Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
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!
Purchased 2003 Alero on oct 8, 2009 on oct. 9th car would not start or jump, ABS and security light was on, radio turned off. Had it towed back to dealer who looked at it the next day and the car started right up and they could not duplicate the problem so they did not do any work to it. On oct 15 while my daughter was driving the vehicle onto the interstate the ABS light and security light came on and the steering wheel turned sharply to the left and she could not control the vehicle. This caused an accident with injuries. The diagnostic report was limited due to the extent of damage to the vehicle and the only code they could get to register was that the ABS code was on. Was told that the diagnostic did not show anything else but diagnostics was limited anyways because the vehicle was not drivable anymore.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that the ignition switch failed without warning. The contact mentioned that the failure caused the engine to shut off as the vehicle was started. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer who replaced another ignition switch. The dealer advised that the wiring harness and the ignition cylinder were faulty, but they were not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 107,000. Updated 10/01/15 updated 11/07/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The vehicle was repaired under the recall, but it was not repaired properly. While driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle completely shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was repaired, but the vehicle completely shut off twice more. It took the contact almost an hour to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the thermostat needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired for the thermostat failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system: ignition). The vehicle did not exhibit any failures prior to the recall repair. After the repair, the contact was provided with a recall replacement key that was different from the factory key provided at the time of purchase. The recall replacement key failed to start the engine. The contact stated that the ignition had to be exposed in order to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for further diagnostic testing. The manufacturer provided no assistance. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 165,000.
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 owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the technician could not get the vehicle started. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the body control module and battery were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also towed to another independent mechanic who was briefly able to get the vehicle started, but the failure recurred. The failure occurred over ten times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving at 60 MPH, the key fell out of the ignition switch causing the vehicle to stall. Several months later, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The recall was performed; however, the turn signals failed to illuminate without the contact having to jiggle the ignition switch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000. Updated 09/03/15 the consumer had a new cut at the dealer, and it solved the turn signal problem. Updated 10/16/16
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. On several occasions, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the vehicle computer software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a second time to be diagnosed for the failure. The contact was informed that the ignition wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Alero years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA has 103 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, 56% of the model year's 184 complaints. The component named most often is horn (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-400 (ignition, Jul 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries and 1 death to electrical system 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.