Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Airbag no deployment Loss of power steering Brakes to floor Car died Recall ignored prior and still today after set up now off their schedule Friendly Chevrolet rich Gardner
NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSE TO LEAK ON EQUIPMENT UNDER INSIDE AND OUT DASHBOARD WITCH CAUSED EROSION AND DEFECTS TO OTHER OPERATING EQUIPMENT LEAD TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING,SOME OPERATIONS OF WILL WORK, SOME WON'T. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN,THE SECURITY SYSTEM ON CAR DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SINCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON HIGHWAY 55MPH. AND THE CAR COMPLETELY TURN OFF, I TURNED IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN CAR BACK ON IT WAS VERY SCARY MOMENT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT I WISH I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF MISERY FINANCIALLY EMOTIONALLY FEEL SAFE WITH GM SEALING FRONT WINDOW PROPERLY ON ALERO I WOULDN'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE! SO NOT PROPERLY SEALING AND WIRING DIAGRAM NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED IN MY OPINION ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE IN ANY GM MOTORS MODELS NOT JUST ME BUT OTHERS TOO . I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP ME AS MUCH I HELP OTHERS IN MY CAR N MY DAILY LIFE TO GET BY NOT MUCH TO ASK TO FEEL SAFE! THE CAR WAS NOT SEALED RIGHT IN FIRST PLACE. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED MY PROBLEMS OWNING THIS CAR. I NEED EITHER HELP WITH CAR TO GET FIX PTHE RIGHT WAY. OR I NEED A NEW CAR I HAVE A DISABLED MOTHER AND GRANDPA THAT DEPEND ON ME AND I NEED A RELIABLE CAR TO PROVIDE DAILY TASKS APPOINTMENTS THE LIST GOES ON. I COULD REALLY USE A PIECE OF MIND JUST TO KNOW I'M DRIVING A SAFE RELIABLE CAR TO DO MY GOD SERVICES EVERY DAY I'M BEGGING!!
BOUGHT CAR A YEAR AGO, IT HAD ISSUES WITH TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING. I GOOGLED ISSUE AND REPLACED HAZARD SWITCH 125,000 MILES. NOW AT 155,000 TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED, IT'S REPLACEMENT WORTH MORE THAN CAR VALUE. I HEARD AFTER 2004 A CHANGE WAS MADE BECAUSE OF ISSUES BUT NO RECALL. CAR WAS PULLED TO END OF DRIVEWAY BEFORE TAKING A CLOSE OUT OF TOWN TRIP, TURNED OFF TO CHECK OIL AND SUCH, WOULDN'T START. ESTIMATE RECEIVED TO REPAIR 2,500$. I AM FURIOUS!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,212.
[XXX]: AFTER A DAY OF LIGHT DRIVING AFTER BEING STATIONARY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF IN COLORADO SPRINGS CO (COOL WEATHER) UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE TEMP NEEDLE WENT FROM COOL TO ALMOST OVERHEATED IN THE UNDER 30 MINS IT TOOK TO GO FROM ONE STORE PARKING LOT TO THE NEXT NEARBY ONE. THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY OVERHEATED & SPARKS / 1' FLAMES EMERGED FROM THE SIDES OF THE FRONT HOOD. UPON BEING SHUT OFF THE FLAMES RECEDED, AFTER APPROX 30MINS SITTING THE HOOD WAS LIFTED & FLUIDS CHECKED (ALL WERE AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS). THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN & RAN IDLE FOR 20 MINS & THE SPARKS / FLAMES REAPPEARED AGAIN SO THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN & A RIDE CALLED. UPON BEING PICKED UP THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE RAN FINE AGAIN FOR THE MOST PART WITH ONLY SLIGHT OVERHEATING - IT WAS TAKEN FOR AN ENGINE WASH / UNDER HOOD AT AN APPROPRIATE FACILITY TO REMOVE ANY FLAMMABLE / COMBUSTIBLE RESIDUE. HAD TO BE DRIVEN AT SPEEDS UNDER 50MPH TO RETURN HOME WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, LOCK AND KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF. *CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL AND TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. MY CAR TURNED OFF (POWER SHEERING LOCKED UP) I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT NOT BEFORE ALMOST GETTING HIT BY A 2 DIFFERENT SEMI-TRUCKS. I WAS STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY FOR 4 HOURS WITH A NEW BORN BABY. I HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIX MY CAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WHEN I FOUND THE RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR VARIOUS ENGINE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND PERFORMED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NOTIFICATION, INCLUDING DRIVING WITH A SINGLE KEY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,570.
THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER WARMED UP . AND WHEN SITTING AFTER STARTED IT ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO DIE . *TR
FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE AS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACE. THE CAM SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR MODULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE REOCURED SHORTLY AFTER. THE DEALER FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER THEN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE DID NOT REOCURED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,650. AZ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, SHE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT WANTED TO MAKE THE PROBLEM KNOWN AND STATED THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE FILED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT OCCURRED IN HER VEHICLE BUT SHE WAS JUST BEING ALERT.
MY OLDSMOBILE ALERO CONTINUES TO OVER HEAT. EVERY OTHER DAY I GO TO THE SHOP AND THEY KEEP FILLING IT WITH COOLANT. THEY ARE BAFFLED BECAUSE I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY PART ON THE ENGINE AND IT STILL RUNS HOT. I CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WITHOUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING STRAIGHT TO THE RED ZONE. I ALWAYS HAVE TO PULL OVER, CUT THE CAR OFF, SIT FOR 2 MINUTES, THEN START THE CAR UP AGAIN. I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE PARTS ON THIS CAR AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ON 7/25, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY MY CAR NOTE. BECAUSE ON THIS DATE THE MECHANICS ARE GOING TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WILL CEASE. IN MY MIND, I DON'T THINK SO, BUT I AM GETTING TIRED OF GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE CAR SHOP AND I AM QUITE SURE THEIR GETTING TIRED OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I NEED HELP IN PAYING FOR MY CAR IN GETTING FIXED, OR TELL ME THAT I DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE IN MAKING CAR NOTE PAYMENTS. MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING SENSE APRIL. I AM GETTING TRIED OF THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET EVERY TIME IT STARTS GETTING TO THE HOT ZONE ON THE GAUGE. I AM SO NERVOUS IN DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY. THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT ON THE FREEWAY WAS IN JUNE. THIS WAS BECAUSE I SPENT $374.00 ON A WATER PUMP AND THEN IN A WEEK, I SPENT MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER WATER PUMP. TUNE-UPS, OIL CHANGE, RADIATOR FLUSH HAS BEEN DONE AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ON 7/25, THEY ARE GOING TO PUT A NEW RADIATOR IN THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO STAY STARTED ONCE YOU CUT THE CAR ON. I WOULD TURN THE KEY, START THE CAR AND WAIT. THE CAR WOULD START SHAKING AND THEN CUT OFF. I WOULD START IT AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD IDLE UP, THEN DOWN. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET SOMEONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY HELPING MY IN PAYING FOR THESE ISSUES THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING. IT IS ALSO GIVING A HEADACHE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN RUSH HOUR GOING APPROX. 55 MPH AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE GAUGES SHUT DOWN, LOST POWER STEERING. HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE, PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART CAR. MY CAR HAS SHUT DOWN PREVIOUSLY TO THIS INCIDENT AND FEEL AS THOUGH IT NEEDS SERIOUS INVESTIGATION. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEEN KILLED. THIS ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN IN A SPIN OUT AS WELL THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS RANDOM. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 ALERO GLS WITH 43,200 MILES ON IT. AT 42,500 THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON SO I CHECKED AND THE OVERFLOW TANK WAS EMPTY. WHEN I WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE THEY FILLED IT AND 2 DAYS LATER IT WAS EMPTY AGAIN. THERE WAS NO COOLANT ON THE GROUND OR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ANYWHERE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO FILLED IT AGAIN AND 2 DAYS LATER IT WAS EMPTY. SINCE THIS STARTED A LOUD TAPPING SOUND STARTED WHEN THE CAR IS COLD FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP IT STOPS. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THEY CHECKED IT OUT THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT WAS LEAKING AND NEEDS REPLACING. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. EVEN TALKING TO OTHER MECHANICS WHO WORK FOR OTHER REPAIR SHOPS TELL ME IT IS A KNOW FACT THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM WITH INTAKE GASKETS. THE LEAK JUST STARTED OUT OF NOWHERE AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT, NOR DO I FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
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
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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