Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
MY TENSOR PULLEY IS GOING OUT AND MY SAFETY SENSORS LIKE ANTI LOCK, TRAC OFF AND NOW SERVICE ENGINE SOON KEEP COMING ON HAD IT IN SHOP AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NOW ITS MAKING LOUD NOISES.IT HAPPENS WHEN IM STOPPED AND MOVING
JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A BAD SCRUBBING NOISE, AND I HAD NO TURN SIGNAL AT ALL I NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT .DURING THE CLICKING SOUND THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD WORK AT TIMES AND I WOULD SMELL SOMETHING LIKE A BURNING SMELL. WHILE THE CAR WAS PARK AND NO ONE AROUND IT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INSIDE AND OUT BY THEIR SELF AND THIS CAUSES MY BATTERY TO GO DEAD AND I HAVE TO BOOST IT OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CAR DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY WERE VERY RUDE AND HATEFUL AND TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THAT THEY SOLD IT TO ME AT A GOOD DEAL AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. *TR
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.
THIS CAR IS A HEADACHE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP CHANGING THE BRAKES ABOUT EVERY 4 WKS ON ONE SIDE THEN LATER THE OTHER SIDE STARTS TO WEAR DOWN...I HAVE CHANGED MY BRAKES 3 TIME IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS FOR JUST ONE SIDE...IT IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY ROTORS. THEY ACT LIKE THEY CAN'T STOP, IT IS DANGEROUS ON WET GROUNDS AND IT IS VERY COSTLY TO KEEP REPAIRING THE SAME ISSUE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS...UNFORTUNATELY I GOT THE ONES THAT HAVE A WARRANTY ON THEM TO REPLACE DUE TO WEAR. *TR
WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE AND LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. I DO NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO SPEED UP UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKE. WHILE BRAKING THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT IS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND HOLD IT TO TRY AND MAINTAIN A FULL STOP.IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS SHOOT WAY UP. IF I BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR AND QUICKLY THROW IT INTO PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR IT USUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NOT A FIX. THERE IS JUST OVER 180,000 MILES AND I HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM IT HAS HAPPENED A HANDFUL OF TIMES AND I AM TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND GET IT FIXED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE BLINKERS ALSO PERIODICALLY STOP WORKING AND CAN BE FIXED BY CLICKING THE HAZARD LIGHTS A FEW TIMES BUT AGAIN NOT A PERMANENT FIX. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS GONE OUT AND THE TRAC CONTROL DOESN'T TURN ON. THIS CAR IS BECOMING A DEATH TRAP AND EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE AND THE SERVICE, LOW TRACTION AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK SENSOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AGAIN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER ANTI LOCK SENSOR. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
SPEEED SENSOR REPESTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS NOT VITAL TO THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY AND IS ONLY A F EATURE THAT IS REASSURING THE DRIVER. THREE KIGHTS GO ON, CHIMES RING, AND IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING IS CHANGING HOW THE CAR DRIVES- HARD. THERE IS CAABIN NOISE RESULTING FROM THE APPARENTLY CHANGE IN SHIFTING. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT SPEED SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED IS IT NOT THE SPEED SENSORS, AND ANOTHER PART= LIKE ELECTRICAL AND THE CODES ARE THE SAME? ARE THE SENSORS THEMSELVES FAULTY?
I PURCHASED A 2002 ALERO FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAD A CERTIFIED STICKER AND A WARRANTY ON THE WINDOW. AFTER SIGNING ALL PAPERS AND PUTTING $2,000 DOWN ON IT, THE SALES MAN INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEH. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH IT. 9-5-07 THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND MAKING LOUD NOISES. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY. ON 9-10-07, THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN TO SHAKE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. THIS HAPPENED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS I WAS GOING TO WORK. I DROPPED IT OFF AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THEY SAID IT WAS THEIR FAULT DUE TO A FEW NUTS OR BOLTS FELL OFF. 5-6-08 IS WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY LEFT ME STRANDED. TURN THE KEY, ALL LIGHTS COME ON AND SEAT BELT ALERT CAME ON. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WANTED TO START BUT IT WOULDN'T. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT COST ME $588.00 TO REPAIR IT. THEY SAID IT WAS THE PASS LOCK SENSOR. 9-3-08 MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AGAIN. IT HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE FIRST TIME. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WANTED TO START BUT IT WOULDN'T. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY QUOTED ME $350 FOR REPAIR IT. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE MANAGER, I PAID A $50 DEDUCTIBLE AND THE VEH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED. ON ABOUT 5-9-09 THE VEH LEFT ME STRANDED AGAIN. IT DISPLAYED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE PRIOR 2 INCIDENCES. I HAD THE VEH TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC, IT WAS THE BCM AND WOULD BE APPROX $480 TO REPAIR IT. A FEW DAYS LATER, I HAD A FRIEND TO HELP ME TOW IT TO MY HOME. I TURNED THE KEY AND IT STARTED UP FINE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD IT IS THE BCM AND IF THE VEH SITS LONG ENOUGH, IT MAY RESET AND START UP. HE ALSO SAID IT MAY LEAVE ME STRANDED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEH LOCALLY AND ON 11-27-09, THE VEH WILL NOT START. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS LOCKED TWICE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE AND RECENTLY FAILED AGAIN. SHE IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,273.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE ABS AND 'TRACK OFF' WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND SENSOR. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER 1,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY QUIT WORKING, BUT HAZARDS WORK FINE. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY (EITHER WAY) THE ABS LIGHT AND LOW TRACTION OFF LIGHT COME ON WHICH CLEAR AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING, BUT DOES IT AGAIN OR MAYBE NOT FOR A WHILE. *NM
IT WAS A ON SEPT 2 2006, MY 17 YR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A HOUR AND HALF A WAY FROM HOME AND NOTICED FAILURE IN HER BRAKES. THEY WHERE NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN SHE GOT CLOSER TO HER DESTINATION SHE LOST ALL BRAKES CONTROL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ALL BRAKE FUNCTION WAS LOST AT HER APPROACHING DESTINATION. THE CAUSE WAS A BRAKE LINE PLASTIC CLIP WAS BUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE LINE TO RUB AGAINST THE CRANKSHAFT AND RUBBED A HOLE IN THE LINE CAUSING THE FLUID TO RUN OUT, IT COST 175.00 TO FIX, THAT INCLUDING THE TOWING. I FEEL IF THIS HOSE WAS HELD BY A METAL CLIP THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS AFTER COME, NOT TO MENTION THIS WAS MY 17 YEAR OLD CHILD. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. THE NOISE WAS COMPARED TO METAL ON METAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE WORN AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED SEVEN TIMES PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ON AVERAGE, THE BRAKES AND PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE REASON THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE BEING REPLACED SO OFTEN WAS, ASBESTOS WAS NO LONGER USED IN THE MATERIALS WHEN MANUFACTURING THE PARTS. THIS WOULD LEAD TO REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS MORE OFTEN WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL BASIC MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE.
BRAKE COMPLAINT: FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS CONTINUE INCLUDING ABNORMAL ACCELERATED WEAR, BRAKE NOISES AND ROTOR CORROSION. FRONT AND REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, TURNED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE FRONT AND REAR PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES IN LESS THAN 32,000 MILES. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN $1,000 HAS BEEN SPENT IN OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS PLUS WARRANTY WORK TO DATE. IT IS NOW NECESSARY TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED EVERY 3,000-5,000 TO INSURE THAT BRAKE OPERATION IS SAFE AND THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PADS AND ROTORS ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. CORROSION OF THE ROTORS REMAINS A PROBLEM AND ACCELERATES THE WEAR OF THE PADS. *JB
DT: WITHOUT WARNING CALLER HEARS A NOISE ,AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE BELL SOUNDS , AND THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TRACK OFF LIGHT, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. HAS HAD WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IN THE FRONT, AND IS ABOUT TO GET IT DONE AGAIN.*AK
CONSUMER STATED BRAKE LINING SEPARATED FROM THE BONDING. *AK......THE INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD LININGS SEPARATED FROM BACKING PLATE, LEFT PAD WORE OUT MORE THAN RIGHT. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. THEY CLAIME DIT WAS A WORN OUT PART NOT A DEFECT. CALLED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CANTER. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO DEALER AND CLAIMED IF THIS WOULD HAV EHAPPENED AT 24,000 MILES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY DEFECT. AN INDEPENDENT PARTS DEALER SAID THAT THE BONDING SHOULD NEVER FAIL, NOMATTER OF MILEAGE. *AK
2002 OLDS ALERO V6 WITH 24,000 MILES BEGAN DEVELOPED PULSATION AND NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKES. DEALER FOUND WARPED FRONT ROTORS AND RESURFACED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER WARRANTY WORK, CREAKING NOISE DEVELOPED IN FRONT BRAKES. DEALER DIAGNOSED CLIPS ON BRAKE PADS AS CULPRIT AND REFUSED WARRANTY REPAIR. BRAKE PADS HAVE 5MM+ REMAINING AND SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACEMENT UNDER "WEAR PARTS" AT 24,000 MILES. EXCESSIVE CREAKING CONTINUES.*AK
I OWN A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A NOISE AT 15,000 MILES AND I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICEMAN THAT IT WAS COMMON BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE MADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIAL AND DO NOT HOLD UP DUE TO SALT BEING USED ON THE ROADS.*AK
WHILE BRAKING, THE FRONT END WOULD WOBBLE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL VEHICLE SHOOK. DEALER INDICATED THAT FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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