Page 6 of 6 · complaints 251–279 of 279

2002 Oldsmobile Alero complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 24, 200451,000 milesIN

THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 25, 200427,000 milesNY

MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND TRAC LIGHT STAY ON AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED WITH THE RESULT BEING "MY GAS CAP WAS NOT TIGHT." I FEEL THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN THEY SAY DUE TO KNOWING 3 OTHER ALERO OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 24, 2004AZ

THE ACCELERATOR (THROTTLE) GOT STUCK WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR AND CAUSED THE CAR TO RUN FAST CAUSING HER NOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP AT A INTERSECTION SENDING THE VEHICLE OVER A DITCH AND HURTING HER AND THE PASSENGER.*AK WE HAVE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES, NO OTHER CAR WAS INVOLVED.

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004NM

CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FAILED ON FEBRUARY 5 AND HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE THE MORNING OF THE 6TH. GM IS UNABLE TO FIND REPLACEMENT PART. THIS PART IS ALSO USED ON THE 2002 GRAND AM WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSION. AS THIS RENDERS THE CAR INOPERABLE (WON\\'T SRART AND CAN\\'T SHIFT GEARS). I FIND IT INCREDIBLE THAT THERE ISN\\'T ONE TO BE FOUND IN THE US

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 20043,000 milesKY

MY CAR HAD SOMETHING GO WRONG WITH THE INTAKE GASKETS TO WHERE THE PLASTIC MELTED TO THE ENGINE, THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT AND CLEANED AND ALL OF THE INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP SPEED OR CLIMB A HILL THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT AND AT TIMES LOOSES SPEED. THIS CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, THE DEALER STATES NOTHING IS WRONG. THE GAS NEEDLE WILL READ FULL AND THEN THE CAR WILL RUN OUT OF GAS THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY LEAVING ME STRANDED AND SEVERAL TIMES AROUND TOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE GAS SENSORS. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY WITH LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS. THE DEFROSTER, AIR CONDITIONER AND HEAT STILL AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS IN DO NOT HEAT UP OR COOL DOWN THE CAR. ONE DAY I HAD STARTED THE CAR HALF AN HOUR BEFORE LEAVING AND ON THE WAY TO WORK THE WINDSHIELD FROZE UP, THE DEFROST HAD BEEN AND STILL WAS ON HIGH.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 200415,500 milesTX

PROBLEM MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON WEDNESDAY 8/20/03 JUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATE 30 MILES WHEN THIS LIGHT CAME ON. CALL THE DEALER FROM WHICH I BROUGHT THIS PROGRAM CAR.CALL:BACON AUTOPLEX IN PALESTINE TEXAS . PURCHASED 7/14/03 WITH 14, 016 MILES. CALLED THEM ABOUT 3PM ON 8/20/03. I FILLED UP WITH GAS ( WHICH GAUGE INDICATED 1/2/ FULL) PRIOR TO THE 30 MILES THEN LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE NO ONE WAS THERE(BACON) TO TEST FOR THE CAUSE ON 8/20/03. TOLD(BACON ) THAT I WAS GOING TO DRIVE OVER 140 ON 8/21/03. SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT HURT. THE LIGHT WENT OFF 8/21/03 1/2 MILES FROM MY HOME. 8/22/03 ABOUT 11 AM THE LIGHT CAME ON ONCE AGAIN 15699 MILES. CALL BACON 8/22/03 REGARDING THE PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN. THEY SAID THAT I COULD BRING IT OVER FOR TESTING WHICH I DID. FOUND A CODE 440? WHAT EVER THAT WAS. BACON SAID IT COULD BE SEVERAL THINGS. DID NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO FURTHER TEST. I DID TALK TO THE MANAGER OF BACON, STILL NO ATTEMPT TO TEST IT FURTHER. MANAGE DID ASK IF I WANTED ANOTHER CAR. WHY WOULD I WANT ANOTHER OLDS ALERO ? IWAS MORE THEN UP SET: I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR. FAIL TO DO THE TESTING FOR EXACT CAUSE. APPOINTMENT MADE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WILL BE DONE AT THIS TIME SINCE FOR NOW THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE CAUSE. THE LIGHT COMES ON WITH FUEL IS 1/2/ FULL BOTH TIMES.

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Jan 5, 200437,500 milesKY

WHEN MY 2002 ALERO TURNED 37,500 THE FUSE TO THE TAIL AND DASH LIGHTS BLEW LEAVING ME DRIVING AFTER DARK WITH NO TAIL AND DASH LIGHTS. *AK SO FAR THE MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRACE DOWN THE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY KEEP PUTTING IN NEW FUSES AND THEY JUST KEEP BLOWING. THEY HAVE ORDERED A SWITCH, AND IT IS TO GO BACK INTO THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN, AND TO TRY ONCE MORE TO TRACK DOWN THE ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT IS CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW THAT TAKES OUT THE TAIL AND DASH LIGHTS. I CAN'T DRIVE THIS 2002 ALERO AFTER DARK EVEN IF I HAVE JUST PUT IN A NEW FUSE BECAUSE IT WILL JUST BLOW AGAIN. IF IT DOESN'T BLOW WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, IT WILL JUST BE BLOWN THE NEXT TIME I START IT. IT MAKES DRIVING THIS 2002 ALERO VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AFTER DARK.

Seat BeltsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 30, 200313,000 milesNY

LTR FM JULIE ZAWADZKI (NY) REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN SECURING A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SHE RENTED FM BUDGET RENT-A-CAR, HER HUSBAND WAS INJURED IN A VEHICLE CRASH WHEN THE SEATBELT & AIRBAG FAILED. *MR THE VEHICLE HIT A SNOW BANK, WENT UP AND THEN ROLLED 60 FEET DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. *SCC *JB *CB

Suspension › Front
Filed Dec 16, 200319,076 milesMD

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

StructureCrash
Filed Dec 13, 200336,000 milesKY

I TOOK A LONG ROAD TRIP VACATION THIS PAST SUMMER. THE 2002 ALERO TURNED OVER 36,000 MILES BEFORE I GOT HOME. I DIDN' T DRIVE THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS UPON MY RETURN. *AK WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR A FEW DAYS LATER, THE GLUE HAD COME UNGLUED FROM THE LEATHER ON THE DASH AND THREE OF THE DOOR PADS UNDER THE WINDOWS AND THE LEATHER WAS BUCKLED VERY BADLY. YOU CAN VIEW PICUTERS OF THE DASH AND DOOR PADS IF YOU WILL GO TO HTTP://WWW.DILLOWS.COM/ALERO.HTM ON THE INTERNET BECAUSE AS THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE WHO REFUSED TO FIX IT AFTER KEEPING ME WAITING THREE MONTHS TO HEAR THEIR REFUSAL. I CONTACTED GM VIA EMAIL WHO EMAILED BE BACK AND TOLD ME TO NEVER CONTACT THEM AGAIN CONCERNING MY CLAIM # 1-143309922 FOR THE DASH AND DOOR PADS COMING UNGLUED AND BUCKLED BECAUSE OF THEIR FACTORY DEFECTS IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IT IS NOT RIGHT AND SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW FOR GM TO BE ALLOWED TO HAVE SOLD US THE ALERO FULL OF FACTORY DEFECTS AND FOR THEM JUST TO SHUT DOWN THE OLDSMOBILE LINE AND BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE CUSTOMERS WHO PIRCHASED THE ALERO WHICH IS A SERIES OF FACTORY DEFECTS INSIDE AND OUT WITHOUT BEING HELT RESPONSIBLE.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 4, 200337,300 milesKY

I MADE A LONG VACATION TRIP IN OCT. OF 2002 AT WHICH TIME MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO TURNED OVER 36,000 MILES. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED HOME, IT HAD TURNED 37,000. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS UPON MY RETURN. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO DRIVE IT NEXT, I SAW THAT THE DASH AND THREE OF THE DOOR PADS HAD COME UNGLUED AND BUCKLED REALLY BADLY. I TOOK IT BACK TO DAN CUMMINS IN PARIS, KY AS SOON AS I DISCOVERED THAT THE INTERIOR WAS FALLING APART. THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR SINCE IT HAD GONE OVER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY DURING MY VACATION BEFORE I RETURNED HOME. HE SUGGESTED I CALL GM AND COMPLAIN TO THEM ABOUT IT. I DID CALL THEM AND THEY TOOK MY COMPLAINT. THEY GAVE ME AN COMPLAINT NUMBER, BUT HAVE SINCE REFUSED TO ANSWER THEIR PHONE WHEN I CALL, OR TO CALL ME BACK AFTER I LEAVE THEM A VOICE MAIL ON THEIR MACHINE. I HAVE CREATED A WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.ALERO.INFO IN ORDER FOR INTERESTED PERSONS TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PICTURES OF THE POOR FACTORY WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIALS USED TO BUILD MY 2002 ALERO. THE PICTURES SAY IT ALL AS TO WHAT MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT WITH THE DASH AND DOOR PADS COMING UNGLUED AND BUCKLING. AT 37,500 MILES WHILE IT IS STILL ONLY TWO YEARS OLD, IT HAS DEVELOPED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE FUSE TO THE TAIL AND INTERIOR LIGHTS TO BLOW WHILE DRIVING IT AT NIGHT. *NLM

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Dec 3, 200329,000 milesLA

LEATHER ON FRONT DASHBOARD AND BACK PASSENGER DOOR IS DETACHING FROM SURFACE AND BUBBLING. IT IS RATHER SEVERE ON THE FRONT DASH. CIGARETTE LIGHTER (ONE NEAR FRONT PASSENGER FOOT) WAS POORLY INSTALLED. IT POPS OUT ALL OF THE TIME. FRONT END MAKES LOUD SCRATCHING NOISE WHEN MOVING SLOWLY OR BREAKING AND TURNING. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING TODAY. IT WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. TRUNK SMELLS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKS. I'VE FOUND INTERIOR TRUNK TO BE DAMP ON OCCASION. OCCASIONAL WATER LEAKS ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE (AT FEET). APPEARS TO BE CONDENSATION OF SOME SORT. BACK CUP HOLDER POPS OUT OF PLACE. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT, DRINK SPILLS RESULTED IN STAINED CARPETING.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 1, 200352,390 milesGA

LEAK OF COOLANT ON GROUND - INTAKE AND HEAD GASKETS LEAKING . *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2003GA

WATER LEAK FROM INTAKE GASKET. *LA

Seat Belts › FrontCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 16, 200316,800 milesNY

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Oct 15, 200335,000 milesCA

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

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Oct 10, 2003MI

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 3, 200321,000 milesAL

WHEN GOING UP THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE AT 70 MPH RPMS REVVED, AND ENGINE STARTED MISSING, FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Aug 22, 200311,970 milesIN

WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR AT 50-55 MPH VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE PEDAL BEING PUSHED.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Aug 22, 2003KS

AFTERFUELING UP AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING GASOLINE SPLASHED OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. DEALER REPLACED TANK SOLENOID, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

Wheels › Hub
Filed Aug 13, 2003IN

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

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Jul 30, 2003OH

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jul 30, 2003AZ

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 11, 2003FL

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

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Nov 14, 2002WV

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A DEER WAS LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. TO AVOID THE DEER SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A MOUNTAIN. AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 16, 2002NY

LEAK NOTED DURING RAIN, NOT NOTED DURING ANY CAR WASHES. MR

Seats
Filed Aug 26, 2002OH

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK WILL FALL BACKWARD ABOUT AN INCH WHEN ACCELERATING OR APPLYING BRAKES.CONTACTED DEALER. THEY ARE AWARE OF PRBOBLEM,BUT WILL NOT FIX IT.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Aug 5, 2002NY

WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR AT 50-55 MPH VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, ENGINE WILL NOT REVV. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Mar 28, 2002MI

CONSUMER STATES THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS THE DRIVER'S RESTRAINT WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HAD TO CRAWL OUT BENEATH IT AND FIDDLE WITH IT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE HE GOT IT TO RELEASE. *NLM *YD

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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