2003 Oldsmobile Alero

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR DUE TO THE CONTACT NOT HAVING THE ORIGINAL KEY FOB. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AND WHITE SMOKE OR MIST EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A RADIATOR SPECIALIST, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,015. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY FAILURES PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH A RECALL REPLACEMENT KEY THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE FACTORY KEY PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE RECALL REPLACEMENT KEY FAILED TO START THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION HAD TO BE EXPOSED IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

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. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,860.

TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, ONLY CRANK. STARTED NEXT MORNING AND HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. REPAIR SHOP SAID TO TAKE IT HOME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR FIX. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN GM VEHICLES AND MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING. THERE IS A WAY TO START IT SOMETIMES BY WAITING TEN MINUTES WITH KEY IN ACC AND THEN TURNING OFF AND THEN REMOVING THE KEY AND THEN RE STARTING. THIS IS WORKING BUT NOT ALWAYS. APPARENTLY GM IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO CORRECT IT. I AM AFRAID THAT I MAY BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE OR THE SECURITY SYSTEM COULD POSSIBLY TURN THE CAR OFF. ALSO THERE IS DISCUSSION THAT THIS MAY ALSO BE A BAD IGNITION SWITCH BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SWITCH, ONLY THE KEY!