2002 Oldsmobile Alero Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Alero most often write about electrical problems — blinking or dead turn signals and hazard lights, and a theft-deterrent system that intermittently blocks starting or shuts the car off. Reports are spread across the whole life of the car, from under 30,000 miles to well past 150,000, with many owners noting that the same turn-signal problem was covered by a recall on earlier model years but not on this one.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Turn signals and hazard lights fail intermittently

   • 89 complaints (32%)
   • median 71,382 mi at 5.0 yrs old (66 state mileage)
   • filed 2004–2019

   Complaints describe turn signals and hazard lights that work one moment and quit the next, sometimes flickering or stopping entirely while driving. Several owners point to the hazard switch or flasher unit as the source, and one notes a clicking or chiming from the switch area. Owners who contacted a dealer report being told the vehicle was not covered by an earlier recall for the same symptom, and some were quoted diagnostic fees without a diagnosis being offered. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 150,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 100,000; several owners mention the problem appearing after moving to a colder, four-season climate.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle the turn signals and hazard lights several times, including on a cold morning, and listen for clicking from the switch. Ask whether the hazard switch or flasher has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving turn signal will work intermittently at times causing me to be on the road/ highway and in traffic without a working turn signal. Gm will not cover repair under the special policy even though my vehicle is one of the cars covered under the special policy due to my car being 1 year over the 10 year cap. I was never aware of this defect until now.”

   NHTSA complaint #10542964, filed 2013-09, 47,000 miles

   “We have been having trouble with our turn signals going out sporadically. We never know when they are going to not work. This is very dangerous but we were told tat only certain VIN#s had this recall. However this is happening to too many people who are having to pay out of pocket for this repair, it is ridiculous. We also like many others have had the problem with not being able to start our vehicles because of the ignition. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10237783, filed 2008-08, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Security system blocks starting or shuts the car off

   • 88 complaints (32%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $675 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2026

   Owners describe a security light coming on, followed by a no-start condition where the engine turns over but will not fire; leaving the key in the on position for about ten minutes often lets it start. Some report the car cutting off while driving with the security light flashing, and shops attributing it to the theft-deterrent system or a worn ignition switch. A few had the ignition switch or key replaced and say the problem returned. Spread from about 60,000 to over 200,000 miles, and described in complaints filed across many years rather than tied to one season.

   Recall 14V4000002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Try several cold starts and watch for the security light staying on; ask whether the ignition switch or Passlock components have been replaced, and whether the ignition recall work was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the street when the car just cut off on me with no warning. I had to force the steering wheel to turn while other cars where trying to keep from hitting me from behind . Finally got the car off of the main street and onto a side street, until I was able to get the car towed . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10724347, filed 2015-06, 129,368 miles

   “My 2002 Oldsmobile Alero has a start malfunction which causes the security system to shut the car off while driving. I have replaced the ignition switch and fuel pump on my car, which were told to me were the problem, and the car still will not start at times, and whenever it does start, the car cuts off while driving. This puts me and my children in danger of getting hit by another car because the car stops abruptly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10275655, filed 2009-07, 96,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalls or cuts off while driving

   • 51 complaints (18%)
   • median 96,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2026

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at speed or at a stop, sometimes after a security light appears, with hard steering and braking until the car is restarted. Some owners report the car restarts after sitting or after the ten-minute key-on routine, and others say shops could not reproduce or diagnose it. A handful mention that the ignition switch was replaced and the stalling continued. Mostly reported between about 75,000 and 170,000 miles, with a few at very low indicated mileage in the record.

   Recall 14V4000001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition recall has been completed and whether stalling has been logged; a scan for stored codes can help, though owners report it sometimes shows nothing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Security light comes on and the car shuts off while driving. We lost steering and were headed toward oncoming traffic, but ran over a street sign and stopped. Sometimes the light will come on and no problems until after we park and shut the car off. When we try to start it again, sometimes it starts back up fine and other times it turns over, but wont fire. When this happens, we have to turn the key to the on position for 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes the security light flashes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10448008, filed 2012-02, 178,000 miles

   “The car shuts off while driving. It is horrible , steering wheel locks, and I practically have to brake my arms and back trying to turn it to get out of traffic. When it shuts off it makes and awful bussing noise and all display lights are lit up. I believe it maybe weather related because it mostly happens when it is hot outside. When I go to restart my car I have to turn the key to the on position, and make sure the service engine light turns on before I can start the car. Otherwise, it will turn over ,but won't fire up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10190984, filed 2007-05, 79,800 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine misses, rough idle or extended crank

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine missing or feeling like it will stall under load, and a long crank or no-fire condition after the car has been driven. Owners mention fuel pump, injector and ignition work being tried without resolving it, and some report idle dropping near a stall when stopping. Internal engine damage from a broken timing chain is also described in one complaint. Appears from roughly 20,000 miles on one complaint up to about 260,000 in long-term ownership reports.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about the timing chain and any history of misfire or fuel-system codes, and check for a rough idle at a stop after a highway drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It just started after the security got lock and had to be over drive. When you drive you can feel the car idle bad when you have to stop for a light or stop sign or if you have to stop to turn and you get below 1 mga turns off. Yesterday it did this and turn off and all it would do is just turns but doesn't start. In the middle of the road. It sounds to me like it's not get fuel or air where it needs to be. You can drive the speed limit and watch the mga, I think, 1,2,3, ildel down a little. Started end of sept or no troubler”

   NHTSA complaint #11033379, filed 2017-10, 260,000 miles

   “Car was being driven when a loud explosion came from the engine compartment. The car then immediately cut off and had to be towed in for service. Upon inspection, it was found that the timing chain had broke and that there was other internal valve and engine component damage. The engine is a 2.2l GM motor that was recalled for saturns, and other vehicles, but not the one we own which is an Oldsmobile Alero.”

   NHTSA complaint #10246131, filed 2008-10, 71,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulator breaks and window drops

   • 19 complaints (7%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2004–2020

   Owners describe a window making a noise and then falling into the door, with the regulator or the bracket holding the motor found broken. Some report the same failure on both front windows and repeated repairs within a year. Dealers in the complaints generally replaced the motor and bracket assembly, and owners note the repair cost. Reported from about 40,000 to 100,000 miles, on both driver and passenger side windows.

   What to check: Raise and lower each window fully a few times and listen for grinding or a pop; ask whether the regulators have been replaced on either side.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drivers side window on my 2002 Oldsmobile Alero fails to roll up. I have checked on the internet and there a many complaints regarding this same problem, in addition to the eleven (11) NHTSA and service bulletins you already have on this same problem. This is a safety hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #10233295, filed 2008-07, 96,900 miles

   “Our drivers side window started making a funny noise and then it fell into the door. We took it in and they said the bracket that holds it onto the motor was broken, and we had to buy a whole new motor. So we replaced it in august 2007. It started giving us problems again in april 2008. The part is now totally broken and we are again replacing the motor and brackets. In the meantime we have had the exact same problem with our passengers side window. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10230139, filed 2008-06, 86,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, plan to verify the ignition-related recall work and to test the turn signals, hazard lights, security light behavior and every power window before buying. Asking for repair records for the ignition switch, hazard switch and window regulators will tell you more than the mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.