Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Oldsmobile Aurora problems

Owners filed 27 complaints about the 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora with NHTSA between Oct 2002 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is steering (6).

Complaints
27
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering6
  2. Suspension6
  3. Electrical system5
  4. Fuel system, gasoline3
  5. Exterior lighting3
  6. Engine and engine cooling3
  7. Structure2
  8. Power train2
  9. Visibility2
  10. Tires2
  11. Engine1
  12. Wheels1
  13. Equipment1
  14. Fuel system, other1

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 10, 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
20022
20034
20044
20053
20062
20072
20083
20091
20102
20110
20121
20130
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20221
20230
20241

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

Steering

6 reports
“MY 2002 AURORA 4.0L SUDDENLY LOCKED IN THE LEFT TURN STEERING MODE. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS MAKING A TURN ON THE AISLE. AFTER THE TURN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND AVOIDED HITTING THE ONCOMING CAR (THE OTHER DRIVER DID THE SAME). I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CONFIRMED THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS TURNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PUMP RESERVOIR WAS FULL. BY WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THE STEERING RESUMED TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THIS IS SCARY. IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY ON MY WIFE'S 2008 ENCLAVE. GM REPLACED LOTS OF PARTS BEFORE IT STARTED STEERING AGAIN. IS THIS A GM ISSUE? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2010SteeringODI 10327969

Suspension

6 reports
“BROKEN/SNAPPED SWAY BAR LINK, LEFT SIDE FRONT. CAR SWERVED TO THE LEFT, NO ACCIDENT UPON SNAP. UPON INVESTIGATION/REPLACEMENT THE BOLT WAS RUSTED THROUGH AT MID POINT AND SNAPPED. I SAVED THE BROKEN PART, IF IT IS NEEDED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2010SuspensionODI 10334173

Electrical system

5 reports1 crash
“MY 2002 AURORA V6, RPM STARTED ACTING HAYWIRE IT SHOT UP TO 8 GRAND AT 30 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ACTING NORMAL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATTER THEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP. I HAD THE TRANS VACUUM SENSOR CHANGED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS DID THE TRICK FOR 24 HOURS. NOT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG OR HOW TO FIX IT. CAN SOMEONE HELP WITH THIS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2014Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10611426

Fuel system, gasoline

3 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK WHILE REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,473 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,673. UPDATED 03/15/12 *BF UPDATED 03/23/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10446101

Exterior lighting

3 reports
“I NOTICE WHEN I AM DRIVING THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL FLICKER EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. I ALSO HAD THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME THIS PART HAD BEEN FIXED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE HEATING COMPONENT WENT OUT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR STATED UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2008Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10218732

Engine and engine cooling

3 reports
“I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 3 WEEKS. WHEN TAKING THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE BEFORE BUYING IT, I NOTICED A "CLICKING" IN THE STEERING. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE FIXED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE CAR IN 3 TIMES, AND THE PART IS STILL NOT FIXED. AFTER BRINGING IT TO AN INDEPENDANT DEALER, TURNS OUT THE SR COIL NEEDS REPLACED. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR REVS LOUDLY UNTIL 30MPH. THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE ENGINE FAN BEING BLOWN. I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND I WASN'T GETTING ANY TRACTION. APPARENTLY THE TRANSFER CASE CLUTCH PLATES ARE SLIPPING! NOT ONLY WAS THIS VEHICLE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD WITH THESE MAJOR MALFUNCTIONS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS ALSO FIGHTING COVERING THE COSTS. I RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE (AFTER BUYING IT), AND FOUND THAT IT HAS BEEN SEEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR A MULTITUDE OF THINGS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2005Steering, Engine and engine coolingODI 10113893
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.