Problems · by component

2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue electrical system problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue cite electrical system, 52% of all 66 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
34
52% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact turned the key to the on position; however, the vehicle failed to start immediately. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts; however, occasionally the vehicle took one or two days to start. The contact stated that several independent mobile mechanics had stopped by the residence to inspect the vehicle and it was confirmed that the body control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2025Electrical systemODI 11670534
“PARKED CAR AT WORK, SAT FOR 7 HOURS, WOULD NOT START AT END OF SHIFT. ACTED LIKE DEAD BATTERY BUT WITH NO CLICK. JUMP STARTED, WHILE DRIVING NOTICED THE FOLLOWING NOT WORKING: SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TRIP MILEAGE, FUEL GAGE, DASH LIGHTS, TACHOMETER, OTHER WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP. PARKED AT HOME, SHUT ENGINE DOWN, RESTARTED, ALL AREAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. LEFT OVER NIGHT, NEXT MORNING SAME PROBLEMS WITH EXCEPTION DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. ALL LIGHTS DIM WHEN IGNITION IS ENGAGED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2018Electrical systemODI 11123365
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND THE ODOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR TAIL LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CABLE DAHMER BUICK GMC OF INDEPENDENCE (3107 S NOLAND RD, INDEPENDENCE, MO) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11099134
“I HAVE A 02 OLDS INTRIGUE AND IT HAS A FLICKERING IN INTENSITY ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A DRIVING DISTRACTION NOT JUST FOR ME BUT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME ...AS THEY MAY FEEL BRIGHTED OR IT MAY DISTRACT THEM AND THEY MAY VERE AWAY FROM ME. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE SLOW DOWN WHEN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS SIGNALING THEM WITH MY LIGHTS, ALSO GOD FORBID A COP EVER SEE MY CAR DOING THIS HERE IN MO THEY MAY THINK I'M WARNING OTHERS OF A COP IN THE AREA. I'VE READ UP ON THIS AND GM SAYS ITS NORMAL OPERATION BUT YET MANY OF US OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THEY PUT OUT DIFFERENT ALTENATORS BUT THE ONLY ONE I'VE READ ABT SUCCESS WITH COST UPWARDS OF $400+ DOLLARS. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE ALTENATOR ISSUE THAT DROPS OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THATS WHAT CAUSES THE PULSING OF LIGHTS. IF I WANTED TO BE IN A DANCE HALL I WOULD GO, MY VISION IS ALREADY COMPROMISED AND THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11030273
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT KICK INTO FIRST GEAR UNTIL AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES JERKED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND DISAPPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONTACT HOW TO TEMPORARILY LOCK THE SECURITY SYSTEM FROM THE TRUNK UNTIL THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURES RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2017Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 10947747
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND NUMEROUS TIMES ONTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIGHT SHOULDER THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2016Electrical system, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10936349

Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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