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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 →
109Owner complaints

Model-year median: 279

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
364
2001279
2002184
2003109
2004
Compare all Alero years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
57Exterior Lighting
21Air Bags
13Engine
13Power Train
6
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Suspension
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Steering
5Structure
5Visibility
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Unknown Or Other
4Service Brakes
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Equipment
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Seats
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Air
1Tires
1Traction Control System
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
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112,000 miles · Sep 29, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control

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…

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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) 565-6000), Gordon Chevrolet, INC. (31850 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI 48135, (734) 237-6089) and James-Martin Chevrolet, INC. (6250 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, (313) 444-8226) and was informed that the accelerator pedal was no longer being manufactured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V528000 (Vehicle Speed Control) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #11434840

56,000 miles · Feb 24, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE FUNCTION WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE FUNCTION WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10565585

20,000 miles · Sep 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

DT: BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 2004 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT TH…

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DT: BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 2004 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEMS.. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 20,000 MILES IT HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AND BRAKE SHOES REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE STILL MAKING A HUMMING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT OR WITH THE BRAKES.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL, DOOR PANELS, WINDOWS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE TRANSMISSION OR FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING, THE BLINKERS WERE BLINKING TOO FAST, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING, THE CARPET LINING WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE, THE BACK TRIM AROUND THE SEATS DIDN'T FIT PROPERLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135455

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.