Wrench.Pro

2003 Oldsmobile Alero Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering ignition and accelerator pedal. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “PassLock security light and no-start.” Oldsmobile closed in 2004, so every one of these is at least two decades old. That flips the maintenance question from mileage to age. Rubber, coolant, and brake fluid time out even on a car that barely gets driven. Models from about 1996 on use GM's Oil Life System and Dex-Cool coolant. Older ones run on fixed intervals and green coolant, and the two must never be mixed. Mechanically most of the lineup is shared GM hardware, so parts stay cheap and easy to find. The 3800 V6 in the Eighty-Eight and Ninety-Eight is one of the most durable engines GM ever built. The 3.1 and 3.4 V6 family has a well-documented lower intake manifold gasket weakness, and the Aurora's V8 needs a shop that knows Northstar-family cooling systems.

Save this car as:

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Campaign #14V400000 · Mar 7, 2014

Issue: 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.

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Campaign #04V528000 · Jan 11, 2004

Issue: 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.

Risk: FAILURE TO RETURN TO IDLE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Campaign #07E021000 · Dec 3, 2007

Issue: 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.

Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Jul 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero.

Reported to NHTSA

PassLock security light and no-start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

26 NHTSA complaints · 2005-09 → 2016-01

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10260526
“THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THE SECURITY LIGHTS IS FLASHING, CAR WILL NOT START. SO GO AND TURN KEY TO ON POSITION WAIT 10 MINUTES BUT TODAY IT WAS 20 MINUTES UNTIL LIGHTS STOP FLASHING THEN TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION BEFORE TRYING TO START”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10383851
“THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND CAR WILL NOT START, HAVE TO TURN KEY TO THE ON ACCESSORY MODE FOR 10 MINUTES TO RE-SET SYSTEM AND THEN CAR WILL START, ALSO SECURITY LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY COME ON AND STAY ON. AND THEN TURN OFF. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10342859

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Intermittent turn signal operation

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

11 NHTSA complaints · 2005-01 → 2015-05

“TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING AND FAIL TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF INTENTIONS TO TURN CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF TURN SIGNAL FAILURES. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10384063
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10244170
“TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10193740

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power window failure and window glass dropping

VISIBILITY

7 NHTSA complaints · 2004-11 → 2014-02

“THE WINDOW FELL OUT OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED MY WINDOW HAD (3) OTHER OLDSMOBILE ALEROS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10140263
“I OWN A 2003 OLDS ALERO. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED, BOTH BACK WINDOWS FELL AND WONT' STAY UP. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY WANTED $620.00 TO REPAIR THEM. I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND DECLINED REPAIR. I WAS THEN CHARGED $90. FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY PUT TAPE ON THEM!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10140034
“I HAVE POWER WINDOWS IN MY ALERO AND THE CLIPS KEEP BREAKING EVERY TIME I HAVE THEM REPLACED!! I HAVE REPLACED THESE CLIPS 4 TIMES!!! IS THERE A WAY TO FIX THE WINDOW ONCE & FOR ALL SO THAT I CAN USE IT? THIS WILL NOT PASS NH STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THE WINDOW WORKING PROPERLY!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10564294

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front wheel bearing failure

SUSPENSION

6 NHTSA complaints · 2005-06 → 2014-07

“DT: THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THERE WERE ONLY 37,811 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THE OWNER NOTICED PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10125609
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10177016
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10158097

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch failure and engine stalling

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

32 NHTSA complaints · 2014-04 → 2016-06

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10664356
“THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ *JS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10786915
“WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 25MPH AND 50MPH THE VEHICLE WILL TURN OFF AND WILL TAKE UP TO 10 MINUTES TO START. THIS OCCURS WEEKLY, I RECEIVED A RECALL CALL NOTICED STATING THAT IT WAS THE KEY FOB AND THAT KEY COVERS WERE INSTALLED ON 10-09-2014”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10662372

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Horn sounding unprompted or failing to sound

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13 NHTSA complaints · 2007-07 → 2014-10

“THE HORN GOES OFF WITHOUT PRESSING AND CONTINUES TO BLOW WITHOUT ANYONE EVEN IN THE CAR. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10269280
“THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, CHECKED FUSE AND THAT WAS FINE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HORN IS ATTACHED TO AIRBAG MODULE, TO GET HORN TO WORK AGAIN I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE AIRBAG MODULE, APPROXIMATE COST $1100.00”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10395177
“MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE HORN/AIRBAG ASSEMBLY FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. THE HORN, IN COLD WEATHER, HONKS. IT WOULD GO OFF AND CONTINUE IN A CONSTANT HONK (NOT A PULSING HONK) AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE RELAY UNDER THE HOOD IS PULLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10281817

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Accelerator pedal sticking and unintended acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

10 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2017-03

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10206296
“I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 8, 2005 WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE ACCELERATOR! THEN WHEN I TRIED TO STOP MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO STOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10124906
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10163410

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags not deploying in a crash

AIR BAGS

10 NHTSA complaints · 2003-06 → 2024-01

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10839565
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10679425
“WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10022096

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 1, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 5,000 mi

On 1996 and later cars, change when the Oil Life System asks and at least once a year. Earlier cars used a fixed 3,000 mile interval. At this age a 5,000 mile ceiling is the safer read, because worn seals and a tired PCV system dirty the oil faster than the computer assumes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check the DOT date code on the sidewall while you are under there. On a low-mileage car of this age, tires usually age out years before the tread wears out.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every service, and ask specifically about the rubber hoses and steel lines. Line corrosion is a common failure on twenty-year-old cars that lived through road salt.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace every 2 years regardless of mileage. Brake fluid absorbs water from the air, and decades-old fluid is the quiet cause of soft pedals and stuck calipers on cars this old.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Drain and fill every 45,000 miles using Dexron VI. If the fluid has never been changed on a high-mileage car, ask for two or three drain-and-fills spaced out rather than a high-pressure flush.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Platinum or iridium plugs run to 100,000 miles. On the 3800 and 3.4 V6, replace the plug wires and coil boots at the same time. After this many years the insulation is brittle and a failing wire reads like a bad coil.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Serpentine Belt & Tensioner

Every 60,000 mi

Replace the belt and the tensioner together once either shows cracking, glazing, or noise. A weak tensioner chews through a new belt in short order.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. On most of the lineup this is a five minute job with a screwdriver.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Treat this as a 5 year job, not a mileage job. Cars from about 1996 on use orange Dex-Cool, earlier ones use green. Never mix them. While the system is drained, have the shop look for seepage at the intake manifold and water pump, which is where these engines usually start weeping.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery & Charging System Test

Every 25,000 mi

Test the battery and alternator once a year. Aging body control modules on this era of GM can pull a small current after shutdown, and a strong battery hides that problem until the day it does not.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

185 crashes 1990–2024

How the 185 occupant deaths break down

129

driver deaths

56

passenger deaths

185

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2002 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

18

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero reflects Oldsmobile's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →