Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Oldsmobile Alero problems
Owners filed 281 complaints about the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero with NHTSA between Mar 2002 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (133).
Complaints
281
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system133
- Exterior lighting78
- Engine and engine cooling30
- Visibility15
- Service brakes, hydraulic14
- Engine13
- Steering12
- Suspension10
- Equipment10
- Air bags9
- Structure9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Electronic stability control (esc)6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
18
18
46
23
19
24
18
13
9
11
6
41
14
3
3
3
3
1
0
2
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 46 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 41 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
133 reports3 crashes5 fires1 related recall
“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”
Exterior lighting
78 reports
“"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”
Engine and engine cooling
30 reports1 fire
“I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON 3/13/11 DRIVING MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, AND MY CAR STARTED FILLING UP WITH BLACK SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR, I SUDDENLY SAW FLAMES INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE . I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BY THE TIME THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR”
Visibility
15 reports1 fire
“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.…”
Service brakes, hydraulic
14 reports
“WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE AND LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. I DO NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO SPEED UP UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKE. WHILE BRAKING THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT IS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND HOLD IT TO TRY AND MAINTAIN A FULL STOP.IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS SHOOT WAY UP. IF I BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR AND QUICKLY THROW IT INTO PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR IT USUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NOT A FIX. THERE IS JUST OVER 180,000 MILES AND I HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM IT HAS HAPPENED A HANDFUL OF TIMES AND I AM TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND GET IT FIXED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE BLINKERS ALSO PERIODICALLY STOP WORKING AND CAN BE FIXED BY CLICKING THE HAZARD LIGHTS A FEW TIMES BUT AGAIN NOT A PERMANENT FIX. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS GONE OUT AND THE TRAC CONTROL DOESN'T TURN ON. THIS CAR IS BECOMING A DEATH TRAP AND EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! *TR”
Engine
13 reports1 fire
“2002 oldsmobile alero was driving on interstate and very low on fuel when i exited the interstate at the street light it turned green and as i was accelerating my car stalled out and since then ive pur 2 gallons of fuel in it and now it cranks but wont start up and now it back fires when trying to start it and my security light is off and I'm getting fuel pressure in the front rail and I got spark and yea my fuel pump is humming.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.