The contact owned a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and crossing an intersection, a speeding police vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle and the front driver's side wheel was bent. The air bags failed to deploy and the contact hit her chest against the steering wheel. Additionally, the left side of the contact' body hit the driver's side window. The contact was knocked unconscious for approximately 30 minutes. The police officers removed the driver's side door and assisted the contact out of the vehicle. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where she spent one night. The contact was then transported to another hospital where she spent two weeks. The contact sustained severe head, collarbone, neck, and back pain. Additionally, the contact sustained chest pain bruises, and a broken left foot. The contact was then sent to a rehabilitation center where she spent one week. The contact was then transported to her residence by emergency units. The contact stated that she had not been able to work properly and she had been depressed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The worst 2003 Oldsmobile Alero problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical103
- Engine29
- Airbags24
- Lights15
- Acceleration14
- Brakes14
- Steering13
- Visibility12
- Fuel system11
- Suspension10
- Transmission7
- Body5
- Tires5
- Driver assistance1
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
Won't start 31Stalling 29No deployment 10Check engine light 6Fuel pump 5
Recalls 2
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 14V400000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 04V528000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero 451
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- Unknown or other
- Electrical system
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles
- This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves...
- This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS)...
- This Warranty Administration bulletin provides retail and wholesale service personnel with the...
2003 Oldsmobile Alero fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21-22 | 30 | 25 |
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 27 | 21 |
What 2003 Oldsmobile Alero owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driving and everything quit but the engine nothing on the dash worked, door locks unlocked lost headlights, radio anything Electrical was gone
1200 miles after j02 recall car runs sluggish going up canyon. Stop car and engine is misfiring. Turn around and coast downhill in neutral until check engine light turns on then stop and park car for several hours. Called dealer and asked what I should do. Coast out of the canyon with the engine off. Turn engine on after several miles and no more problems. Drive home carefully. Next day throws several codes and running sluggish. Several days later codes are gone right before it goes to dealer. They can't diagnose if car has no active codes or symptoms. About a week later turn car on and car is making a knocking sound and has several pending codes. Carefully drive home. Codes didn't save. Finally able to take to dealer around june 25th while car is making the knocking noise but no codes and they think it's a lifter but not sure. I left the car and they say they can't replicate the issue. Literally the same day I pick the car up it is knocking and consistently does so for the next week as soon as the engine warms up. July 5 engine sounds like it's being hit by a hammer and throws p0011 cam timing advanced. Oil pressure is 5psi at idle and 40psi at 5000rpm. Have car towed to dealer because it probably wouldn't make the drive and they say it is piston slap without even opening the engine they determine it is not caused by the recall. At this point the engine is sitting in my garage with the timing cover, oil pan and one valve cover off and I don't know what to do with it. I can't afford to pay them to fix something that is happening to dozens of people after the recall. I'm going to try to get the dealer to actually tear it down to diagnose it.. Codes thrown so far are p0011 p219a p0301 p000a p0420 knocking seems to be when oil warms up and oil pressure drops to about 30psi and below.
Car has been having acceleration issues her and there has had a fuel leak for awhile now and now all of a sudden the car will not start..
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. While the key was in the ignition, the engine failed to engage without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the technician could not get the vehicle started. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the body control module and battery were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also towed to another independent mechanic who was briefly able to get the vehicle started, but the failure recurred. The failure occurred over ten times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
While driving on a city road at approximately 40 MPH, the car randomly began accelerating on its own. I immediately pushed on the brake pedal only to discover the car continued to accelerate. I stomped on the brake as hard as possible to avoid hitting the car in front of me. I moved the gear shift to neutral to try to keep the car from accelerating but that did nothing. I was barely able to turn off onto a side street where I was able to shut of the engine and make the car stop before hitting other vehicles. The car's engine revved up so high that it sounded as if it were going to blow up the engine. Now there is oil leaking severely under the car after this incident.
Continuation of a prior complaint (10908068). On 9/20/16, prior defective starfire rs-c 2.0 ultimate touring tire replaced with another similar starfire tire (u30h ldj) at pep boys. Paid $42.41 (tire handling charge, wheel balance, road hazard warranty, and valve stem). On 10/13/16 noticed new tire was flat/low, tire pressue was down to 18lbs; inflated to 34lbs. On 10/14 tire was flat again down to 19lbs. Used fix-a-flat type product and inflated to 34lbs, appears to be holding. Scheduling appt with pep boys to check tire and possibly reseal. Why is this happening to this tire brand? Is there a defect?
Continuation of a prior complaint (10908068). On 9/20/16, prior defective starfire rs-c ultimate touring tire replaced with another similar starfire tire (u30h ldj) at pep boys. Paid $42.41 (tire handling charge, wheel balance, road hazard warranty, and valve stem). On 10/13/16 noticed new tire was flat/low, tire pressue was down to 18lbs; inflated to 34lbs. On 10/14 tire was flat again down to 19lbs. Used fix-a-flat type product and inflated to 34lbs, appears to be holding. Scheduling appt with pep boys to check tire and possibly reseal. Why is this happening to this tire brand? Is there a defect?
While driving on I-295 north near hamilton twp, nj at around 6:45pm at a speed of about 65 MPH, the right rear tire blew out completely. There was a 2-inch square hole on the outside of the tire. Conditions were normal and the driving surface was dry. Vehicle was towed to pep boys, beverly nj where I purchased all four starfire tires (rs-c 2.0 225/50/r16) on 12/27/2015. Each tire has the road hazard warranty.
Compare the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
Other model years
Questions about the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
Is the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero reliable?
Owners have filed 184 complaints about the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, fewer than a typical Alero model year.
What is the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero year score?
The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero scores 80 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Oldsmobile Alero: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero?
Electrical system, with 103 complaints, typically around 84,527 miles. Next is engine (29).
How many recalls does the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero have?
2 recalls, covering electrical system and vehicle speed control.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 14V400000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Oldsmobile Alero have the most electrical problems?
The Oldsmobile Alero model years with the most electrical complaints are 2002 (133 complaints), 2001 (130 complaints) and 2003 (103 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero get?
Official estimates for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero range from 21 to 25 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21-22 city and 30 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Oldsmobile Alero?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history