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH ONE OF THE TIRES HAVE FAILED, THE CONTACT HAS OBSERVED THAT ALL OF THE TIRES ARE BEGINNING TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES ON THE VEHICLE WERE 40,000. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE, SIZE P225/50R16 (NA) TIRES. THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES ARE CRACKING. BETWEEN THE SIDE AND UPPER TREAD OF THE TIRES, THE CRACKS ARE EXTENDING AND CAUSING MASSIVE TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE PLACE OF PURCHASE (WAL-MART) AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT AND/OR RETURNS FOR DEFECTS. WAL-MART REFERRED HIM TO GOODYEAR; HOWEVER, THEY WERE CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. HORN WENT OFF CONTINUALLY AT APPROX. 330 H. AND FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY DIED AT 400 H. NOW I AM LEFT WITHOUT A HORN, BECAUSE I WILL NOT PAY $800 TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES OF GM'S FAULTY MANUFACTURING THAT CAUSES THE SWITCHES TO CONTRACT AND CONTACT SOME STUPID WIRE. DEAR GM, I LOVE THE JAPANESE ;) *TR
BOUGHT THE 2003 ALERO OLDSMOBILE IN MARCH 2007, NOT REALIZING THE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE STALLING AND NOT STARTING ISSUES. MANY TIMES WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR HAVE BEEN STRANDED WHEN CAR WOULD NOT START. FIRST TIME, REPLACED BATTERY; SECOND TIME AND THIRD TIME TOOK TO MECHANIC SPENT $390.00 TO ATTEMPT TO FIX CAR HOWEVER STILL HAS ISSUE. MECHANIC SAID IT HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH SECURITY SYSTEM CONFLICTING WITH WIRELESS INTERNET RADIO WAVES. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED INTO THE MECHANIC. SOON AFTER A WEEK THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:I READ ON A AUTOMOTIVE FORUM TO PUT KEY ON THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES WAIT FOR THE SECURITY LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING AND THEN START THE CAR (SHOULD WORK IT STATED) IT WORKED HOWEVER IT IS NOW SOMETIMES A DAILY PROBLEM. I NOW ALLOW 10 MINUTES LEWAY IN DEPARTURE TO ALLOW FOR THIS AGGRAVATING PROBLEM TO ARISE. THIS PROBLEM IS A HIGH SECURITY ISSUE NOT SAFE TO BE STRANDED WITH SINGLE MOM WITH KIDS IN PARKING LOTS AND AS WELL AS BEING OUT TO TOWN. HAS CAUSED TO MISS WORK. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE AND NOT SURE HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE HORN HAS BEEN SOUNDING OFF (AS IT IT STUCK POSITION) FOR THE LAST WEEK 11/12/2007WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER OCCURRENCE 11/16/07 PARK POSITION KEY NOT IN THE IGNITION AT 2:00AM IN A APARTMENT COMPLEX. TO QUICK RESOLVE ISSUE I TAPPED THE HORN ON STEERING COLUMN IT WOULD GO OFF AGAIN, THEN HAD ROOMMATE DISARM THE HORN WIRE. *TR
BOUGHT THE 2003 ALERO OLDSMOBILE IN MARCH 2007, NOT REALIZING THE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE STALLING AND NOT STARTING ISSUES. MANY TIMES WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR HAVE BEEN STRANDED WHEN CAR WOULD NOT START. FIRST TIME, REPLACED BATTERY; SECOND TIME AND THIRD TIME TOOK TO MECHANIC SPENT $390.00 TO ATTEMPT TO FIX CAR HOWEVER STILL HAS ISSUE. MECHANIC SAID IT HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH SECURITY SYSTEM CONFLICTING WITH WIRELESS INTERNET RADIO WAVES. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED INTO THE MECHANIC. SOON AFTER A WEEK THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:I READ ON A AUTOMOTIVE FORUM TO PUT KEY ON THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES WAIT FOR THE SECURITY LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING AND THEN START THE CAR (SHOULD WORK IT STATED) IT WORKED HOWEVER IT IS NOW SOMETIMES A DAILY PROBLEM. I NOW ALLOW 10 MINUTES LEWAY IN DEPARTURE TO ALLOW FOR THIS AGGRAVATING PROBLEM TO ARISE. THIS PROBLEM IS A HIGH SECURITY ISSUE NOT SAFE TO BE STRANDED WITH SINGLE MOM WITH KIDS IN PARKING LOTS AND AS WELL AS BEING OUT TO TOWN. HAS CAUSED TO MISS WORK. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE AND NOT SURE HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE HORN HAS BEEN SOUNDING OFF (AS IT IT STUCK POSITION) FOR THE LAST WEEK 11/12/2007WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER OCCURRENCE 11/16/07 PARK POSITION KEY NOT IN THE IGNITION AT 2:00AM IN A APARTMENT COMPLEX. TO QUICK RESOLVE ISSUE I TAPPED THE HORN ON STEERING COLUMN IT WOULD GO OFF AGAIN, THEN HAD ROOMMATE DISARM THE HORN WIRE. *TR
SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES ON DASH BOARD. VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL 10 MINUTES,AFTER THE LIGHT STOPS. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM A YEAR AGO IN HAD IT FIX AT A GM DEALER FOR ABOUT $360.00. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE VEHICLE INSPECTION TWICE WHEN THE WEATHER WAS 50 DEGREES; HOWEVER, THE PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS MUCH WARMER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V528000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,848.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER TEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT TURNED OFF. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
I HAVE A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH 48,000 MILES. AND I HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE. SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO PUT TURN SIGNAL ON, IT WON'T WORK. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES WITH NO NOTICE. I OFTEN GET HONKED AT FOR NOT USING MY TURN SIGNAL, WHEN I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF DOING SO, THEY JUST WON'T WORK. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I START MY CAR, THE DIALS DO NOT COME ON AUTOMATICALLY. THEY ALL REMAIN ON ZERO. IT HAS EVEN TAKEN UP TO 5 MINUTES FOR MY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO REGISTER THAT I HAVE STARTED THE CAR. ALSO, AT TIMES MY AIR CONDITIONER WILL JUST STOP BLOWING. IT COMES BACK ON IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT IT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEN IT WILL FINALLY REMAIN ON. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER BUT I CAN'T BE ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY ARE RELATED, I JUST KNOW THEY ALL HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
THE HORN HAD NEVER BEEN EASY TO USE, NOR DID IT ALWAYS FUNCTION, BUT SUDDENLY IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THEN IT COMPLETELY DIED. ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSED A SHORT-CIRCUIT AND PRONOUNCED THAT IT WOULD COST $1,390.00 + TAX TO REPAIR, AS THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG IN ADDITION TO THE 2 HORNS THAT THE CAR APPARENTLY HAS. *JB
THE HORN GOES OFF WITHOUT PRESSING AND CONTINUES TO BLOW WITHOUT ANYONE EVEN IN THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE DEFECT RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF CONSTANT ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE. *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THE DEALER COVERED THE COST OF THE FIRST REPAIR AND THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE LAST TWO REPAIRS. SINCE THAT TIME, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE YET TO OFFER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,308.
OUR 2003 OLDS ALERO GL 4-DR WITH 3.4L V-6 AND 75,000 MILES HAD A BLOWN INTAKE GASKET. WE WERE HAVING TO ADD COOLANT TO THE CAR ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS, BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AND FIGURED WE HAD SOME KIND OF A LEAK IN THE RESERVOIR. IT BEGAN TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE, WHICH WAS WHEN WE TOOK IT TO OUR CAR DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT COOLANT HAS BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE ,AND WILL NOW HAVE TO SPEND $1300 TO REPLACE THE GASKET. THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,800.
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS IN USE DURING CITY DRIVING, WHEN AN ODOR SIMILAR TO EXHAUST WAS NOTICED. DRIVER CONTINUED FOR 3 MORE BLOCKS, WINDOWS DOWN, THEN STOPPED. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PINK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BEHIND A PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR PILLAR. SMOKE ENDED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE CAR BEING STOPPED WITH ENGINE OFF. INSPECTION SHOWED BURNT AND MELTED DEFOGGER UNIT, DAMAGED INSULATION, AND PARTLY MELTED PLASTIC PANEL. FUSE FOR THE UNIT WAS REMOVED AND CAR INTERIOR CLEANED. NO OTHER REPAIRS. EVENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE.
THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF, INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT BEING RESET. I HAVE TRIED UNLOCKING AND LOCKING THE CAR REPEATEDLY. I TRIED CLEANING THE IGINITION SWITCH, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER, ETC. THE KEYS DO NOT HAVE THE MICRO CHIP IN THEM, SO I KNOW IT IS NOT THE KEY. *AK
CAR DASH LIGHTS, CD PLAYER, AND AC UNIT DO NOT TURN ON WHEN CAR STARTS. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND IS WARM. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND THEN STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS. THE DELAY FOR THE STARTING OF THE DASH AND ACCESSORIES IS ANYWHERE FROM 5 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE. *NM
PURCHASED 2003 ALERO IN 2004, 2ND ONE (I LOVED THE FIRST ONE), WITH 32K MILES. VINYL OVER PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS PEELING - DEALER FIXED AT NO COST - NOW IN 2010 IT PEELED OFF COMPLETELY. AT 39K HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. ONE OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BRACKET BROKE - WAITING FOR THE WINDOW TO FALL INTO THE DOOR. AT ABOUT 50K THE TURN SIGNAL CLICKING STARTING WITHOUT USING THE SIGNALS & IS STILL DO IT TODAY. I HAVE NOT TRIED TO FIX IT BECAUSE I HAVE READ SO MANY THING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT COST & THAT IT WAS RECALLED ON OLDER ALERO MODELS. IT HAS FINALLY GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE SIGNALS ONLY WORK PART TIME AND I HAVE TO TURN ON THE HAZARDS TO GET THE TURN SIGNAL TO WORK - ACCIDENT CAUSING I THINK SO. THE PLASTIC AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT THAT LIGHTS UP AT NIGHT NOW GETS HOT ENOUGH TO HURT IF TOUCHED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM WON'T HELP SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT MONEY AND FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCT. I THINK GM JUST DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE OLDS PRODUCTS. IF IT WAS A PROBLEM THEN AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS NOW THEN IT MUST STILL BE A PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY WILL NOT RECOMMEND A GM VEHICLE TO ANYONE AND WILL BE GOING BACK TO FORD. *TR
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED A BROKEN MOUNT ON THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BROKEN MOUNT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A SHARP JOLT SUCH AS HITTING A CURB OR A POTHOLE. *JB
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2003 OLDS ALERO IS BUCKLING AND PEELING IN SEVERAL PLACES. I AM TRYING TO OBTAIN PROOF OF OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD. GM HAS BEEN OF NO ASSISTANCE TO ME. *NM
BOUGHT CAR IN 2006, HAVE HAD PROBLEMS THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE OWNED VEHICLE. CAR DOES NOT CRANK, MUST WAIT 10 MINUTES AND TRY TO RESTART. SOMETIMES CAR DOES NOT START STILL, MAKES ME WAIT ANOTHER 10 MIN. HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH SYSTEM KILLING THE BATTERY WHILE WAITING - ESPECIALLY IN WINTER, EVEN WITH ALL EXTRAS (INCLUDING HEAT) TURNED OFF. NOT SAFE TO HAVE FEMALE IN PARKING LOT WHEN CAR DOES NOT START! THIS HAPPENS TWO OR THREE TIMES SOME DAYS, THEN WILL NOT REAPPEAR FOR A WEEK OR TWO, BUT THEFT LIGHT STAYS ON DASH CONSTANTLY. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB AND A FLOWER POT BEFORE IT WAS STOPPED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK AND FULLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE FOR REPAIR. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 04V528000 WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ACTIVATED WITHOUT PROVOCATION AND HE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO SHUT IT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HORN WIRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL PAD WAS STUCK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE CONSUMER STATED GM EXPLAINS THE HORN CONTACT IS INTEGRAL TO THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WHICH MUST BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE HORN AT THE SUM OF $800. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INFORMATION FROM A WEBSITE PERTAINING TO THE SAME DEFECT AS THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION. UPDATED 08/20/07 *TR
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOW FALLS DOWN, AND WON'T ROLL UP EXCEPT BY HAND. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING, AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO I'M STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. IF I GO ON LONG TRIPS, I HAVE TO TAPE THE WINDOW UP AND THE WINDOW IS AN EYE-SORE BECAUSE OF IT. *JB
AT ABOUT 43,000 MILES MY 2003 OLDS ALERO BEGAN EXPERIENCING GRINDING OR HUMMING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END THAT GOT LOUDER WITH ACCELERATION. AFTER INSPECTING THE FRONT BAKES AND DETERMINING THE BRAKES MAY NEED REPLACING I VISITED MY LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP. AFTER A TEST DRIVE I WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY. THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF NEARLY $300. *JB
AUTO STALLED OUT TWICE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO YIELD, STOPPING COMPLETELY IN TRAFFIC AREAS SO THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED ASIDE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND THE CAR STARTED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS TESTED AT THAT TIME AND INDICATED EXCESS CURRENT FLOW. DURING THIS PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY, THE PARKED VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. EACH TIME, WITH NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND WOULD PERFORM FOR A DAY OR SO THEN REPEAT THE PROBLEM. INSPECTIONS INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE FINE AND THERE WERE NO OTHER INDICATORS OF CAUSE. FINALLY, WHEN BROUGHT TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND THE PASS LOCK SECURITY SYSTEM WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR BECAUSE IT DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND NEW KEYS CREATED, BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE IGNITION MODULE HAS FAILED ALSO. *JB
CAR SEEMED TO BE FINE..ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE.. TOOK IT TO A CLOSE SHOP AND HE SAID A SLEEVE WITHIN THE DRIVEN SPROCKET ASSEMBLY HAD SHIFTED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT, BLOCKING THE OIL FEED HOLE FOR THE SECOND CLUTCH....HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING!ESTIMATE WAS 1500-2000!!!I HAVE A CAR THAT I STILL OWE 7000 FOR THAT I CAN DO NOTHING WITH!MAYBE GOD WILL SEND ME 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *NM
2003 OLDS ALERO. AT 35K MILES, BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WORK, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES ALSO NEEDED REPLACING. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE WERE BILLED $400+ FOR BRAKES AND ROTORS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND OLDS (AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS) REIMBURSED US FOR HALF OF THE BRAKE WORK. I WAS LATER TOLD BE A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT WHEEL BEARING, ROTOR AND PAD FAILURES WERE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ALERO AND GRAND AM. APPARENTLY GM DID NOT FEEL IT WAS WORTH STANDING BEHIND. NOW WE HAVE ADDED 15K MILES SINCE THE REPAIR, AND THE NEW FACTORY REPLACEMENT ROTORS ARE ALREADY WARPED AND CAUSING UNEVEN BRAKING AND STEERING SHIMMY. STAY AWAY FROM THIS VEHICLE. *NM