Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Oldsmobile Alero owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 chest against the steering wheel. Additionally, the left side of the contact' body hit the driver's side window. The contact was knocked unconscious for approximately 30 minutes. The police officers removed the driver's side door and assisted the contact out of the vehicle. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where she spent one night. The contact was then transported to another hospital where she spent two weeks. The contact sustained severe head, collarbone, neck, and back pain. Additionally, the contact sustained chest pain bruises, and a broken left foot. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard, where it was deemed destroyed. The contact sustained minor injuries which required medical attention. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 4/15/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle slid on ice and crashed into a light pole. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact sustained an injury to the neck, which required medical attention. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,860.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the brake pedal failed to respond when it was depressed. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact crashed the vehicle into a side wall and the front passenger side tire separated from the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
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.
Driving and everything quit but the engine nothing on the dash worked, door locks unlocked lost headlights, radio anything Electrical was gone
My problem is with the horn/airbag assembly for this vehicle. It started about 3 years ago. The horn, in cold weather, honks. It would go off and continue in a constant honk (not a pulsing honk) and will not stop until the relay under the hood is pulled. If the relay is replaced and the weather is still cold it would go off/honk while riding down the road. The whole horn/airbag assembly has to be replace. I replaced the assembly 2 years ago. Now the new horn assembly goes off even in warm weather. Sitting in the driveway, going down the road, whenever, causing un-needed attention and distracting other drivers. The only solution has been to totally disable the horn/airbag by removing the relay under the hood leaving me with no horn at all. The cost for replacement is over $900. Money I can't afford to spend with no guarantee that the third unit won't do the same thing as the other two. …
Tl* 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.
Approximately 2 plus years ago my horn stopped working. I returned to the dealer from whom I bought the car. Car was purchased used, however I did purchase extended warranty. I was informed by dealer that the horn was connected to airbag module and that the contacts were shot. To get my horn back I would have to replace a perfectly good, I hope, airbag module at a cost of approximately $1100.00. This a b.s. I cannot afford to pay for a new airbag module. I am still without a horn. There are times when having a horn is important. In my mind this is serious design flaw. How many people can afford to resolve this problem? To me this is a 'blatant' safety hazard. Will my airbag work properly if I ever need it????
Airbag complaints in other Alero years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, 13% of the model year's 184 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Oldsmobile Alero airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Oldsmobile Alero airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.