2003 Oldsmobile Aurora Review
Price Estimate: $1,774 - $2,871





+11
Appraise my car
Get the Edmunds appraisal report and a no-obligation offer for your car.
By entering your License Plate or VIN, you'll get a more accurate appraisal that may raise your car's value.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Sophisticated power plant, sumptuous interior, comfortable ride.
Cons
- Poor resale value, build quality not quite up to that of the competition.
What’s new
The V6 has been dropped in the final year of production making the Aurora one of the few V8-only sedans on the market. Two new exterior colors -- Bordeaux Red and Steel Blue -- have also been added for the Aurora's going-away party.
Edmunds says
The best soon-to-be-discontinued sedan on the market.
For sale near Greer, SC
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in South Carolina
$238/mo for Aurora 4.0
Aurora 4.0
vs
$180/mo
Avg. Large Car
Reliability
The 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
2 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 03V238000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 03038
- Manufactured from:
- 2002-03-26 to 2002-12-20
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 102212
- Defect Description:
- 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 TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.
- Defect Consequence:
- FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Corrective Action:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
- Recall Number:
- 02V222000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 02032
- Manufactured from:
- 2002-05-01 to 2002-07-31
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 133221
- Defect Description:
- 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.
- Defect Consequence:
- PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
- Corrective Action:
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
Warranty
5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 6 years / 100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
Oldsmobile Aurora Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
GM's best is now gone
5 out of 5 starsLast Olds, 03/18/2006
2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 4dr Sedan (4.0L 8cyl 4A)
Why shoud GM sell Auroas when people will by the same car for $15,000 more just to have a Cadillac wreath on it. I love my Aurora. It get's great milage and has a smooth and powerful V8 engine. It's quiet, fun to drive, and completly trouble free. It is GM's best kept secret.
2003 olds aurora
5 out of 5 starslionman73, 01/06/2014
2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 4dr Sedan (4.0L 8cyl 4A)
Had this baby since 2007--still going strong with 79,000 miles! Tune-ups and oil changes have been regular--no major repairs to speak of. Great car-great styling and great performance! I only wish they still made the Aurora :( I can only imagine what a 2018 would look like!!!
I'm very happy with my Aurora!
5 out of 5 starsJay, 11/22/2008
2002 Oldsmobile Aurora 3.5 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)
I've owned my Olds for 3 years and I have to say it's the best car I've ever had! It's very comfortable to drive, especially on 3 day road trips. I get 33mpg (highway driving). Amazing what high octane fuel and K&N air filters can do for mileage and passing power! It's very safe/stable driving on highways or in the city in all whether conditions be it be rain, ice or blizzard. I can't … even tell the roads are bad it handles so well! Here in Canada we have extreme road conditions and I have no problem passing other cars/trucks (good or poor road conditions). There has been no work done to the car except regular maintenance. No breakdowns or problems. Car has 77,400 miles on it so far.
Why buy an import
5 out of 5 starssdagostin, 09/24/2003
2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 4dr Sedan (4.0L 8cyl 4A)
This car has been absolutely reliable.
Not one penny in two years/30,000
miles. The styling is unique and
attractive. The fact that there are
few of them on the road makes it a much
more distinctive look and a head
turner. The leather interior and the
seating make it extraordinarily
comfortable to drive. The Bose sound
system is as good or better than any
other … factory-installed system that
I've heard.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora, so we've included reviews for other years of the Aurora since its last redesign.
2003 Aurora Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $34,725 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $238/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Aurora include:
- Alarm
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
Related Used 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Porsche 718 Boxster 2021 Review
- Dodge Durango 2020 Review
- Jeep Cherokee 2020 Review
- BMW 5 Series 2021 Review
- Ford Fusion Plug In Hybrid 2020 Review
- Volvo S90 2021 Review
- Acura Ilx 2020 Review
Shop used vehicles in your area
Popular new car reviews and ratings
Other models
- New Audi Q6-E-Tron for Sale in Camp Hill, PA
- New Kia Forte for Sale in Torrington, CT
- Used Chrysler LHS in Orem, UT 2001
- New Subaru Crosstrek for Sale in Teaneck, NJ
- Used BMW M4 in Hingham, MA 2026
- Used Mclaren 570S-Spider in Smyrna, DE 2020
- Used BMW M8-Gran-Coupe in Elizabethtown, KY 2025
- Used Lexus CT-200H in Candler, NC 2017
- Used Ford C-Max-Hybrid in Tualatin, OR 2018
- Used Maybach 57 in Nashville, TN 2012