IllustrationWHEN TURNING OFF CAR DOESN'T WANT TO RESTART HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN TO START HAS PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS AND LIGHTS TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED BUT STILL HAS SAME PROBLEMS
2002 Oldsmobile Alero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 279.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Alero years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
2725–50K
4850–75K
4075–100K
28100–150K
22150K+
183 reports with mileage · 96 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
133 reportsWHEN U SHUT YOUR CAR OFF AND TRY TO RESTART WON'T START AND SECURITY LIGHTS COME ON THEN U TURN KEY OFF AND ON AND WAIT 10 MIN TO RESTART .GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM. HAS BEEN SEEN BY CHEVY DEALER AND HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX. THIS PROBLEMS HAPPENS ON REGULAR BASES.
I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WHICH THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAS NOT STARTED WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN. NUMEROUS TIMES I'VE HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC ONLY TO HAVE IT START ONCE IT GETS DROPPED OFF... HENCE THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 AGAIN MY CAR JUST DIDN'T START. LIGH…
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I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WHICH THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAS NOT STARTED WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN. NUMEROUS TIMES I'VE HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC ONLY TO HAVE IT START ONCE IT GETS DROPPED OFF... HENCE THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 AGAIN MY CAR JUST DIDN'T START. LIGHTS, BLINKERS,HORN ALL WORKED BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. FINALLY HAD A MECHANIC COME TO MY HOUSE AND DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH READ SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKDOWN. I WENT ONLINE AND THIS APPARENTLY IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINT ARE LISTED WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM. OLDSMOBILE REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME. TO FIX THIS ISSUE MY MECHANIC WANTS $650.00. I FEEL BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED REPEATEDLY WITH THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OLDSMOBILE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REIMBURSE ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXPENSES INCURRED PERTAINING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE LEFT HER, AS WELL AS HER SON STRANDED. THE VEHICLE BELONG TO HER SO…
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2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXPENSES INCURRED PERTAINING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE LEFT HER, AS WELL AS HER SON STRANDED. THE VEHICLE BELONG TO HER SON. HOWEVER, HE NO *CNLONGER OWNS IT. *JB UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN WHILE OTHER CARS WHERE TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME FROM BEHIND . FINALLY GOT THE CAR OFF OF THE MAIN STREET AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TOWED . AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND IT …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN WHILE OTHER CARS WHERE TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME FROM BEHIND . FINALLY GOT THE CAR OFF OF THE MAIN STREET AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TOWED . AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND IT NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WENT OUT ON THE CAR SO NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR AND NO WAY TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE AS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS ON MOST OLDER GM MODELS. *TR
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILURE. IT STARTED WITH THE TURN SIGNALS, THEY WOULD WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN EVENTUALLY CUT OUT COMPLETELY. HAZARDS WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT, THEN BOTH CUT OUT COMPLETELY. FLASHER WAS REPLACED AND FUSES WERE TESTED AND WERE NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR
THESE CARS ARE NIGHTMARES. I REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE, WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE), THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR BROKE OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAKED ALL OF OIL OUT, REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH A CONSTANTLY DEFECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK DEFECT CAUSES A NO START, EXTREMELY COMMON A…
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THESE CARS ARE NIGHTMARES. I REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE, WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE), THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR BROKE OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAKED ALL OF OIL OUT, REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH A CONSTANTLY DEFECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK DEFECT CAUSES A NO START, EXTREMELY COMMON AND WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE), AND NOW THE CAR WILL CRANK BUT NOT FIRE (ALSO EXTREMELY COMMON, BUT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE ONLINE RESOURCES CAN ONLY PROVIDE ONE OF A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PLACES TO START ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE). A NO START SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A MECHANIC TO THROW A FULL BATTERY OF TESTS AT THE CAR. THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEGAL TO SELL, IT IS A MONEY PIT AND A HAZARD TO ANYBODY AROUND THEM. SYSTEMS ARE CONSTANTLY FAILING, THE CAR ALLOWS WATER TO REACH THE FUSE PANELS AND CORRODE THEM, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR FAILURE OF CRUCIAL DRIVING/SAFETY SYSTEMS. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING IF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS AT OR ABOVE 80 DEGREES. AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THIS IN ROUGHLY A YEARS TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE (~70K). *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG, I HAD DEFROSTER ON, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER STARTED SMOKING, MELTED THE REAR WINDOW TRIM AND REAR PASSENGER PANEL. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURN OFF ENGINE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE DEFROSTER MODULE WENT BAD. THE DEFROSTER MODULE AND WIRE HARNESS FOR REAR WINDOW WAS REP…
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I WAS DRIVING ALONG, I HAD DEFROSTER ON, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER STARTED SMOKING, MELTED THE REAR WINDOW TRIM AND REAR PASSENGER PANEL. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURN OFF ENGINE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE DEFROSTER MODULE WENT BAD. THE DEFROSTER MODULE AND WIRE HARNESS FOR REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED. LOTS OF SMOKE DAMAGE TO INTERIOR OF CAR. *TR
Official recalls
114V400000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE05055 · Turn Signal Failures
Opened Sep 27, 2005 · Closed Jan 13, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.