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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2022
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemSuspension

Kept cutting off won't stay crunk long ignition is jammed loud screeching noises from the springs alternator might be the reason electrical issues fuel pump I had to leave my car at a friend's place I'm not working due to the COVID pandemic not able to afford repairs I really need my transportation someone referred me to this si…

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Kept cutting off won't stay crunk long ignition is jammed loud screeching noises from the springs alternator might be the reason electrical issues fuel pump I had to leave my car at a friend's place I'm not working due to the COVID pandemic not able to afford repairs I really need my transportation someone referred me to this site

NHTSA ODI #11445865

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

"TAKATA RECALL" I OWN A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND MY BLINKERS ONLY WORK MAYBE 2 TIME A MONTH WHEN I USE MY TURNING SIGNALS IN EITHER DIRECTION I JUST HEAR A BUZZING SOUND SOMETIMES IT IS ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO SOUND AND NO BLINKER AT ALL. NOW MY GAS GAUGE SAYS EMPTY AND I JUST PUT $30 OF GAS IN IT AND O…

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"TAKATA RECALL" I OWN A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND MY BLINKERS ONLY WORK MAYBE 2 TIME A MONTH WHEN I USE MY TURNING SIGNALS IN EITHER DIRECTION I JUST HEAR A BUZZING SOUND SOMETIMES IT IS ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO SOUND AND NO BLINKER AT ALL. NOW MY GAS GAUGE SAYS EMPTY AND I JUST PUT $30 OF GAS IN IT AND ONCE I RAN OUT OF GAS AND AND WAS STUCK ON THE HWY FOR 4 HOURS BECAUSE MY GAS GAUGE SAID FULL TANK B

NHTSA ODI #11256865

260,000 miles · Oct 14, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

IT JUST STARTED AFTER THE SECURITY GOT LOCK AND HAD TO BE OVER DRIVE. WHEN YOU DRIVE YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR IDLE BAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IF YOU HAVE TO STOP TO TURN AND YOU GET BELOW 1 MGA TURNS OFF. YESTERDAY IT DID THIS AND TURN OFF AND ALL IT WOULD DO IS JUST TURNS BUT DOESN'T START. IN THE MIDD…

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IT JUST STARTED AFTER THE SECURITY GOT LOCK AND HAD TO BE OVER DRIVE. WHEN YOU DRIVE YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR IDLE BAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IF YOU HAVE TO STOP TO TURN AND YOU GET BELOW 1 MGA TURNS OFF. YESTERDAY IT DID THIS AND TURN OFF AND ALL IT WOULD DO IS JUST TURNS BUT DOESN'T START. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'S NOT GET FUEL OR AIR WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. YOU CAN DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT AND WATCH THE MGA, I THINK, 1,2,3, ILDEL DOWN A LITTLE. STARTED END OF SEPT OR NO TROUBLER

NHTSA ODI #11033379

86,000 miles · Jan 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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

NHTSA ODI #10679931

78,000 miles · May 17, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, WOULD NOT START, SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING, TOOK TO SHOP COST 800.00 FOR NEW FUEL PUMP, THEN A MONTH LATER SAME DEAL COME TO FIND OUT IT: IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVING TO DUE WITH THE SECURITY, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS ITS VERY DAN…

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CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, WOULD NOT START, SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING, TOOK TO SHOP COST 800.00 FOR NEW FUEL PUMP, THEN A MONTH LATER SAME DEAL COME TO FIND OUT IT: IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVING TO DUE WITH THE SECURITY, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS ITS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION THE 800.00 SPENT FOR A FUEL PUMP I GUESS I DIDN'T NEED. YOU CAN RESET IT. WORKS ONLY TEMP. LEAVE THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT GOES OUT THEN GO STRAIGHT TO START, MOST THE TIME THIS WORKS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CAR TO SHUT OFF AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH HAS HAPPEN TO US. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592167

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

ATTEMPT TO START CAR AND IT WON'T START. TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING IT ON FOR 10 MINS. APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET. ALSO YOU CAN BE DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SHUTS DOWN TOTAL. THIS IS A EXTREME DANGEROUS AND CAN GET SOME ONE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FI…

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ATTEMPT TO START CAR AND IT WON'T START. TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING IT ON FOR 10 MINS. APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET. ALSO YOU CAN BE DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SHUTS DOWN TOTAL. THIS IS A EXTREME DANGEROUS AND CAN GET SOME ONE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED BUT IT STILL CONTINUES AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER EXPENSE. VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576148

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND IT WON'T START. IT WAS AS IF THE FUEL WAS SHUT-OFF. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME. I NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND PEOPLE SUGGESTED, TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING FOR 10 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET.…

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I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND IT WON'T START. IT WAS AS IF THE FUEL WAS SHUT-OFF. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME. I NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND PEOPLE SUGGESTED, TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING FOR 10 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET. (OR YOU CAN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT IT, THIS WILL ALSO RESET THE COMPUTER.) THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462163

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · 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

1

PE05055 · 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.