Oldsmobile Alero Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 356 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Oldsmobile Alero across 6 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (131). The words owners use most often: “turn signals” (49% of reports).
- 356exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%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.
- Turn signals: mentioned in 173 of 356 complaints (49%)
- Hazard switch: mentioned in 65 of 356 complaints (18%)
- Worked intermittently: mentioned in 24 of 356 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Oldsmobile Alero at $350, and half of them between $290 and $460.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2010), 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 exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 243 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 356 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Oldsmobile Alero exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Alero | 21 | 19% | 96,500 |
| 2003 Alero | 15 | 8% | 82,500 |
| 2002 Alero | 78 | 28% | 71,165 |
| 2001 Alero | 68 | 19% | 63,340 |
| 2000 Alero | 131 | 24% | 65,000 |
| 1999 Alero | 43 | 9% | 59,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:hazard flashing warning lights:switch
Model years: 2000, 2001
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that may experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative.
Risk: When the turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn that could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hazard warning switch. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
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…
"takata recall" i own a 2002 oldsmobile alero and my blinkers only work maybe 2 time a month when i use my turning signals in either direction i just hear a buzzing sound sometimes it is only in one direction and sometimes there is no sound and no blinker at all. Now my gas gauge says empty and i…
I own a 2004 alero oldsmobile i purchased the car used in 2008. It later only had one recall which was for the ignition issues. While the car is on and in drive the key is still able to be pulled out of the ignition and the car still remains on and in drive. I am also experiencing my blinkers not…
Turn signal intermittent and safety flashers inoperative at same time. Doesn't matter if it's in motion, stationary, on city street, highway, etc., happens approx. 5 minutes after being used. I took my car to a local station and they couldn't repair it due to intermittent problem at first. Took to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Oldsmobile Aleros have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 356 owner complaints about exterior lighting 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 exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Oldsmobile Alero?
Owners report a typical cost of $350 (half paid between $290 and $460), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Oldsmobile Alero?
The most frequent phrase is “turn signals”, in 173 of 356 complaints, followed by “hazard switch” (65).
Other Oldsmobile Alero problems
See all Oldsmobile Alero problems.