The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,970,581 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 294 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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,…
Consequence
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.
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…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
79
6crashes1fires5injuries1deaths
AIR BAGS
22
8crashes1fires6injuries1deaths
ENGINE
17
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
STEERING
10
2crashes5injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
9
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
9
Total complaints294
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“Driving and everything quit but the engine nothing on the dash worked, door locks unlocked lost headlights, radio anything electrical was gone”
“Driving and everything quit but the engine nothing on the dash worked, door locks unlocked lost headlights, radio anything electrical was gone”
“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…”
“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. 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.”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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