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2002 Oldsmobile Alero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 279.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

183 reports with mileage · 96 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

14 reports
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32,722 miles · Dec 20, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE BONDING. *AK......THE INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD LININGS SEPARATED FROM BACKING PLATE, LEFT PAD WORE OUT MORE THAN RIGHT. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. THEY CLAIME DIT WAS A WORN OUT PART NOT A DEFECT. CALLED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CANTER. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO DEALER AN…

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CONSUMER STATED BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE BONDING. *AK......THE INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD LININGS SEPARATED FROM BACKING PLATE, LEFT PAD WORE OUT MORE THAN RIGHT. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. THEY CLAIME DIT WAS A WORN OUT PART NOT A DEFECT. CALLED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CANTER. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO DEALER AND CLAIMED IF THIS WOULD HAV EHAPPENED AT 24,000 MILES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY DEFECT. AN INDEPENDENT PARTS DEALER SAID THAT THE BONDING SHOULD NEVER FAIL, NOMATTER OF MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10105081

24,000 miles · Dec 3, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2002 OLDS ALERO V6 WITH 24,000 MILES BEGAN DEVELOPED PULSATION AND NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKES. DEALER FOUND WARPED FRONT ROTORS AND RESURFACED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER WARRANTY WORK, CREAKING NOISE DEVELOPED IN FRONT BRAKES. DEALER DIAGNOSED CLIPS ON BRAKE PADS AS CULPRIT AND REFUSED WARRANTY REPAIR. BRAKE PADS HAVE 5MM+ REMAINING AND…

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2002 OLDS ALERO V6 WITH 24,000 MILES BEGAN DEVELOPED PULSATION AND NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKES. DEALER FOUND WARPED FRONT ROTORS AND RESURFACED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER WARRANTY WORK, CREAKING NOISE DEVELOPED IN FRONT BRAKES. DEALER DIAGNOSED CLIPS ON BRAKE PADS AS CULPRIT AND REFUSED WARRANTY REPAIR. BRAKE PADS HAVE 5MM+ REMAINING AND SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACEMENT UNDER "WEAR PARTS" AT 24,000 MILES. EXCESSIVE CREAKING CONTINUES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102097

19,076 miles · Dec 16, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE BRAKING, THE FRONT END WOULD WOBBLE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10051593

35,000 miles · Oct 15, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL VEHICLE SHOOK. DEALER INDICATED THAT FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044037

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE05055 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Sep 27, 2005 · Closed Jan 13, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch

IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch

IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.