Oldsmobile Alero Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 601 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Oldsmobile Alero across 6 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (133). The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (16% of reports).
- 601electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 18mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $790typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 99 of 601 complaints (16%)
- Turn signals: mentioned in 41 of 601 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Oldsmobile Alero at $790, and half of them between $620 and $900.
Based on 26 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 368 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 601 complaints, 18 mention a crash, 18 a fire, 10 an injury.
Oldsmobile Alero electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Alero | 57 | 52% | 97,000 |
| 2003 Alero | 103 | 56% | 84,764 |
| 2002 Alero | 133 | 48% | 89,092 |
| 2001 Alero | 130 | 36% | 86,250 |
| 2000 Alero | 89 | 16% | 79,308 |
| 1999 Alero | 89 | 19% | 91,300 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while turning the key the vehicle failed to start. The blinkers were inoperable at times. There was an abnormal grinding sound detected while turning the ignition. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to…
I have exhaust coming into the car through the vent when thermostat is in use, my back seats are not in the clip and flip up with no problem and I have a 8 year old son who sits back there, my break pedal will lock and I cannot apply pressure, my dash lights just stopped working I believe the ECM…
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
The car will shut off while driving/idling. There are no check engine lights. Took it to get the latest recall fixed that had to do with this and they just gave us new keys. It did not remedy the situation! Now we are paying to fix it because it is still shutting off while driving.
The contact owns a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The consumer stated the vehicle was junked 3 or 4…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Oldsmobile Aleros have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 601 owner complaints about electrical system for the Oldsmobile Alero. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Oldsmobile Alero electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Oldsmobile Alero?
Owners report a typical cost of $790 (half paid between $620 and $900), from 26 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Oldsmobile Alero?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 99 of 601 complaints, followed by “turn signals” (41).
Other Oldsmobile Alero problems
See all Oldsmobile Alero problems.