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 reports
71,600 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Electrical System
MY FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM .THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LEARNED THROUGH THE INTERNET HOW TO RESET SYSTEM, FOR MY USED CAR NOT HAVING AN OWNERS MANUAL. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS MY BLINKERS NOT WORKING, BE IT INTERMITTENTLY. I'VE SEEN ALL THE POSTS ON THESE CONDITIONS AND I AM APPALLED THAT THESE CONCERNS HAVEN'T BEE…
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MY FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM .THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LEARNED THROUGH THE INTERNET HOW TO RESET SYSTEM, FOR MY USED CAR NOT HAVING AN OWNERS MANUAL. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS MY BLINKERS NOT WORKING, BE IT INTERMITTENTLY. I'VE SEEN ALL THE POSTS ON THESE CONDITIONS AND I AM APPALLED THAT THESE CONCERNS HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. SHAME ON THESE MONEY GRABBERS. WE PAY ENOUGH FOR VEHICLES ...THE MANUFACTURER'S MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. FIX OUR VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10668670
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2014
Electrical System
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO GL CUSTOMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION REPAIR. *MW THE IGNITION PASSLOCK CYLINDER AND MODULE WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10661720
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD INDEPENDENTLY COME OUT OF THE SWITCH WHILE IN THE START POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD INDEPENDENTLY COME OUT OF THE SWITCH WHILE IN THE START POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10659702
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical SystemFire
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. VEHICLE BURNED IN THE YARD, NOTICED SMOKE STARTING TO COME THROUGH THE FUSE PANEL.*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING, OF ANY TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE MOMENT SHE TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, THE PROBLEM STARTED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10653318
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical System
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL LETTER *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING, ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10653307
95,675 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Electrical System
I RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM GM FOR "UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION". I HAD PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED GM INDICATING ISSUES WITH IGNITION SWITCH; GM THEN ISSUED "UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION" LETTER. I HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, YET ISSUE CONTINUED. I CONTACTED GM; I WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AS VE…
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I RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM GM FOR "UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION". I HAD PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED GM INDICATING ISSUES WITH IGNITION SWITCH; GM THEN ISSUED "UNINTENDED KEY ROTATION" LETTER. I HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, YET ISSUE CONTINUED. I CONTACTED GM; I WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AS VEHICLE WAS "OUTSIDE OF PARAMETERS OF 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES", "WHICHEVER COMES FIRST". MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 WITH APPROX. 95,675 MILES. I WAS INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP "SUSPECTED" ISSUE WAS "WORN OUT IGNITION SWITCH". DEALERSHIP DID NOT PERFORM MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTICS, ONLY VOICED "SUSPECTED". NHTSA INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE DONE TO DETERMINE IF THESE 2002 VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME GM IGNITION PART NUMBERS,IF SO, OUR VEHICLES MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. GM DESCRIBED IN THEIR RECALL WHAT THE MECHANICAL ISSUES ARE IN THIS IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, MY CAR HAS THOSE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS; YET GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL LETTER FOR "IGNITION SWITCH" CITING THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED BECAUSE NHTSA SET PARAMETERS OF "10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST." TO MEET THE CRITERIA THAT GM MUST ISSUE RECALL LETTERS FOR IGNITION SWITCH. IF THE DEFECTIVE PART IS THE SAME ON THESE MAKE MODELS AND CUSTOMERS ARE DOCUMENTING THEY HAVE THIS MECHANICAL ISSUE, THEY MUST BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AND WE MUST NOT BE HELD AT A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND BE LEFT WITH DRIVING KNOWN UNSAFE VEHICLES. TO THOSE OLDS OWNERS THAT READ MY COMPLAINT, IF YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR A ISSUE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU AS WELL FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT THE DATABASE WILL INCLUDE OUR MAKE/MODEL YEARS AND GM AND NHTSA WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXPAND THEIR PARAMETERS TO INCLUDE OUR MADE/MODEL VEHICLES IN THIS IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. UPDATED 12/10/14.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10655023
147 miles · Nov 12, 2014
EngineSteeringFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147.
NHTSA ODI #10654437
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2014
Electrical System
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION KEY RECALL NOTICE AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK CYLINDER WERE REPLACED ON APRIL 3, 2010. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10651203
70,000 miles · Nov 5, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Air
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10652796
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2014
Electrical SystemSuspension
MY IGNITION KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE MY CAR IS RUNNING. CALLED ON 10/30/14 @ 2:51 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT I SPOKE TO [XXX] & WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T GET ME IN UNTIL 12/1/14 AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAVE SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS BUT THEY ONLY ACCEPT 35 CARS AND IF I WAS NUMBER 36 I WOULD BE TURNED AWAY. THIS IS A VEHICLE S…
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MY IGNITION KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE MY CAR IS RUNNING. CALLED ON 10/30/14 @ 2:51 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT I SPOKE TO [XXX] & WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T GET ME IN UNTIL 12/1/14 AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAVE SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS BUT THEY ONLY ACCEPT 35 CARS AND IF I WAS NUMBER 36 I WOULD BE TURNED AWAY. THIS IS A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE & I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE EXACT THING YOUR COMPANY HAS RECALLED MY VEHICLE FOR AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLEASE CALL ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 ↗
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.
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.
2002 Oldsmobile Alero Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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