Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Oldsmobile Alero problems
Owners filed 187 complaints about the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (103).
Complaints
187
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system103
- Air bags24
- Engine17
- Exterior lighting15
- Vehicle speed control14
- Steering13
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Visibility12
- Suspension10
- Power train8
- Service brakes7
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Structure6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
7
17
10
13
11
10
10
9
6
2
44
23
13
4
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 44 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
103 reports6 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“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.”
Air bags
24 reports10 crashes1 fire
“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 contact hit her chest against the steering wheel. Additionally, the left side of the contact' body hit the driver's side window. The contact was knocked unconscious for approximately 30 minutes. The police officers removed the driver's side door and assisted the contact out of the vehicle. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where she spent one night. The contact was then transported to another hospital where she spent two weeks. The contact sustained severe head, collarbone, neck, and back pain. Additionally, the contact sustained chest pain bruises, and a broken left foot. The contact was then sent to a rehabilitation center where she spent one week. The contact was then transported to her residence by emergency units. The contact stated that she had not been able to work properly and she had been depressed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was…”
Engine
17 reports1 fire
“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 WITH THE ENGINE OFF. TURN ENGINE ON AFTER SEVERAL MILES AND NO MORE PROBLEMS. DRIVE HOME CAREFULLY. NEXT DAY THROWS SEVERAL CODES AND RUNNING SLUGGISH. SEVERAL DAYS LATER CODES ARE GONE RIGHT BEFORE IT GOES TO DEALER. THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IF CAR HAS NO ACTIVE CODES OR SYMPTOMS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER TURN CAR ON AND CAR IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND HAS SEVERAL PENDING CODES. CAREFULLY DRIVE HOME. CODES DIDN'T SAVE. FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE TO DEALER AROUND JUNE 25TH WHILE CAR IS MAKING THE KNOCKING NOISE BUT NO CODES AND THEY THINK IT'S A LIFTER BUT NOT SURE. I LEFT THE CAR AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. LITERALLY THE SAME DAY I PICK THE CAR UP IT IS KNOCKING AND CONSISTENTLY DOES SO FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. JULY 5 ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEING HIT BY A HAMMER AND THROWS P0011 CAM TIMING ADVANCED. OIL PRESSURE IS 5PSI AT IDLE AND 40PSI AT 5000RPM. HAVE…”
Exterior lighting
15 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TOP PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.”
Vehicle speed control
14 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“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 MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO TRY TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING BUT THAT DID NOTHING. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN OFF ONTO A SIDE STREET WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SHUT OF THE ENGINE AND MAKE THE CAR STOP BEFORE HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. THE CAR'S ENGINE REVVED UP SO HIGH THAT IT SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO BLOW UP THE ENGINE. NOW THERE IS OIL LEAKING SEVERELY UNDER THE CAR AFTER THIS INCIDENT.”
Steering
13 reports3 crashes
“MY IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT INVOKE THE ENGINE. IT HAS HAPPENED COUPLE OF TIMES WITH MY ALERO. LAST YEAR AS PER THE RECALL NOTICE GM DEALER CHANGED THE KEYS AND NOT THE ENTIRE IGNITION MODULE. HAVE SPENT OVER USD 350 IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS AND AGAIN TODAY THE OLDS ALERO IS STOP WORKING. THE IGNITION DOES NOT SEEM TO TURN ON.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.