NHTSA — Engine Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,996 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Oldsmobile Alero engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Comments

problem #17

Apr 272019

Alero

  • 74,350 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 off. Turn engine on after several miles and no more problems. Drive home carefully. Next day throws several codes and running sluggish. Several days later codes are gone right before it goes to dealer. They can't diagnose if car has no active codes or symptoms. About a week later turn car on and car is making a knocking sound and has several pending codes. Carefully drive home. Codes didn't save. Finally able to take to dealer around June 25th while car is making the knocking noise but no codes and they think it's a lifter but not sure. I left the car and they say they can't replicate the issue. Literally the same day I pick the car up it is knocking and consistently does so for the next week as soon as the engine warms up. July 5 engine sounds like it's being hit by a hammer and throws P0011 cam timing advanced. Oil pressure is 5psi at idle and 40psi at 5000rpm. Have car towed to dealer because it probably wouldn't make the drive and they say it is piston slap without even opening the engine they determine it is not caused by the recall. At this point the engine is sitting in my garage with the timing cover, oil pan and one valve cover off and I don't know what to do with it. I can't afford to pay them to fix something that is happening to dozens of people after the recall. I'm going to try to get the dealer to actually tear it down to diagnose it.. codes thrown so far are P0011 P219A P0301 P000A P0420 knocking seems to be when oil warms up and oil pressure drops to about 30psi and below.

- Hyde Park, UT, USA

problem #16

May 012017

Alero

  • 90,000 miles
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.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #15

Nov 222015

Alero

  • 110,000 miles
I was driving on the interstate and the car jumped up ito 6 and 7 rpms in the red got stuck even when pedal was not pressed stayed there I the red for a few seconds with no warning lights finally dropped and started knocking.

- Fairmont, WV, USA

problem #14

Jan 192016

Alero

  • 91,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Tried to start car and it would not start, only crank. Started next morning and had it towed to repair shop and it would not start intermittently. Repair shop said to take it home because they could not diagnose or fix. I checked the internet and discovered that this has been an ongoing problem with certain GM vehicles and many people are complaining. There is a way to start it sometimes by waiting ten minutes with key in acc and then turning off and then removing the key and then re starting. This is working but not always. Apparently GM is fully aware of this problem but has taken no action to correct it. I am afraid that I may be stranded somewhere or the security system could possibly turn the car off. Also there is discussion that this may also be a bad ignition switch but there is no recall for this vehicle for the switch, only the key!

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #13

Dec 142015

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,227 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while driving at 15 mph, the vehicle loss power without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed and needed to have the pass lock assembly and the lock cylinder replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,227. Updated 02/19/16

- Milford, CT, USA

problem #12

Dec 092015

Alero

  • miles
My ignition switch does not invoke the engine. It has happened couple of times with my Alero. Last year as per the recall notice GM dealer changed the keys and not the entire ignition module. Have spent over usd 350 in the last three weeks and again today the olds Alero is stop working. The ignition does not seem to turn on.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #11

Sep 232015

Alero

  • 117,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning four times on the interstate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 117,000.

- Rantoul, IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 172015

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 162,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle shut off and the check engine warning light illuminated. After several attempts, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000. MA 09/25 updated 11/28/2017

- Coldwater, MI, USA

problem #9

Jan 122015

Alero

  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted after waiting a while but the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

problem #8

Dec 162014

Alero

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and all the instrument panel warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

- Bufflo, NY, USA

problem #7

Jul 012004

Alero

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that the passenger side dashboard, which houses the air bag, separated and exposed the air bag components. While driving at various speeds, the engine suddenly stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Brytheville, AR, USA

problem #6

Nov 172010

Alero

  • 3,332 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving approximately 30 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact powered off the vehicle and was unable to restart the ignition. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The dealer was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 3,332.

- Lutcher, LA, USA

problem #5

Sep 032012

Alero

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that it would take several attempts before the vehicle would start. The contact mentioned that vehicle would jerk when shifting out of the park position. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Midwest City, OK, USA

problem #4

May 072007

Alero 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and no repairs were performed. The contact stated that the ignition switch was recently replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000. Updated 08/19/14 updated 08/23/2017

- Tracys Landing , MD, USA

problem #3

Nov 292012

Alero

  • 28,130 miles
Car has repeatedly shut off at speed, sometimes restarting, twice needing to be towed.

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

problem #2

Jul 032007

Alero

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact indicated that after restarting the vehicle the steering malfunctioned, causing extreme difficulty in turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that both control arms were faulty. The vehicle was repaired but the defect recurred. The contact indicated that the vehicle would intermittently stall while driving but an independent mechanic was unable to diagnose the defect. The contact also indicated that the air bag warning light was replaced because of constant illumination of the warning light. Additionally, the brakes malfunctioned but the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 93,000.

- Avon, IN, USA

problem #1

Feb 272014

Alero 4-cyl

  • 100,900 miles
Today I started my car with my automatic starter then 7 minutes later I hear a horn non stop beeping I lookout my door and my car is smoking and in flames from hood. Investigator tells me it totaled. After they put the fire out I look in car and only one air bag came out.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

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