IllustrationTHE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL AND POWER COMPONENTS. NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME AND I'VE TAKEN IT IN AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *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 reportsWHILE 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 …
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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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATION PE 05-055, THE ISSUE WITH THE HAZARD SWITCH FOR 2002 OLDS ALERO'S WAS GOING TO BE UPDATED TO A RECALL (RECALL 03V327000) BUT IT NEVER WAS. SINCE IT WAS NEVER UPDATED TO A RECALL, I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION AND ALSO GM IS REFUSING TO HONOR REPLACING THE PART. PLEASE ASSIST IS CORRECTING THIS ISSUE.…
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ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATION PE 05-055, THE ISSUE WITH THE HAZARD SWITCH FOR 2002 OLDS ALERO'S WAS GOING TO BE UPDATED TO A RECALL (RECALL 03V327000) BUT IT NEVER WAS. SINCE IT WAS NEVER UPDATED TO A RECALL, I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION AND ALSO GM IS REFUSING TO HONOR REPLACING THE PART. PLEASE ASSIST IS CORRECTING THIS ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, VEHICLE KEY SWITCH RANDOMLY MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A CRASH BECAUSE THE CAR SHUT OFF. *TR
I LOVE MY CAR BUT THE THING IS A DEATH TRAP. IT SHUT OFF 15 TIMES WITHIN A MILE OF DRIVING IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC. IT HAS ALMOST ME MY LIFE SEVERAL TIMES. THE DASH CLUSTER GOES OUT SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED IM GOING OR IF THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT. GM IF YOU THINK THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM IT IS PLEASE RECALL THE CAR FIX IT AND I WILL …
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I LOVE MY CAR BUT THE THING IS A DEATH TRAP. IT SHUT OFF 15 TIMES WITHIN A MILE OF DRIVING IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC. IT HAS ALMOST ME MY LIFE SEVERAL TIMES. THE DASH CLUSTER GOES OUT SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED IM GOING OR IF THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT. GM IF YOU THINK THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM IT IS PLEASE RECALL THE CAR FIX IT AND I WILL KEEP IT TILL I NEED A BIGGER CAR. *TR
THE CAR HAS BROKE DOWN AND WOULDN'T RESTART, FUEL PUMP, ECM? MODULATOR FUSES. POWERING STEERING LEAKS ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP. REAR DEFROSTER WON'T WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROLS FOR WINDOWS, LOCKS, STOPPED WORKING. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROPS DOWN AND BREAKS-REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. BELT BROKE, LOST POW…
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THE CAR HAS BROKE DOWN AND WOULDN'T RESTART, FUEL PUMP, ECM? MODULATOR FUSES. POWERING STEERING LEAKS ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP. REAR DEFROSTER WON'T WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROLS FOR WINDOWS, LOCKS, STOPPED WORKING. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROPS DOWN AND BREAKS-REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. BELT BROKE, LOST POWER BARELY ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL THUMPS, POPS, ETC. HAD FIXED AND STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. I'VE MAINTAINED ROUTINELY, BUT IT CONTINUES TO KEEP BREAKING DOWN. THE HANDLE TO PUT IN GEAR/PARK HAS BROKE. A LOT OF PLASTIC PARTS, CLIPS ETC CRUMBLING APART, KNOBS, LIGHT SWITCHES, WINDOW TRACTS. ALL OUT OF POCKET. RECALL FOR WINDOWS, REAR DEFROST, POWER STEERING, FUEL PUMP, BELT BREAKING, FRONT HUBS/WHEELS/STEERING !!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS COMING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS COMING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. ..UPDATED 09-21-12*BF
I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND IT WON'T START. IT WAS AS IF THE FUEL WAS SHUT-OFF. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME. I NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND PEOPLE SUGGESTED, TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING FOR 10 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET.…
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I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND IT WON'T START. IT WAS AS IF THE FUEL WAS SHUT-OFF. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME. I NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND PEOPLE SUGGESTED, TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING FOR 10 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET. (OR YOU CAN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT IT, THIS WILL ALSO RESET THE COMPUTER.) THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
ON MANY OCCASIONS NOW MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WOULD BE WORKING PERFECTLY ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO START IT WOULD NOT START. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD MY UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC COME AND LOOK IT OVER, HE TOLD ME THAT MY SECURITY SYSTEM IS LOCKING THE CAR UP AND TO LET IT SIT WITH THE KEY TURNED FOR 10 MINU…
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ON MANY OCCASIONS NOW MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WOULD BE WORKING PERFECTLY ONE DAY AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO START IT WOULD NOT START. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD MY UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC COME AND LOOK IT OVER, HE TOLD ME THAT MY SECURITY SYSTEM IS LOCKING THE CAR UP AND TO LET IT SIT WITH THE KEY TURNED FOR 10 MINUTES AND IT WILL START AGAIN. THIS WORKED BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. SO, I CAME ONLINE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER OLDSMOBILE ALERO OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND OVER 50 REVIEWS ON ONE SITE ALONE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING. ON TOP OF THAT MANY OF THESE CAR OWNERS WERE SAYING THAT THE PROBLEM ONLY CONTINUES TO GET WORSE TO THE POINT THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING!!! I HAVE A CHILD, AS MANY OF THE OTHERS OWNERS SAID THEY DID ALSO, AND AS A PARENT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. WHAT IF I'M ON A HIGHWAY? OTHERS SAID THEY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK OR CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS. AND AS IF THIS ISSUE WAS NOT DANGEROUS ENOUGH, MY TURN SIGNALS ALSO SHORT OUT AND DO NOT BLINK AT TIMES. I DO NOT BELIEVE A CAR COULD BE ANYMORE DANGEROUS. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE AND RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE ASAP! PLEASE!!! *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.