2004 Oldsmobile Alero problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (24) · Exterior Lighting (10) · Engine (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Oldsmobile Alero model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
78 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-03 · campaign 14V400000 · 5,877,718 vehicles
Defect: 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, 1998-200
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (426)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-06 · PIT3271P · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. general motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. technician s
Showing the 6 most recent of 426 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-27 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal · 63,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 oldsmobile alero. the contact stated that while turning the key the vehicle failed to start. the blinkers were inoperable at times. there was an abnormal grinding sound detected while turning the ignition. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for nhtsa campaign number: 14v400000…”
2026-02-25 · Suspension“lo que debes resaltar en el reporte: kilometraje: 60,000 millas (especifica que el daño grave se notó a las 40,000). componente: "structure: frame and members" (estructura: chasis y travesaños). riesgo: "complete structural failure" (fallo estructural completo…”
2024-11-14 · Service Brakes“i have exhaust coming into the car through the vent when thermostat is in use, my back seats are not in the clip and flip up with no problem and i have a 8 year old son who sits back there, my break pedal will lock and i cannot apply pressure, my dash lights just stopped working i believe the ecm is bad, my headlights go from bright to dim, car doe…”
2024-04-03 · Unknown Or Other“friendly chevrolet 62704 has refused the open recall on my vehicle after being on schedule for tommrow 8a.m service manager sir richard said it's a waste of time and not my issue.…”
2024-04-03 · Engine · 💥 crash“airbag no deployment loss of power steering brakes to floor car died recall ignored prior and still today after set up now off their schedule friendly chevrolet rich gardner …”
2021-09-29 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal · 112,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 oldsmobile alero. the contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact stated she was able to drive to her destination. the contact called multiple local dealers: les stanford cadillac (21730 michigan ave, dearborn, mi 48124, (313) 56…”
2020-10-30 · Unknown Or Other“the hazard and turn signals doesn't work at all. i bought a new turn switch, put a new fuse in and everything and nothing works. when i drive on the road the turn signal doesnt come on and sometimes it causes a lot of problems.…”
2019-02-18 · Power Train · 198,765 mi“noticed the windshield was leaking which cause to leak on equipment under inside and out dashboard witch caused erosion and defects to other operating equipment lead to car stalling while driving,some operations of will work, some won't. it has a mind of it's own,the security system on car does not work. i do not feel safe since i was driving down …”
2018-11-09 · Electrical System · 133,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 oldsmobile alero. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to autonation chevrolet amarillo (2200 e i-40, amarillo, tx 79103) to be repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system). the contact received two new keys from the dealer, but they did not start the vehicle and the security indicator flash…”
2018-11-03 · Air Bags“recently started financing a vehicle through car hop. they had me sign a form saying that there was a possibility of a recall on the vehicle, but didn't specify what. reading it over now the form states they will not be responsible to correct this recall. recall number is 14v400.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.