IllustrationMY HAZARD LIGHTS / TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THEY JUST FLASH LIKE CRAZY. SAME AS 01'S BUT GM SAYS NOT 02'S. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Alero years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
2725–50K
4850–75K
4075–100K
28100–150K
22150K+
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
What owners actually said
279 reportsI JUST PURCHASED A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE I GOT IT HOME AND THE BLINKERS STARTED TO ONLY WORK SOMETIMES I HAVEN'T EVEN GOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO GET PULLED OVER. I IMMEDIATELY GOT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IT COULD BE THE HAZARD SWITCH WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED IF I'M CORRECT. IT APPEA…
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I JUST PURCHASED A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE I GOT IT HOME AND THE BLINKERS STARTED TO ONLY WORK SOMETIMES I HAVEN'T EVEN GOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO GET PULLED OVER. I IMMEDIATELY GOT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IT COULD BE THE HAZARD SWITCH WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED IF I'M CORRECT. IT APPEARS THAT BECAUSE I'M OVER 150,000 MILES I'M NOT COVERED BUT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR BEFORE THAT LIMIT. I SPOKE THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THEY SAID IT HAD JUST RECENTLY AND WAS NOT LIKE THIS WHEN SHE PURCHASED IT AT JUST OVER 150,000 MILES AND TO JUST PUSH THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON A FEW TIMES AND IT KICKS IN BUT THAT IS NOT A PERMANENT FIX AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND THE PROBLEM DOESN'T OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE ALLOTTED MILES I DON'T SEE WHAT GOOD IT IS. *TR
HAVE PROBLEM STARING MY CAR LEARNED ON LINE THAT IS A SECURITY PROBLEM. IT STARTED 5/25/2011 IT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY. HAD MANY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR,THIS LAST ISSUE DID IT FOR ME. THERE HAS BEEN 50 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SECURITY PROBLEM I HAVE THREE KIDS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS WHEN I BARELY HAVE MONEY. *TR
THE SECURITY LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON BUT WOULD GO OFF AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN OCTOBER 2009, I BECAME STRANDED AND HAD TO BE TOWED WHICH COST $150. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME IT WAS PART OF MY SECURITY SYSTEM AND I REPLACED THAT FOR ABOUT $400. I DO HAVE THE INVOICE FOR EXAC…
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THE SECURITY LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON BUT WOULD GO OFF AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN OCTOBER 2009, I BECAME STRANDED AND HAD TO BE TOWED WHICH COST $150. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME IT WAS PART OF MY SECURITY SYSTEM AND I REPLACED THAT FOR ABOUT $400. I DO HAVE THE INVOICE FOR EXACT FIGURES. THEN IN MARCH OF 2011, THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. NOT WANTING TO BECOME STRANDED AGAIN, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VERY NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT ANOTHER PART OF THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACING. THIS WAS $450. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A THIRD PART TO THIS SYSTEM. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME THAT THIS PART FAILS. *TR
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
CAR WOULD NOT START. SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING. CAR TOWED MECHANIC STATED A SECURITY DEFECT
THE PASSLOCK 1 ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILS ON MY VEHICLE. CAUSES THE FUEL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN AND VEHICLE TO EITHER NOT START OR SHUT DOWN. IT HAS DONE THIS WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE, AT STOP SIGNS,LIGHTS AND AS I WAS TURNING WITH IN FRONT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC (LUCKY I WAS NOT HIT). THIS 1ST OCCURRED IN 2007. AT THAT TIME, IT HAPP…
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THE PASSLOCK 1 ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILS ON MY VEHICLE. CAUSES THE FUEL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN AND VEHICLE TO EITHER NOT START OR SHUT DOWN. IT HAS DONE THIS WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE, AT STOP SIGNS,LIGHTS AND AS I WAS TURNING WITH IN FRONT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC (LUCKY I WAS NOT HIT). THIS 1ST OCCURRED IN 2007. AT THAT TIME, IT HAPPENED DAILY UNTIL MY CAR FINALLY WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO A SERVICE CENTER. THE FAULT CODES SHOWED IT WAS THIS SYSTEM. THEY REPLACED THE PASSLOCK CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMED MY KEYS. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME, IT MAY NOT BE A PERMANANT FIX AS THERE IS A HIGH RATE OF REPEAT PROBLEMS. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME I HAD THE CAR AT THE SHOP, I HAD THE ISSUE A MONTH EARLIER, BUT DUE TO MY BATTERY BEING RUN DOWN TRYING TO START MY CAR, IT WAS ASSUMED TO BE A BATTERY ISSUE. SO AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY IT DID RUN FOR A MONTH BEFORE STARTING THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE SHOP WITH THE MOST LIKELY THE SAME TROUBLE. IT WAS OVER $600 THE FIRST TWO TIMES TO FIX MY CAR, AND I FEEL CAN BE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE GIVEN THE FACT I WAS ALMOST HIT, NOT JUST STRANDED. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY A G.M REP. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE, OR THE DEALERS THE REP. CALLED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INTERNET POST FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE AND THE SERVICE, LOW TRACTION AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK SENSOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE R…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE AND THE SERVICE, LOW TRACTION AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK SENSOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AGAIN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER ANTI LOCK SENSOR. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 02 ALERO DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. THEY WILL COME ON AND OFF ON RANDOM OCCASIONS AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT. ALSO THE CAR SECURITY SYSTEM DOES NOT ALWAYS ALLOW THE CAR TO START. WHEN THE ENGINE DOESN'T START I HAVE TO STICK THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT STOPS FLASHING T…
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THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 02 ALERO DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. THEY WILL COME ON AND OFF ON RANDOM OCCASIONS AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT. ALSO THE CAR SECURITY SYSTEM DOES NOT ALWAYS ALLOW THE CAR TO START. WHEN THE ENGINE DOESN'T START I HAVE TO STICK THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT STOPS FLASHING THEN IT WILL START. I HAD THE TRY TO FIX IT AND THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY THINK MIGHT WORK (BUT NOT SURE) IS TO TURN OFF THE SECURITY SYSTEM COMPLETELY. *TR
I WAS STRANDED AT WORK AT NIGHT WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP. ENDED UP WALKING 7 MILES HOME IN THE DARK, SINCE MY HUSBAND WORKS TILL 1AM. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP THAT HAD DIED, BUT AFTER SEEING A WEBSITE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, I TRIED LEAVING THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES TO "RESET"…
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I WAS STRANDED AT WORK AT NIGHT WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP. ENDED UP WALKING 7 MILES HOME IN THE DARK, SINCE MY HUSBAND WORKS TILL 1AM. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP THAT HAD DIED, BUT AFTER SEEING A WEBSITE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, I TRIED LEAVING THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES TO "RESET" THE COMPUTER, AND THIS WORKED. I JUST GOT HOME WITH MY CAR, BUT AM PRAYING TO GOD THAT IT DOES NOT DECIDE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE I'M DRIVING (THERE WAS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AS WELL ON THE WEBSITE). I THINK THAT GM MIGHT BE IN FOR A BIG LAWSUIT IF THEY DO NOT RECALL THIS PROBLEM SOON, ONLY FOR THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY CAN SERIOUSLY GET INJURED, AND THAT'S IF THEY'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT DIE FROM AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Official recalls
114V400000 · 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
1PE05055 · 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.