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2004 Oldsmobile Alero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero are lower than the model-year median of 279.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

78 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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95,562 miles · Nov 27, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPLAINT FILED ON 11-22-13,ODI# 10553362,ABOUT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR,THEY WANT TO REPLACE...IT WAS REPLACED ALREADY ON DEC.30,2009.I AM MAKING A LIST OF ALL OF THE WORK I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR STARTING FROM THE MILEAGE OF 7635,MAY,18,2005.IT WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD,AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS…

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THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPLAINT FILED ON 11-22-13,ODI# 10553362,ABOUT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR,THEY WANT TO REPLACE...IT WAS REPLACED ALREADY ON DEC.30,2009.I AM MAKING A LIST OF ALL OF THE WORK I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR STARTING FROM THE MILEAGE OF 7635,MAY,18,2005.IT WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD,AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE GASKET PAN ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR LEAKING.OCT.6,2006,TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AGAIN,AND THE COOLER LINE SEAL WAS REPLACED.NOV.1,2006,THE GENERATOR AND ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED.MILEAGE WAS26,419.JUNE 13,2007,TRANSMISSION LEAKING AGAIN.JAN.5,2009,POWER STEERING LEAK REPLACED GEARTIE RODS AND SEALS,ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.DEC.4,2009 MILEAGE WAS 70,687.,WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND REPLACED. FEB5,2010,DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS,BUT 800 FRONYEND LF SENSOR FRACTION LIGHT HUB KIT-CPC,MILEAGE WAS71,822. I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-45 GOING TO WORK AT 60 MPH,AND I SAW SOMETHING BLACK FLY OFF OF MY CAR,IT WAS THE BLACK WINDOW STRIPPING THAT HOLDS THE WINDSHIELD ON!!!!!!!! THEN THE COVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STARTED TO CURL OFF OF THE BAG.I TOOK IT TO CREST CADILLAC AND THEY TOLD ME IF WOULD COST ABOUT $1,000 TO FIX IT.THESE BOTH WERE MANUFACTURERS DEFAULT OF SLOPPY WORKMANSHIP.CASE #71-986879285..I CONTACTED GM ON 9-13-11,AND ON 9-21-13,A SANDEE EMAILED ME,THEY DID FIX THEM AT NO COST TO ME.BUT STILL IT WAS WORRYING IF THE WINDOW WAS GOING TO FLY OFF ON THE FREEWAY AND KILL SOMEONE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE? 105-12REPLACED FUEL PUMP MILEAGE 95562. I TOOK IT TO GET INSPECTION AND IT WON'T PASS INSP NOW AND THEY WANT OVER 2,000 TO FIX ALL OF THE THINGS THEY ALREADY FIXED. MOTORTREND.COM.RECALLS ON THEM. TANK ASSEMBLY PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES I HAVE SMELLED GAS IN MY CAR SINCE TO THIS MORNING.I WAS WARNED BY THE PLANO,TX.POLICE TO GET INSPEC STICKER HOW DO I DO THAT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553995

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2013
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

I BOUGHT IT IN DEC.2004,THE LAST 2-ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE,I TOOK THE BLACK SITTING ON THE LOT OF FREEMAN OLDS, IRVING TX. I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE IN2006 I HAVE ALL OF MY PAPERWORK. BRAKES WENT OUT, POWERTRAIN WENT OUT. THEN I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THEMORNING WHEN I CRANKED IT. AND STILL DO TO THIS MORNING,IT IS AWFUL. LAST Y…

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I BOUGHT IT IN DEC.2004,THE LAST 2-ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE,I TOOK THE BLACK SITTING ON THE LOT OF FREEMAN OLDS, IRVING TX. I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE IN2006 I HAVE ALL OF MY PAPERWORK. BRAKES WENT OUT, POWERTRAIN WENT OUT. THEN I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THEMORNING WHEN I CRANKED IT. AND STILL DO TO THIS MORNING,IT IS AWFUL. LAST YEAR IT DIED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WOULD NOT START,I EVEN HAD THE PLANO TX. POLICE TRY TO BOOT IT FOR ME. BATTERY I THOUGHT. HUFFINES HAD IT TOWED IN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP FOR THEM,BUT IT WAS MY FAULT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT. SO THEY GAVE IT BACK,I GO TO THE BANK, MILES FROM HOME AND IT DOES IT AGAIN.THEY TOW IT BACK AND AGAIN THE SAME THING.I GO AGAIN AT MY HOUSE AND THE SAME THING,THIS IS BS AT THIS POINT CONTACT GM FOR THE LOUSINESS OF THIS CAR, [XXX] WAS THE FIRST, ANGEL, AND NOW LASHAWNDA.THEY TELL ME THE FUEL PUMP,OK,THEY REPLACED IT, I HAD TO CASH IN MY GRANDCHILDRENS LIFE INS TO PAY FOR IT,AND AM STILL PAYING BACK THE LOAN A YEAR LATER. I AM ON DISABILITY,AND DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. SO I TAKE IT IN FOR INSPECTION,HE COMES OUT WITH A LIST OF ABOUT $800.00 WORTH OF STUFF TO FIX BEFORE IT WILL PASS. [XXX] SAID THEY WOULD WAIVE THE DIAG FEE, I TOOK IT YESTERDAY, HE GAVE ME ANOTHER$1,000 WORTH OF STUFF TO FIX:FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR,LEAKING GAS,EGR VALVE,THERMOSTAT AND COOL FLUSH.NOT INCLUDING THE 800,$2,000,TO GET IT ALL DONE. I HAVE COPIES OF THE RECALLS ON IT. SEVERAL TRANSMISSION LEAKS WITH IN MONTHS OF BUYING IT. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP THAT WASN'T EVEN THE PROBLEM,ALL IT WAS ,THE RELAY SWITCH. THEY DID NOT EVEN TRY THAT. I ASKED THEM TO EITHER FIX THIS PROBLEM AND CALL IT EVEN,OR GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY.SHE SAID NO THEY FIXED THAT OTHER PROBLEM FOR NOTHING SO BE GRATEFUL IS WHAT SHE MEANT. AFTER PAYING $24,000 FOR NOTHING??? THE ORIG PRICE 24,000 BUT WITH SOME DIS IT WAS 14,000? BUT WITH INTEREST IT WAS 24,NEVER CONTACTED ME. [XXX] STOPPED DOING ANY GM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553362

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2011
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

AS I'M READING DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND NOW THIS SITE TO FIND A SOLUTION AS TO WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, I SEE I SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE... I TOO HAVE A 2004 ALERO THAT WILL CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER... THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON... WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF THEN BACK ON …

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AS I'M READING DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND NOW THIS SITE TO FIND A SOLUTION AS TO WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, I SEE I SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE... I TOO HAVE A 2004 ALERO THAT WILL CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER... THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON... WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL GO OFF... LATELY IT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON, NOW IT WON'T START! IN THE MORNING I WILL TRY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE TRIED WITH TURNING THE KEY UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF, BUT THIS IS REALLY ASHAME THAT THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP A YEAR IN A HALF AGO FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS NO WAY CHEAP! TRY $1,200 AT A GM DEALERSHIP THAT ONLY USE GM PARTS ON THEIR GM CARS! I'M A BROKE COLLEGE STUDENT THAT NEEDS MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND WORK! PLEASE JUST RECALL THESE CARS SO THEY CAN HAVE THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF... SHOULD I TAKE MY PROBLEM TO THE MEDIA TO GET SOME SORT OF RESULTS? IT SEEMS IF THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANYTHING DONE NOW A DAYS... *LN

NHTSA ODI #10376822

136,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineLatches/locks/linkages

2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. MOST ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAIL AT TIMES. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. REAR DOOR LOCKS HAVE TO PLAY WITH REMOTE LOCKS BEFORE DOOR OPENS ACTS AS THOUGH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE ON CAN NOT OPEN DOOR FROM IN OR OUT. EVENTUALLY AFTER PUSHING …

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2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. MOST ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAIL AT TIMES. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. REAR DOOR LOCKS HAVE TO PLAY WITH REMOTE LOCKS BEFORE DOOR OPENS ACTS AS THOUGH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE ON CAN NOT OPEN DOOR FROM IN OR OUT. EVENTUALLY AFTER PUSHING ON REMOTE LOCK IT OPENS. BRAKES ALWAYS GRINDING EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENTS. ENGINE HAS ALSO, TICKED NOT KNOCK JUST TICKING SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THE CAR. MANY TIMES THE CAR DOES NOT START FIRST TRY AFTER SECOND IT STARTS BUT ALL ELECTRICAL HAS TO RESET EXAMPLE RADIO, CLOCK ECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359024

45,000 miles · Oct 20, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

CAR WON'T START. ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT DOESN'T FIRE. TURNS OUT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED THIS YEAR. LEAVE IGNITION SWITCH ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND WAIT FOR SECURITY WARNING LIGHT TO GO OUT. THEN RESTART CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289148

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.