2002 Oldsmobile ALERO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
279 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 183 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 101 of 279 complaints (36.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 39 | 14.0% |
| Braking behavior | 27 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 3.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 101 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 23 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 12 |
Electrical System: 101; Exterior Lighting: 30; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 23; Engine: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 12; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 48 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 40 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 48; 75,000 to 99,999: 40; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 22
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 96 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 41 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 5; 2003: 17; 2004: 18; 2005: 45; 2006: 23; 2007: 19; 2008: 24; 2009: 18; 2010: 13; 2011: 9; 2012: 11; 2013: 6; 2014: 41; 2015: 14; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 39 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010274 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
I AM SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALEROS, AND I HAVE SET UP A WEBSITE TO HOPEFULLY GET ALL OF THEM TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING, AS I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 OLDS ALERO. THE WEBSITE IS ACCESSWAVE.CA/~ALERO02.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019834 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR AT 50-55 MPH VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE PEDAL BEING PUSHED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031485 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031488 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THA T VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032759 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
WITH ONLY 73,000+ MILES ON MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, BOTH MY LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT HUB BEARINGS ARE WORN OUT. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT, AT LEAST, SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES. FURTHERMORE, MY SUPERVISOR'S 2001 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE WITH 81,000 MILES HAS THE SAME ISSUES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034364 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
AFTERFUELING UP AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING GASOLINE SPLASHED OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. DEALER REPLACED TANK SOLENOID, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038061 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
WHEN GOING UP THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE AT 70 MPH RPMS REVVED, AND ENGINE STARTED MISSING, FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038281 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING A RENTAL VEHICLE AT 52 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A SNOW DRIFT, ROLLED OVER AND WENT OFF THE ROAD, THEN ROLLED 60 FT. DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. DRIVER CAME OUT OF THE SEAT BELT WITHOUT IT DISCONNECTING AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038281 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V400000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗