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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

279 reports
30,000 miles · May 23, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

DT: WITHOUT WARNING CALLER HEARS A NOISE ,AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE BELL SOUNDS , AND THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TRACK OFF LIGHT, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. HAS HAD WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IN THE FRONT, AND IS ABOUT TO…

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DT: WITHOUT WARNING CALLER HEARS A NOISE ,AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE BELL SOUNDS , AND THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TRACK OFF LIGHT, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. HAS HAD WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IN THE FRONT, AND IS ABOUT TO GET IT DONE AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10121928

56,000 miles · May 18, 2005
Electrical System

MY TURN SINGALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE SINGNALS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. WHEN THE TURN SIGNIALS DO NOT OPERATE THE HAZORD LIGHTS DONT WORK AS WELL. I FOUND OUT IT WILL COST APROX. $200.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT COST 130.00 AND 70.00 FOR LABOR. THIS IS A HAZORD THAT I WILL …

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MY TURN SINGALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE SINGNALS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. WHEN THE TURN SIGNIALS DO NOT OPERATE THE HAZORD LIGHTS DONT WORK AS WELL. I FOUND OUT IT WILL COST APROX. $200.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT COST 130.00 AND 70.00 FOR LABOR. THIS IS A HAZORD THAT I WILL NEED TO HAVE FIXED. THERE ARE SOME DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS WHERE I LIVE. IT IS ALSO AGAINTS THE LAW NOT TO SINGAL WHICH WAY YOU ARE TURNING. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN MARCH. IT HAD TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS MORE FREQQENT AND THEY COULD REPRODUCE IT. I FINALLY FOUND OUT ON MAY 19, 2005 IT IS THE SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #10121321

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2005
Exterior Lighting

SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK ONLY SOMETIMES. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS IN THE 2001 OLDSMOBILE AND HAD A RECALL FOR THE CORRECTION. NOTHING FOR THE 2002 WHICH IS DOING THE SAME THING AS THE OLDSMOBILE 2001

NHTSA ODI #10119657

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 OLDMOBILE ALERO HAS FAILING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR ARE OVER $800 AND AFTER RESEARCHING THE FACT THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS GM VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1995-2003 I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. GM…

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2002 OLDMOBILE ALERO HAS FAILING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR ARE OVER $800 AND AFTER RESEARCHING THE FACT THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS GM VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1995-2003 I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. GM RELEASED BULLETIN 03-06-01-010 IN WHICH IT SUGGESTS REPLACEMENT OF A "NEW DESIGN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET" WHICH WAS CHANGED TO "IMPROVE THE SEALING QUALITIES OF THE GASKET". IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL THERE'S NO NEED FOR A REPLACEMENT. GM IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS YET IT AFFECTS 3.1 AND 3.4L V6 ENGINES OF SOME 14 DIFFERENT GM MODELS NOT TO MENTION A SIMILAR AFFLICTION WITH THE 3.8L.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118505

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2005
Steering

2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY.*MR THERE WERE TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM WOULD STEER LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, STEERING ROTATION SENSO…

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2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY.*MR THERE WERE TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM WOULD STEER LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, STEERING ROTATION SENSOR , HUB ASSEMBLY BEARING WERE ALL REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER)*JB

NHTSA ODI #10117693

56,000 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

DURING A 55 MPH COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117105

20,500 miles · Mar 1, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

OUT OF THE BLUE THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING. ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME , AND SAID THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. UNTIL THIS DAY I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10112351

27,000 miles · Feb 13, 2005
Structure

IN SEPTEMBER 2004 I PURCHASED A USED 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. BY NOVEMBER MY ALERO'S INTERIOR DOOR PANELS STARTED TO BUBBLE AND BUCKLE ON 3 DOORS. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER GM FACTORY WARRANTY. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BROWN (DEALERSHIP) IN SACO, MAINE AND WAS TOLD TO CALL GM TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE WORK APPRO…

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IN SEPTEMBER 2004 I PURCHASED A USED 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. BY NOVEMBER MY ALERO'S INTERIOR DOOR PANELS STARTED TO BUBBLE AND BUCKLE ON 3 DOORS. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER GM FACTORY WARRANTY. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BROWN (DEALERSHIP) IN SACO, MAINE AND WAS TOLD TO CALL GM TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE WORK APPROVED. THEY DENIED THE WORK AND SAID THEY DIDN'T COVER "COSMETIC PROBLEMS". I THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. SOMEONE FROM GM WHO HANDLES THE BBB CASES CALLED AND SAID ONCE AGAIN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THIS TIME THE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BEFORE MY CASE WENT TO ARBITRATION GM REQUESTED THE BBB TO SEND OUT A TECHNICAL EXPERT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. HIS CONCLUSION WAS INADEQUATE ADHESIVE. NOT LONG AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT AND BEFORE ARBITRATION, GM CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL FIX MY ALERO. THEY TOLD ME I MUST GO TO BROWN IN SACO, MAINE WHERE KEVIN BRADY (SERVICE MANAGER) SAID HE STILL REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR. I CALLED GM BACK AND THEY SAID TO FIND A DEALERSHIP THAT WILL DO THE WORK. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO PLAGUE THOUSANDS OF ALERO OWNERS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT GM MUST OWN UP TO!!!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10110449

70,000 miles · Jan 6, 2005
VisibilityFire

CONSUMER STATED THE DEFOGGER LINES EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK...CONSUMER DIDN'T CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT OR REPORT IT TO POLICE DEPARTMENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106941

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2004
Visibility

FOR THE FIFTH TIME THE WINDOW ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN. USUALLY THE WINDOW REGULATOR GOES OUT AND THE BRACKETS BREAK ALONG WITH MY WINDOW. THIS TIME, ONLY THE BRACKETS BROKE AND NOT THE REGULATOR. PROBLEM IS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE MY CAR IS A 2002 MODEL A…

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FOR THE FIFTH TIME THE WINDOW ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN. USUALLY THE WINDOW REGULATOR GOES OUT AND THE BRACKETS BREAK ALONG WITH MY WINDOW. THIS TIME, ONLY THE BRACKETS BROKE AND NOT THE REGULATOR. PROBLEM IS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE MY CAR IS A 2002 MODEL AND THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE SITUATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10104736

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.