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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system133
  2. Exterior lighting78
  3. Engine and engine cooling30
  4. Visibility15
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic14
  6. Engine13
  7. Steering12
  8. Suspension10
  9. Equipment10
  10. Air bags9
  11. Structure9
  12. Fuel system, gasoline9
  13. Fuel/propulsion system7
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20025
200318
200418
200546
200623
200719
200824
200918
201013
20119
201211
20136
201441
201514
20163
20173
20183
20193
20201
20210
20222
20230
20240
20250
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2022Suspension, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11445865

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11256865

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2011Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10395382

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.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility, StructureODI 10240999

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 10450831

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2026EngineODI 11757508
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.