2002 Oldsmobile Aurora

Routine

Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly3
000
Structure › Body2
000
Electrical System2
000
Wheels1
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems1
000
Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly03V238000
Filed Jul 1, 2003102,212 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.

Risk. FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Air Bags › Frontal02V222000
Filed Aug 9, 2002133,221 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Risk. PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Oct 20, 2024MD

The Frame has rust under door panel broke Car Frame body near battery cave in hole and rusting hole in trunk near spare tire.

Suspension
Filed Oct 30, 2022MD

I am adding new parts to this vehicle 100 000 tune up

Electrical System
Filed Jul 18, 2014120,000 milesIN

MY 2002 AURORA V6, RPM STARTED ACTING HAYWIRE IT SHOT UP TO 8 GRAND AT 30 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ACTING NORMAL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATTER THEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP. I HAD THE TRANS VACUUM SENSOR CHANGED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS DID THE TRICK FOR 24 HOURS. NOT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG OR HOW TO FIX IT. CAN SOMEONE HELP WITH THIS. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Feb 1, 2012147,473 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK WHILE REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,473 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,673. UPDATED 03/15/12 *BF UPDATED 03/23/12

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 1, 2010361,000 milesMA

BROKEN/SNAPPED SWAY BAR LINK, LEFT SIDE FRONT. CAR SWERVED TO THE LEFT, NO ACCIDENT UPON SNAP. UPON INVESTIGATION/REPLACEMENT THE BOLT WAS RUSTED THROUGH AT MID POINT AND SNAPPED. I SAVED THE BROKEN PART, IF IT IS NEEDED. *TR

Steering
Filed Apr 28, 201054,783 milesIL

MY 2002 AURORA 4.0L SUDDENLY LOCKED IN THE LEFT TURN STEERING MODE. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS MAKING A TURN ON THE AISLE. AFTER THE TURN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND AVOIDED HITTING THE ONCOMING CAR (THE OTHER DRIVER DID THE SAME). I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CONFIRMED THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS TURNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PUMP RESERVOIR WAS FULL. BY WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THE STEERING RESUMED TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THIS IS SCARY. IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY ON MY WIFE'S 2008 ENCLAVE. GM REPLACED LOTS OF PARTS BEFORE IT STARTED STEERING AGAIN. IS THIS A GM ISSUE? *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 27, 2009TN

I HAVE A 2002 OLDS AURORA THAT TODAY HAS WATER STANDING IN THE BACK PASSENGER FLOORBOARD FOR THE TENTH OR TWELFTH TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MUCH THAT I HAVE LOST TRACK OF HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS IN FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WIDOW SEAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN AND THEN RUNS DOWN TO THE MOLDING AT DOOR OPENING AT THE FLOORBOARD. FROM THERE IT THEN RUNS DIAGONALLY BACK TOWARD THE BACK PASSENGER FLOORBOARD ALONG THE MOLDING AND POOLS UP. LIKE THIS MORNING, THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIMES THAT TWO INCHES OF WATER IS PRESENT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MILDEW OR ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE PRESENT OR MAY SHOW UP AS A RESULT OF THIS CONTINUAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLUE ON HOW TO FIX THIS, ORIGINALLY THEY KEPT REPLACING THE DOOR SEAL ON THE BACK DOOR. NOW FOR SOME TIME THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAL ON THE FRONT DOOR OR FRONT WINDOW. BUT THE LEAK CONTINUES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER TELLS ME TODAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES LIKE MINE IN OTHER AURORA MODELS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Feb 21, 200873,000 milesMN

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. SO I TOOK MY AURORA IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR, WHICH THEN I WAS TOLD THIS DEFECTIVE PART COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY UNSAFE PART AND I LOOKED THE PART UP AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD BEEN RECALLED AT ONE POINT, JUST NOT ON THE MY MAKE OF VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 21, 200861,000 milesMN

I NOTICE WHEN I AM DRIVING THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL FLICKER EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. I ALSO HAD THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME THIS PART HAD BEEN FIXED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE HEATING COMPONENT WENT OUT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR STATED UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

Wheels
Filed Jan 7, 200872,000 milesMI

FACTORY SUPPLIED WHEELS RUST CAUSING AIR LOSS. *TR

Steering › Column
Filed May 7, 200734,300 milesFL

THERE IS A CLUNG/NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DURING TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT CAN ALSO BE FELT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. A REQUEST WAS SENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT GM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PAYMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB) ISSUED BASED ON CUSTOMERS PROBLEMS. A PAYMENT OF AT LEAST 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIRS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TENDERED BY GM. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Jan 28, 200750,000 milesOH

I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA WITH A V6 ENGINE THAT HAS THE SAME SYSTEM AS THE V8. THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. *JB

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Filed Jul 26, 200636,282 milesGA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY 1500 MILES, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THEN HAD TO BE REDONE LATER.

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Mar 4, 200640,000 milesFL

THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT GO BACK UP. THE DEALER REPLACED DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATOR. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO LEFT REAR WINDOW. I PAID TO HAVE THE DEALER CHANGE THAT WINDOW REGULATOR ALSO. THIS WAS VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. *JB

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Nov 3, 2005FL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO ANY DEALER OR MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE VEHICLE FOR THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Apr 16, 200523,280 milesWA

1. DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2. ALTERNATOR AMPS CHARGING FROM 13.2 - 15.7 AMPS, HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WILL FLICKER WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. 3. REPLACED GENERATOR, 1 10464442 W-GEN REM PART NUMBER 10464442 THIS WAS DONE ON MAY 9, 2003. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF AN AIR PUMP FOR THE ANTI POLUTION SYSTEM ON THE AURORA WITH V6 ENGINES, THAT DRAWS ALOT OF AMPS AND THAT THE GENERATOR COULD NOT COMPENSATE FAST ENOUGH.*AK IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AGAIN HAD THE GENERATOR REPLACED ETC..THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED TO ME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT GO TOTALLY OUT...!!! AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN WAS TO DISCONNECT THE PUMP BUT THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON!! I OPTED TO NOT DO THIS. I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS.

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Sep 15, 200426,750 milesOH

CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END/UNDERCARRAIGE, ON TURNS OR BUMPS, CAN BE FELT IN STEERING, SINCE 15000 MILES (NOTICED SOMETIME AFTER IMPLODED GAS TANK REPLACEMENT). FOUR DEALERS WORKED ON AT LEAST 10 TIMES - REPLACED STEERING GEAR, LUBED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, REPLACED STRUT BEARINGS, REPLACED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, REPLACED REAR SHOCK - STILL CLUNKS OVER BUMPS AND STEERING GRINDING NOISE IS BACK SINCE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. AFTER STEERING GEAR REPLACEMENT AT 26750, SEVERE VIBRATION WAS NOTICED; TOOK FOUR ATTEMTS (3 DEALERS) TO MAKE ACCEPTABLE FINALLY AT 36137. HEADLAMPS FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY, GENERATOR REPLACED AT 30311, 4 DEALERS SAY IS NORMAL. FUEL FILLER DOOR STILL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY, AT LEAST 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE WITH FRONT END/STEERING/UNDERBODY CLUNKING - FEELS LIKE SOME COMPONENT(S) IS DEFECTIVE OR PREMATURELY WORN OUT - EACH DEALER MADE REPAIR ATTEMPT, THEN WHEN UNSUCCESSFUL SAID VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. ONE DEALER NEVER ROADTESTED VEHICLE. LAST DEALER MECHANIC SAID NEEDED RACK, SERVICE MANAGER SAID VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. 43000 MILES NOW - GM AREA SERVICE MANAGER REFUSES TO DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 28, 200437,200 milesSC

BEGINNING IN MAY 2003 WE HAVE HAD OUR 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA STALL EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES. IT ALWAYS STALL AFTER BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. IT STALLED MOST OFTEN WHILE LEAVING EXIT RAMPS AND MAKING LEFT TURNS ONTO SURFACE STREETS. ONCE IT STALLED AT A TOLL BOOTH. THE LOCAL DEALER CHANGED PARTS IN MAY 2003 AND FEBRUARY 2004. AFTER THE LAST TWO INCIDENTS IN MAY 2004, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE, BUT ARE STILL TRYING. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT WITH THE CAR STALLING AS WE CROSS BUSY HIGHWAYS, WE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BROADSIDE AT LEAST TWO TIMES. *LA

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 25, 2004NJ

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 AURORA FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ALMOST A DOZEN TIMES FOR VARIOUS REASONS. NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY I PICKED IT UP AT THE DEALER. IT HAD A DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB AND THEY HAD TO REPAINT THE CAR. REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MOST ANNOYING THING IS A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WHICH THEY CANNOT FIX. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR FOR THIS AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE (LIKE A LOUD CLOCK) COMING FROM UNDER THE CENTER OF THE DASH. THERE IS A SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE CAR WHEN YOU FIRST ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL. TO DATE, NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE CAR. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER CONSTANTLY. MOST OF THE TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY CANNOT RE-CREATE THE NOISES. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 10, 200415,000 milesMI

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER IN COLD WEATHER ABOUT ONCE EVERY 10 SECONDS. MULTIPLE GENERATORS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WHICH HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDE SPREAD ON THIS VEHICLE TYPE. AURORA 3.5L.*AK

20 of 25 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20037200Routine
2002 — this page25200Routine
2001119140Routine
20004000Routine
199933230Routine
199849020Routine
19971251170Routine
1996100290Routine
19953212310High concern
19942000Routine
19931000Routine

Compare every Aurora year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 1, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.