NHTSA Complaint #10137937 — 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO

I EXPERIENCED IGNITION FAILURE RECENTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSIVE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD REPLACED THIS VERY ITEM ON 6 OTHER VEHICLES EXACTLY THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MINE WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. (THAT SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT FOR ONE SHOP TO DO.) I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART INCLUDING LABOR WOULD BE $460!! THIS WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE, BUT MUCH LESS THAN THE DEALER WANTED (AS EXPECTED). I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE, YET IT WAS NOT RECALLED.*JB