Total Complaints
9 filings
OLDSMOBILE AURORA · model year
2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA
9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003OLDSMOBILEAURORA carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 AURORA is air bags with 2 filings, followed by structure (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 2003 AURORA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recalls (2)
02V22200009/08/2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
03V23800001/07/2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL
Recent Complaints
20180610AIR BAGS
DASH BOARD LITE SAYS "AI R BAG PROBLEM" EVERY TIME YOU START THE ENGINE
Mileage: 91,000
20160323FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE A FUEL LINE ON MY CAR THAT IS CRACKED AND I HAVE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR THE FUEL LINE ONLINE AND AT O'REILLY BUT THAT PART DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE. I HAVE CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND THE PHONE RECORDING SAYS THAT MY CAR HAD 3 OPEN RECALLS. WHEN I TALK TO A PERSON THEY TOLD ME NO THOSE RECALLS WERE CLOSED ON MY CAR. BUT FOR ONE SPECIFIC RECALL IT DESCRIBES MY EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE NON EXISTENT PART THAT IS CRACKED ON MY CAR. THAT PART ALSO HAS A DATE FOR BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. I'VE TALKED TO THE GM DEALER NEAR WHERE I LIVE AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THE SAME THING THAT THOSE RECALLS ARE CLOSED. NOW CLOSED AND REPAIRED HAVE 2 DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS I THOUGHT. THE FUEL LINE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M A SINGLE MOM THAT DRIVES MY KIDS AROUND. WHAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN AND THAT CRACK IN MY FUEL LINE STARTING LEAKING FUEL ON MY ENGINE. BUT BECAUSE OLDSMOBILE AND GM SAY ITS BEEN CLOSED AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME THAT I'M SUPPOSE TO WAIT UNTIL
Mileage: 146,000
20110610VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
20090521ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING AND HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WOULD CALL GM TO CHECK IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE REPAIRED FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY. GM STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT COULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS WITH A 10% DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Mileage: 69,000
20060915ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR CONDITION THE CAR WILL CUT OFF, THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN FIX. 2. CAR IS CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. 3. WINDOW WHIPERS COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO AND THEY WILL NOT CUT OFF WITH THE SWITCH I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN IN ORDER FOR THE WHIPERS TO STOP.
20060915EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1. WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR CONDITION THE CAR WILL CUT OFF, THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN FIX. 2. CAR IS CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. 3. WINDOW WHIPERS COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO AND THEY WILL NOT CUT OFF WITH THE SWITCH I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN IN ORDER FOR THE WHIPERS TO STOP.
20040803CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A TOWED HITCHED TRAILER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT A DETERMINATION HAD NOT BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
20040803CrashAIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A TOWED HITCHED TRAILER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT A DETERMINATION HAD NOT BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
20040709STRUCTURE
VINYL COVERING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CRACKED AROUND THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAY DEPLOYMENT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED INJURIES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
Mileage: 46,000
Compare 2003OLDSMOBILEAURORA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA have?▼
The 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA has 9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA?▼
Yes, the 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.