NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
279 reportsMileage unknown · Nov 9, 2008
Electrical System
MY PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2002 ALERO HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT. I HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES WITH KEY IN ON POSITION BEFORE IT WILL START. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME, AND AS I OBSERVED ONLINE, FOR MANY OTHERS. I HAD IT TOWED AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT I…
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MY PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2002 ALERO HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT. I HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES WITH KEY IN ON POSITION BEFORE IT WILL START. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME, AND AS I OBSERVED ONLINE, FOR MANY OTHERS. I HAD IT TOWED AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS AND UNTIL I GET A 100% ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS ON SOMETHING, I DON'T PAY OUT MONEY FOR ASSUMPTIONS. I FOUND OUT ON MY OWN AND BY READING THE OWNERS MANUAL, WHAT THE EXACT PROBLEM WAS. I REALIZE I MUST DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR ANY THING TO BE DONE. SAD TO SAY THAT IS HOW THINGS WORK IN THIS DWINDLING ECONOMY. I HAVE THE FEAR THAT STALKERS I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST MAY CATCH UP WITH ME AT A TIME WHEN MY CAR WON'T START. SHOULD I TELL THEM "HEY WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE YOU CAN ATTACK ME THEN I CAN GET AWAY." PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOU CAN GOOGLE TO SEE THE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10248059
24,500 miles · Oct 31, 2008
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS LOCKED TWICE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE AND RECENTLY FAILED AGAIN. SHE IS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS LOCKED TWICE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE AND RECENTLY FAILED AGAIN. SHE IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,273.
NHTSA ODI #10247389
110,000 miles · Oct 29, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MY BLINKERS ON MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO DON'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10247139
71,000 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR THEN IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THAT THERE WAS OTHER INTERNAL VALVE AND ENGINE COMPONENT DAMAGE. THE ENGINE IS A 2.2L GM MOTOR THAT WAS RECALLED FO…
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CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR THEN IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THAT THERE WAS OTHER INTERNAL VALVE AND ENGINE COMPONENT DAMAGE. THE ENGINE IS A 2.2L GM MOTOR THAT WAS RECALLED FOR SATURNS, AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT NOT THE ONE WE OWN WHICH IS AN OLDSMOBILE ALERO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10246131
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
I HAVE HAD MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SINCE 2002. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF HAVING THIS CAR THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT BAD AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WENT BANKRUPT. SINCE THEN I HA…
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I HAVE HAD MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SINCE 2002. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF HAVING THIS CAR THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT BAD AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WENT BANKRUPT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE A GASKET IN THE ENGINE THAT KEEPS ENGINE COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL FROM MIXING TOGETHER BECAUSE THE GASKET THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE CAR WAS NOT THE RIGHT THICKNESS. (SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY MECHANICS WHY WASN'T THIS RECALLED OR A SERVICE BULLETIN INITIATED?) I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER DOOR CONTROL PANEL THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS AND THE SIDE MIRRORS AND WINDOW LOCKS. THE WINDOWS IN MY CAR CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE WINDOW LOCK IS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS FALLING DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND HAVE HAD ONE WINDOW REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2007 BUT NOW IN SEPTEMBER 2008 THE PASSENGER WINDOW IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND NOW WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS WINDOW AS WELL. RIGHT NOW THE MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS CAR IS THE TURN SIGNALS. THEY FUNCTION AS THEY SHOULD BUT THE CLICKING NOISE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN I HAVE MADE A TURN (IT ACTUALLY MAKES A CLICKING NOISE ABOUT 3 TIMES AS FAST AS THE REGULAR TURN CLICK). I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE HAZARD LIGHT RECALL WHICH MY CAR FALLS UNDER SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. IT IS A VERY DISTRACTING PROBLEM AND THE ONLY TIME I CAN GET RELIEF FROM THE CLICKING NOISE IS WHEN I ACTUALLY GET READY TO MAKE A TURN BY TURNING ON THE ACTUAL TURN SIGNAL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. I AM HOPING THAT SOME THING IS DONE ABOUT THE WINDOWS AND THE ENGINE GASKET. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. GM SHOULD MAKE THINGS RIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240999
130,000 miles · Aug 11, 2008
Exterior Lighting
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH OUR TURN SIGNALS GOING OUT SPORADICALLY. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BUT WE WERE TOLD TAT ONLY CERTAIN VIN#S HAD THIS RECALL. HOWEVER THIS IS HAPPENING TO TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR, IT IS RIDICULOUS. WE ALSO L…
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WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH OUR TURN SIGNALS GOING OUT SPORADICALLY. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BUT WE WERE TOLD TAT ONLY CERTAIN VIN#S HAD THIS RECALL. HOWEVER THIS IS HAPPENING TO TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR, IT IS RIDICULOUS. WE ALSO LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO START OUR VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION. WE HAD TO PAY $700 TO GET IT REKEYED, AND WE HAVE A PASSENGER WINDOW THAT HAS FELL INTO THE DOOR, WHICH STILL IS NOT FIXED. WE SHOULD ALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE SIGNALS FIXED UNDER RECALL NOT JUST SOME WHEN ITS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237783
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I'VE ONLY HAD MY CAR SINCE NOV 07 FOR THE PAST 4MOS MY TRAC OFF, TRAC LOW, SERVICE ENGINE, AND CHANGE OIL LIGHTS COME ON AND STAYS ON I'VE TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND THEY CANT SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT WHEN I M DRIVING MY CAR ACT LIKE IT GOING TO CUT OFF OR IT'LL LIKE SLOW DOWN A LIL BIT AND THEN CATCH SPEED. THIS HAPPENS O…
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I'VE ONLY HAD MY CAR SINCE NOV 07 FOR THE PAST 4MOS MY TRAC OFF, TRAC LOW, SERVICE ENGINE, AND CHANGE OIL LIGHTS COME ON AND STAYS ON I'VE TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND THEY CANT SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT WHEN I M DRIVING MY CAR ACT LIKE IT GOING TO CUT OFF OR IT'LL LIKE SLOW DOWN A LIL BIT AND THEN CATCH SPEED. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY ITS VERY SCARY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237377
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2008
Exterior Lighting
THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THERE MIGHT BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY WIFE'S 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAZARD SWITCH IS FAULTY CAUSING INTERMITTENT TURNING SIGNAL FAILURE, THE SAME PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODELS OF THE ALERO. I CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH UNDER RECALL WHICH APPARENTLY THEY TOLD ME MY VIN …
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THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THERE MIGHT BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY WIFE'S 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAZARD SWITCH IS FAULTY CAUSING INTERMITTENT TURNING SIGNAL FAILURE, THE SAME PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODELS OF THE ALERO. I CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH UNDER RECALL WHICH APPARENTLY THEY TOLD ME MY VIN ISN'T INCLUDED, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND PROBLEM. I THOUGHT I WOULD NOTIFY YOU OF THE PROBLEM THAT SEEMS WAS NOT CORRECTED WHEN THE RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR PREVIOUS YEARS. THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ANY ALERO THAT EXPERIENCES THIS ISSUE, NOT JUST CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236867
131,000 miles · Jul 23, 2008
Electrical System
I PURCHASED A 2002 V-6 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SEDAN IN AUG 2006 AT 80,000 MILES AND AT 85,000 MILES IN SEPT 2006 ALREADY HAD MY FIRST REPAIR ON THE IGNITION PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED BUT IN JUNE OF 2008 A FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. I CONTACTED SUPERIOR CHEVROLE…
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I PURCHASED A 2002 V-6 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SEDAN IN AUG 2006 AT 80,000 MILES AND AT 85,000 MILES IN SEPT 2006 ALREADY HAD MY FIRST REPAIR ON THE IGNITION PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED BUT IN JUNE OF 2008 A FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. I CONTACTED SUPERIOR CHEVROLET MON JULY 21ST IN PERSON AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR THAT OCCURRED AT PERRY CHEVROLET IN COLUMBIA, MO. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY LIMITS BUT THIS WAS "AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 45,000 MILES." HIS NAME WAS BERNIE SMITH. I THEN CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DANIEL CHURCHILL THE SAME DAY 7/21/08. I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED BETWEEN 11:30A AND 3:30P ON WED JULY 23RD 2008 BUT WS CONTACTED AT 4:30P WITH THE NEWS THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR JERRY AT SUPERIOR CHEVROLET SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS "COMMON FOR THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE." I HAVE YET TO BE REIMBURSED OR GIVEN A STRAIGHT ANSWER OF WHY THE PART FAILED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235573
102,000 miles · Jul 19, 2008
Electrical System
SECURITY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - CAR WILL NOT START AND SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT IS BLINKING FOR NO REASON. MUST WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THE SYSTEM RESETS IT SELF. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234944
Official recalls
1Jul 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 ↗