Model year record

2004 OLDSMOBILE Alero

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 179 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V400000

Electrical system: ignition

Component: Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected: 5,877,718
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-07-03
Owners notified: 2014-09-08

Defect description

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, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Electrical system	48	97,000 mi
Exterior lighting	14	105,200 mi
Engine	13	130,000 mi
Air bags	12	150,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal	6	24,500 mi
Electrical system: ignition	5	102,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch	5	20,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	5	95,562 mi
Power train	5	165,340 mi
Steering	5	107,650 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch	4	24,500 mi
Structure: body	4	48,300 mi
Suspension	4	20,000 mi
Unknown or other	4	136,000 mi
Service brakes	3	35,570 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	3	59,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	2	20,000 mi
Equipment	2	—
Fuel/propulsion system	2	120,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner	2	31,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	2	28,000 mi
Structure	2	20,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	2	59,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	20,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	1	15,400 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	1	—
Electrical system: horn	1	75,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	114,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	82,236 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	1	—
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	136,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	1	20,000 mi
Seat belts	1	200,000 mi
Service brakes, air	1	67,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	20,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings	1	20,000 mi
Suspension: front: hub	1	63,350 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	100,000 mi
Traction control system	1	—
Vehicle speed control	1	56,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	1	112,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	20,000 mi
Visibility	1	125,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	1	105,200 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	41,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	58,734 mi

The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.