Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S HAND WAS CUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT TO CLEAN UNDERNEATH IT. THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTMENT SPRINGS NEEDED RUBBER PROTECTIVE CAPS ON THE TOP TO PREVENT CUTS OR PERSONAL INJURIES. UPDATED
WHEN MY VEHICLE REACHED 49,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKES REPLACED. MY CAR IS NOW AT 59,000 MILES AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FLOOR. THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT RISER UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ACTUAL FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP TEMPORARILY FIXED THIS BY INSERTING FOAM RUBBER BETWEEN THE SEAT RISER AND THE FLOOR. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAK AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO DIRT ROADS AND REPLACED THE HUBS, ROTORS, AND BRAKES. THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TWICE, AND NEED REPLACING AGAIN. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM
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
2004 OLDS ALERO KEY WILL NOT TURN HAVE TO SWAP KEY AROUND UNTIL IT TURNS. SOMETIMES WHEN IT DOES FINALLY TURN THE STARTER WILL HESITATE TO DISENGAGE. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES ON FORUMS SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR ALERO TOWED AND HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH/CYLINDER REPLACED. I FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER BEFORE THE PROBLEM WORSENS LIKE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD. *JB
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS MAKING A SOUND FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE WEATHER MAKING THE BRAKES SOUND. THE BRAKES ARE NOW SO DEFECTIVE THAT WHEN THEY ARE PRESSED, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *JB
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *SC
WHILE DRIVING SLOWING OVER SOME RAILROAD TRACKS THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero → · Every Alero year → · How the figures are calculated →