2003 Oldsmobile Alero Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 7%of 184 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 79,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, 7% of the 184 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While my wife was driving on I-95 in northern virginia, the inside of her steering wheel, fell into her lap. Luckily the air bag did not deploy. I had to tape the inside of the steering wheel back in place so we could return home.”
NHTSA complaint #10106040, filed 2005-01, 15,021 miles“Traveling down an interstate hwy. Lost steering. Had the car towed home. Jacked the car up and found the nut on the bolt that hold the rack and pinion to the frame has come off and broke the bracket.”
NHTSA complaint #10525345, filed 2013-07, 237,907 miles“Car sharply pulld to left and then veared off road and started flipping down an embankment. Highway patrol and other witnesses saw car while turned upside down and saw tierod was completely broken, mentioning that this was what caused it to sharply vear to the left.”
NHTSA complaint #10127324, filed 2005-07, 43,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10289460, filed 2009-10, 105,897 miles“My ignition switch does not invoke the engine. It has happened couple of times with my Alero. Last year as per the recall notice GM dealer changed the keys and not the entire ignition module. Have spent over usd 350 in the last three weeks and again today the olds Alero is stop working. The ignition does not seem to turn on.”
NHTSA complaint #10809363, filed 2015-12Related service bulletins
- 10113436Feb 20, 2017This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone…
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
103 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsExterior lighting
15 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
12 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology