Headlight complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero. 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. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who test drove the vehicle and determined the failure was due to the ignition switch. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
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 go from bright to dim, car does not seem to keep acceleration power very well
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving 30 MPH, the turn signals failed to function and smoke emitted from the top part of the steering column. In addition, while driving 55 MPH, the headlights and horn failed to function. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
This incident occurred for the first time on a rainy day in 2011. I was a new driver at the time. While I was traveling at approximately 45 MPH on my way to school, I put on my turn signal to change lanes. There was heavy traffic on the road, and I was going to need someone to let me into the lane. My turn signal, however, malfunctioned and would not illuminate. The resulting lack of communication between myself and the other driver very nearly caused an accident. This problem has persisted intermittently for the last three years. The malfunctioning of the turn signals occurs most often during wet or humid conditions. Only recently did I discover the source of the problem. When I attempt to activate the turn signal and it malfunctions, it can oftentimes be remedied by applying a small amount of pressure to the hazard light button. …
Just a couple of days after the purchase of the vehicle the brakes were making a bad scrubbing noise, and I had no turn signal at all I noticed a clicking sound coming from the hazard warning light .during the clicking sound the turn signal would work at times and I would smell something like a burning smell. While the car was park and no one around it the lights would come on inside and out by their self and this causes my battery to go dead and I have to boost it off. I have contacted the car dealer that I purchased it from and they were very rude and hateful and told me it was my problem and that there is nothing they can do about it. That they sold it to me at a good deal and they could not help me.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero. The contact stated that the turn signal failed to operate and the hazard lights operated independently. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 03V327000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 82,762.
The first time it stopped working, I thought maybe I had just a burned out signal lamp, but then it started working again. It was pretty random at first, but now it will not work at all, or it will start working blink twice and then just stop. It May be "dead" for a long while and then just start back up. Usually it just doesn't work at all anymore. I have driven down the highway with it turned on and it will be 5-10 minutes later and it will start blinking again. I see there is/was a recall for this exact problem, for model years 2000-2001 and I have a 2001, but they claim my vehicle is not part of the recall. The recall is 03V327000, or GM recall 03043a. The a was because they expanded it to include these two model years from an original recall. I talked to Oldsmobile directly and they say it is not part of the recall. …
Blinkers intermittently work. Every time I take it in for diagnosis and repair the blinkers work just fine and I can't get them to not work. Normally they will work immediately after turning on engine, then after a few turns stop working. Other times they will not work at all upon turning on engine. When the problem first began, I could turn on the left and right signal a few times and then the blinkers would work. Now it has gotten so bad this no longer works. My VIN falls just outside the recall number c258800 so a dealer is working with me to see if they can get it covered. This is a serious safety risk to yourself and other drivers! I have learned that the flasher assembly is generally what needs to be replaced which about $40.00 plus tax and labor. …
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights › Switch
Certain passenger vehicles have hazard warning switches that May experience solder joint cracking caused by rapid temperature transitions and the soldering process. If solder joint cracking occurs and results in an open circuit, the turn signals/hazard lamps become intermittent or inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard warning switch. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA investigations
Turn signal failures
GM conducted a recall (NHTSA recall number 03V327) on model year (my) 2000-2001 alero, grand am and malibu vehicles to replace defective hazard switches that cause the turn signals and hazard lights to fail.the recall covered vehicles built from February 2000 through May 2001 (depending on model).odi opened this investigation based on 64 reports alleging turn signal failure on my 1999-2000 alero, grand am and malibu…
Turn signal failures
By letter dated August 27, 2003, GM notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03V327) involving certain model year (my) 2000-2001 Chevrolet malibu, Oldsmobile alero, and Pontiac grand am.GM's recall covers 670,740 vehicles manufactured beginning February 1, 2000 through May 1, 2001 (alero and grand am) and February 1, 2000 through May 31, 2001 (malibu).GM reports that turn…
Turn signal failures
In December 2004, GM issued a special policy for my 1999-2000 alero, grand am and malibu vehicles not covered under recall 03V327. The policy covered turn signal/hazard flasher failure for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles (whichever occurred first) to provide a no cost replacement of the hazard switch.
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Alero years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (135), 2002 (78), 2001 (68), 1999 (45) and 2004 (21) model years. Headlight complaints make up 24% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Oldsmobile Alero headlight problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 03V-327 (switch, Aug 28, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Oldsmobile Alero headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hazard flashing warning lights › switch (101 mentions), followed by the turn signal (95).
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.