11 of the
175 complaints about the 2004 Oldsmobile Alero are about the
braking system — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
35,570 miles.
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
NHTSA complaint #11625161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesCedar Rapids, IACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. HE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING CAUSING HIM TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY AND CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE CRASH DIDN'T DEPLOY THE AIRBAG, BUT CAUSED SEVER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, RESULTING IN IT BEING TOTALED. IT WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD WHERE IT WAS SOLD AS SCRAP. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY INJURED, AND DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. I CONTACTED GM AFTER RECEIVING THEIR RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER, 2014. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE THERE ASKING JUST FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE CAR SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR CRASHED. THE REPRESENTATIVE DECLINED THE CLAIM STATING THEY COULD NOT INSPECT THE CAR. THE CLAIM # IS [XXX]. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR AS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL NOTICE AND FELT NO OBLIGATION AT THE TIME TO REPORT IT TO GM. I ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT, AND CAN FORWARD THAT TO YOU IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10641159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,570 milesDenver, CO
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR VARIOUS ENGINE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V40000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND PERFORMED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NOTIFICATION, INCLUDING DRIVING WITH A SINGLE KEY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,570.
NHTSA complaint #10631662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,000 milesSouth Rockwood, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME. MOST ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAIL AT TIMES. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. REAR DOOR LOCKS HAVE TO PLAY WITH REMOTE LOCKS BEFORE DOOR OPENS ACTS AS THOUGH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE ON CAN NOT OPEN DOOR FROM IN OR OUT. EVENTUALLY AFTER PUSHING ON REMOTE LOCK IT OPENS. BRAKES ALWAYS GRINDING EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENTS. ENGINE HAS ALSO, TICKED NOT KNOCK JUST TICKING SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THE CAR. MANY TIMES THE CAR DOES NOT START FIRST TRY AFTER SECOND IT STARTS BUT ALL ELECTRICAL HAS TO RESET EXAMPLE RADIO, CLOCK ECT.
NHTSA complaint #10359024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,000 milesElkhart, IN
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS 4 TIMES IN ONE YEAR, AND THE SLIDER PINS ON CALIPERS KEEP GOING BAD, PASS SIDE STRUT NEEDS REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 2 YEARS
NHTSA complaint #10192867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tuscarawas, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FRONT BEARING HUBS FAILURE. FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE, FRONT BREAK SYSTEM FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10189208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 milesPengilly, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN MY VEHICLE REACHED 49,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BRAKES REPLACED. MY CAR IS NOW AT 59,000 MILES AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10170391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,785 milesCarthage, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAK AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO DIRT ROADS AND REPLACED THE HUBS, ROTORS, AND BRAKES. THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TWICE, AND NEED REPLACING AGAIN. UPDATED 4/11/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10152141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesSherman, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT: BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 2004 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEMS.. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 20,000 MILES IT HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AND BRAKE SHOES REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE STILL MAKING A HUMMING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT OR WITH THE BRAKES.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL, DOOR PANELS, WINDOWS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE TRANSMISSION OR FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING, THE BLINKERS WERE BLINKING TOO FAST, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING, THE CARPET LINING WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE, THE BACK TRIM AROUND THE SEATS DIDN'T FIT PROPERLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10135455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesSherman, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
DT: BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER 2004 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE 2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEMS.. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 20,000 MILES IT HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AND BRAKE SHOES REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE STILL MAKING A HUMMING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT OR WITH THE BRAKES.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL, DOOR PANELS, WINDOWS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE TRANSMISSION OR FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING, THE BLINKERS WERE BLINKING TOO FAST, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING, THE CARPET LINING WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE, THE BACK TRIM AROUND THE SEATS DIDN'T FIT PROPERLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10135455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesCorinth, MS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS MAKING A SOUND FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE WEATHER MAKING THE BRAKES SOUND. THE BRAKES ARE NOW SO DEFECTIVE THAT WHEN THEY ARE PRESSED, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10105423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.