AI Damage2004 Oldsmobile Alero: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero filed 109 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 109
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 52% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 19% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 57 complaints (52% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 21 complaints (19% of all).
- Air bags: 13 complaints (12% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 13 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 10 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 109 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 57 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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 air bags did not deploy and the seat belts failed to lock. The contact sustained a leg injury and a concussion, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
My airbags never deployed because of my airbags not deploying I hit my head on the front window pane. If the airbag had deployed I would have never hit the front window causing my two head contusions, sprained neck, and herniated discs.
He had no brakes or power steering causing him to leave the roadway and crash into a fence. The crash didn't deploy the airbag, but caused sever damage to the car, resulting in it being totaled. It was towed to a junk yard where it was sold as scrap.
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.
Lo que debes resaltar en el reporte: Kilometraje: 60,000 millas (especifica que el daño grave se notó a las 40,000). Componente: "Structure: Frame and Members" (Estructura: Chasis y travesaños). Riesgo: "Complete structural failure" (Fallo estructural completo
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 is bad, my headlights…
The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she was able to drive to her destination. The contact called multiple local dealers: Les Stanford Cadillac ([address], Dearborn, [ZIP], [phone]), Gordon Chevrolet, INC. ([address], Garden City, [ZIP], [phone]) and James-Martin Chevrolet, INC.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,369 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Alero has 280 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 109, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, exterior lighting, air bags. Total complaints: 109. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (15%), won't start (14%), stalls while driving (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.