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
What owners actually said
279 reports
25 miles · Sep 6, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
IT WAS A ON SEPT 2 2006, MY 17 YR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A HOUR AND HALF A WAY FROM HOME AND NOTICED FAILURE IN HER BRAKES. THEY WHERE NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN SHE GOT CLOSER TO HER DESTINATION SHE LOST ALL BRAKES CONTROL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ALL BRAKE FUNCTION W…
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IT WAS A ON SEPT 2 2006, MY 17 YR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A HOUR AND HALF A WAY FROM HOME AND NOTICED FAILURE IN HER BRAKES. THEY WHERE NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN SHE GOT CLOSER TO HER DESTINATION SHE LOST ALL BRAKES CONTROL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ALL BRAKE FUNCTION WAS LOST AT HER APPROACHING DESTINATION. THE CAUSE WAS A BRAKE LINE PLASTIC CLIP WAS BUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE LINE TO RUB AGAINST THE CRANKSHAFT AND RUBBED A HOLE IN THE LINE CAUSING THE FLUID TO RUN OUT, IT COST 175.00 TO FIX, THAT INCLUDING THE TOWING. I FEEL IF THIS HOSE WAS HELD BY A METAL CLIP THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS AFTER COME, NOT TO MENTION THIS WAS MY 17 YEAR OLD CHILD. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10167433
105,000 miles · Jul 16, 2006
Exterior Lighting
I'M NOT FOR SURE IF YOUR INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT, BUT I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM OLDSMOBILE PERTAINING TO MY 2002 OLDS. ALERO THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE TURNING SIGNAL AND/OR HAZARDS. THIS LETTER CAME FROM THEIR RECALL CENTER BUT IT STATED IN THE LETTER IT WASN'T A RECALL. WELL A COUPLE OF MONTHS PREV…
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I'M NOT FOR SURE IF YOUR INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT, BUT I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM OLDSMOBILE PERTAINING TO MY 2002 OLDS. ALERO THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE TURNING SIGNAL AND/OR HAZARDS. THIS LETTER CAME FROM THEIR RECALL CENTER BUT IT STATED IN THE LETTER IT WASN'T A RECALL. WELL A COUPLE OF MONTHS PREVIOUSLY MY TURNING SIGNAL WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THEN IT WOULD WORK, STOP WORKING, WORK BUT NEVER FOR TOO LONG OF TIME. SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE FINE FOR WEEKS THEN IT WOULD START UP AGAIN. WELL, AFTER I RECEIVED THIS LETTER I WAS FOR SURE THAT THIS LETTER PROBABLY PERTAINED TO MY PROBLEM AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE OLDS. DEALER IN VINCENNES, IN. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, THEY SAID THE TURN SIGNAL NEVER QUIT WORKING, WHICH I REPLIED ITS GOING TO BE A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE THAT IT WILL DO IT FOR YOU. I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE FOR A MONTH FOR IT TO OCCUR FOR THEM TO CATCH IT, I JUST THOUGHT THIS PROBLEM WAS WHAT THE LETTER WAS REFERRING TO. HE STATED IF HE FIXED EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLE BE WRONG WITH THE TURN SIGNAL I WOULD HAVE A REPAIR BILL AS LONG AS HIS ARM. MY CONCERN IS I FEEL LIKE I COULD BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THE TURN SIGNAL QUITS WORKING AGAIN OR GETTING A TICKET FOR NOT USING IT WHEN IT ACTUALLY FAILED. I'M KIND OF AT A LOSS OF WHAT I ACTUALLY CAN DO. I KNOW THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE PROBLEM THEY ARE REFERRING TO BECAUSE THEY REALLY DIDN'T EXPLAIN IN THE LETTER IT JUST SAID CONTACT YOUR OLDS DEALER, WHICH THEY WERE OF NO HELP. I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS AWARE OF THE LETTER SENT OUT AND HE SAID KIND OF. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10162494
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2006
Electrical System
HORN DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM/HOT. DOES SEEM TO WORK SOMETIMES WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THIS HAS CAUSED 3 VERY SERIOUS CLOSE CALLS. THE HORN IS A SAFETY PRECAUTION AND WITHOUT IT MY SELF AND MY FAMILY ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10162048
60,000 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Electrical System
THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 1-4 MINUTES THEN GO OFF. THIS STARTED IN MARCH 2006. THEN ONE DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CALLED AAA - MECHANIC FIXED BY LEAVING KEY TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES - THEN CAR STARTED. THIS "PROBLEM" OF NOT STARTING STARTED OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTL…
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THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD STAY ON FOR 1-4 MINUTES THEN GO OFF. THIS STARTED IN MARCH 2006. THEN ONE DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CALLED AAA - MECHANIC FIXED BY LEAVING KEY TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES - THEN CAR STARTED. THIS "PROBLEM" OF NOT STARTING STARTED OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND SO HAD A MECHANIC CHECK INTO IT. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME, ONCE I PRESENTED THE PROBLEM THE CAR WAS HAVING, THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THESE CARS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR GOING BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO, I HAD IT REPLACED. NOW, IT'S JULY 2006 AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT IS COMING ON AGAIN. SO - NOW WHAT?! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10161465
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CARS SECURITY DEVICE IS FAULTY CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT START AND SOMETIMES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING EVEN AT OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OVER THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH GM CARS AROUND THIS YEAR. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT COMMO…
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I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CARS SECURITY DEVICE IS FAULTY CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT START AND SOMETIMES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING EVEN AT OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OVER THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH GM CARS AROUND THIS YEAR. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT COMMON MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR YOU ARE FORCED TO GO TO THE COSTLY DEALERSHIP AND IN A LOT OF CASES THEY TO ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX IT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10157545
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2006
Exterior Lighting
TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION INVOLVING FLICKERING OF TURN SIGNAL AT RANDOM. I WILL BE DRIVING AND HEAR THE FLASHER GO OFF ERRATICALLY. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT A LOT OF ANNOYANCE FROM THE SOUND AND HAVING TO REPLACE THE FLASHER MYSELF. WILL SAVE OLD PART. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10153728
73,326 miles · Mar 15, 2006
Exterior Lighting
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V327000, REGARDING THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V327000, REGARDING THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH.
NHTSA ODI #10152757
57,000 miles · Mar 12, 2006
Exterior Lighting
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. AT 57,000 MILES TURN SIGNALS ARE OCCASIONALLY INOPERATIVE. FUSES WERE CHANGED AND THEY STILL FAIL ON OCCASION. IDENTICAL PROBLEMS RESULTED IN THE RECALLS OF THE 2000 AND 2001 OLDS ALEROS. UPON REVIEWING INTERNET WEB SITES I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ALERO OWNERS WHOM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROB…
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2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. AT 57,000 MILES TURN SIGNALS ARE OCCASIONALLY INOPERATIVE. FUSES WERE CHANGED AND THEY STILL FAIL ON OCCASION. IDENTICAL PROBLEMS RESULTED IN THE RECALLS OF THE 2000 AND 2001 OLDS ALEROS. UPON REVIEWING INTERNET WEB SITES I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ALERO OWNERS WHOM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. A TEMPORARY SOLUTION UNTIL THE HAZARD SWITCH CAN BE REPLACED IS TO SLAP THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE HAZARD SWITCH TO MAKE IT OPERABLE. THE INABILITY TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS OF THE INTENT TO CHANGE LANES, OR MAKE TURNS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10152508
57,000 miles · Mar 8, 2006
Exterior Lighting
TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK. I WOULD HAVE TO HIT THE HAZARD SWITCH AND THEN THE SIGNALS WOULD WORK. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD TO HAVE A NEW HAZARD SWITCH INSTALLED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10152245
41,360 miles · Mar 2, 2006
EquipmentTiresVisibility
2002 ALERO WINDOW REGULATOR IS BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATING CAUSING WINDOW TO FALL DOWN. *TS THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE AND THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR MESSAGE CAME ON. *JB
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 ↗
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.
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.
2002 Oldsmobile Alero Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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