Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 134 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.
The 25 most recent of 134, in the owner's own words
Kept cutting off won't stay crunk long ignition is jammed loud screeching noises from the springs alternator might be the reason electrical issues fuel pump I had to leave my car at a friend's place I'm not working due to the COVID pandemic not able to afford repairs I really need my transportation someone referred me to this site
2002 OLDS ALERO,PRESENT MILEAGE@5/17/20-187,037. WHERE DO I START? OKAY,THE TRUNK HAS STARTED TO ARBITRARILY DECIDE TO POP OPEN...APPARENTLY DURING RAIN/THUNDERSTORMS...I WONDER IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DOOR LOCKS RECENTLY DECIDING TO NOT LOCK THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN USING SWITCH ON DR,SIDE DOOR...AND NOW SINCE THE TRUNK'S BEEN POPPING OPEN FOR THE LAST 3WKS,THE KEY FOB WON'T OPEN THE TRUNK,AND THE BUTTON ON INTERIOR DOOR TO THE TRUNK WON'T WORK EITHER,UNLESS THE CAR IS RUNNING(AND NOT ALL THE TIME THEN,EITHER) INTERIOR DOOR LOCKS WON'T RESPOND TO THE INTERIOR SWITCH ANYMORE..WHAT A PAIN IN THE A**....I'M KEEPING A BUNGEE CORD OVER THE SPOILER TO THE BUMPER TO KEEP THE TRUNK CLOSED. FYI~I KEEP THE CAR ON A TRICKLE CHARGE TO THE BATTERY24/7 ,SINCE I AVOID DRIVING THE THING-THE PASSLOCK BS SEEMS TO CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DRAIN SINCE IT HAS TO SIT WITH THE KEY ON.ALSO CARRY A NOCO CHARGER AT ALL TIMES IN CASE I NEED A JUMP..THE RUST IS UNBELIEVABLE. REAR FENDERS ARE ALL BUT CRUMBLED OFF.HAVE TO FIX DR,SIDE WINDOW NOW~HAD TO FIX PASS. SIDE 2YRS AGO.REGULATOR AFU,PROBABLY NEED NEW SWITCH,WINDOW WENT OFF THE TRACK, GETTING GOOD AT TAPING THEM UP DISCREETLY.THE ALUMINUM RIMS CAUSE SLOW LEAKS IN TIRES,BUY YOURSELF AN INFLATOR..MASSIVE POWER STEERING LEAK NOW,BRAKE LINES REPLACED TWICE..THEY'RE UNDER THE CAR EXPOSED TO WHERE THEY GET TO RUST AWAY CONSTANTLY~I LIVE IN NORTH WEST OHIO WHERE IT SNOWS&RAINS ALOT,SO I'M HOSED. ONCE I MASTERED THE PASSLOCK 2STEP I THOUGHT THAT IT COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE~BUT IN READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS& STARTING TO HAVE WHAT MAY BE A BCM ISSUE,I'M NOT DRIVING THIS THING IF I DON'T HAVE TO! I PAID MY AAA DUES AND FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE.. OH,YEAH-HAD THAT"RECALL" A FEW YRS AGO AND ALL THEY DID WAS MONKEY AROUND WITH THE KEYS,NOT THE IGNITION! I'VE BEEN TOLD A 100 TIMES I'LL NEED A NEW IGNITION~ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE $700??? *TR
"TAKATA RECALL" I OWN A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND MY BLINKERS ONLY WORK MAYBE 2 TIME A MONTH WHEN I USE MY TURNING SIGNALS IN EITHER DIRECTION I JUST HEAR A BUZZING SOUND SOMETIMES IT IS ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO SOUND AND NO BLINKER AT ALL. NOW MY GAS GAUGE SAYS EMPTY AND I JUST PUT $30 OF GAS IN IT AND ONCE I RAN OUT OF GAS AND AND WAS STUCK ON THE HWY FOR 4 HOURS BECAUSE MY GAS GAUGE SAID FULL TANK B
CAR OFTEN STALLS STARTING. EASILY CUTS OFF WHEN PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER IS IN PLACE OR IF RADIO IS ON AFTER 5 MINUTES WITH DISCONTINUING ENGINE. CUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN RECENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL SOME TIME LATER. HAS NEW BATTERY LESS THAN 8 MONTHS OLD. DID THE SAME THINGS WITH OLD BATTERY AND WAS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT CONTINUES WITH THE SAME ISSUES. SEEMS TO HAVE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOMEWHERE.
TAKATA RECALL- I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE KEY I FEEL THE IGNITION MOVE. I ALSO HAVE A HARD THE KEEPING IT STARTED. WHEN I'M DRIVING WITH MY SEAT BELT ON MY NO SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AS IF IT WASN'T ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JERRY SEINER CHEVROLET, 1530 S 500 W, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84115) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORIGINAL KEY WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,111.
ALERO CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WON'T START BACK FOR HOURS. DEALERSHIP AND MECHANICS CAN'T FIND OUT WHY THIS IS OCCURRING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, THE CAR RANDOMLY CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS FORUM WHERE OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE VERY SAME ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/OLDSMOBILE/ALERO/2000/ENGINE/ENGINE_CUTS_OFF_WHILE_DRIVING.SHTML.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IT TOOK REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,680.
DRIVING DOWN ROAD ALL LIGHTS QUIT WORKING NOTHING ON DASH WORKS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
WHEN TURNING OFF CAR DOESN'T WANT TO RESTART HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN TO START HAS PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS AND LIGHTS TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED BUT STILL HAS SAME PROBLEMS
WHEN U SHUT YOUR CAR OFF AND TRY TO RESTART WON'T START AND SECURITY LIGHTS COME ON THEN U TURN KEY OFF AND ON AND WAIT 10 MIN TO RESTART .GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM. HAS BEEN SEEN BY CHEVY DEALER AND HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX. THIS PROBLEMS HAPPENS ON REGULAR BASES.
I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WHICH THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAS NOT STARTED WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN. NUMEROUS TIMES I'VE HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC ONLY TO HAVE IT START ONCE IT GETS DROPPED OFF... HENCE THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 AGAIN MY CAR JUST DIDN'T START. LIGHTS, BLINKERS,HORN ALL WORKED BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. FINALLY HAD A MECHANIC COME TO MY HOUSE AND DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH READ SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKDOWN. I WENT ONLINE AND THIS APPARENTLY IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINT ARE LISTED WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM. OLDSMOBILE REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME. TO FIX THIS ISSUE MY MECHANIC WANTS $650.00. I FEEL BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED REPEATEDLY WITH THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OLDSMOBILE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REIMBURSE ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXPENSES INCURRED PERTAINING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE LEFT HER, AS WELL AS HER SON STRANDED. THE VEHICLE BELONG TO HER SON. HOWEVER, HE NO *CNLONGER OWNS IT. *JB UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN WHILE OTHER CARS WHERE TRYING TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME FROM BEHIND . FINALLY GOT THE CAR OFF OF THE MAIN STREET AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TOWED . AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND IT NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WENT OUT ON THE CAR SO NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR AND NO WAY TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE AS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS ON MOST OLDER GM MODELS. *TR
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILURE. IT STARTED WITH THE TURN SIGNALS, THEY WOULD WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN EVENTUALLY CUT OUT COMPLETELY. HAZARDS WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER TURN SIGNALS WENT OUT, THEN BOTH CUT OUT COMPLETELY. FLASHER WAS REPLACED AND FUSES WERE TESTED AND WERE NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR
THESE CARS ARE NIGHTMARES. I REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE, WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE), THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR BROKE OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAKED ALL OF OIL OUT, REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH A CONSTANTLY DEFECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK DEFECT CAUSES A NO START, EXTREMELY COMMON AND WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE), AND NOW THE CAR WILL CRANK BUT NOT FIRE (ALSO EXTREMELY COMMON, BUT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE ONLINE RESOURCES CAN ONLY PROVIDE ONE OF A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PLACES TO START ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE). A NO START SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A MECHANIC TO THROW A FULL BATTERY OF TESTS AT THE CAR. THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEGAL TO SELL, IT IS A MONEY PIT AND A HAZARD TO ANYBODY AROUND THEM. SYSTEMS ARE CONSTANTLY FAILING, THE CAR ALLOWS WATER TO REACH THE FUSE PANELS AND CORRODE THEM, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR FAILURE OF CRUCIAL DRIVING/SAFETY SYSTEMS. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING IF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS AT OR ABOVE 80 DEGREES. AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THIS IN ROUGHLY A YEARS TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE (~70K). *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG, I HAD DEFROSTER ON, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER STARTED SMOKING, MELTED THE REAR WINDOW TRIM AND REAR PASSENGER PANEL. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURN OFF ENGINE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE DEFROSTER MODULE WENT BAD. THE DEFROSTER MODULE AND WIRE HARNESS FOR REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED. LOTS OF SMOKE DAMAGE TO INTERIOR OF CAR. *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM AND THE CONTROL PANEL WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. DJR
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
MY FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM .THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LEARNED THROUGH THE INTERNET HOW TO RESET SYSTEM, FOR MY USED CAR NOT HAVING AN OWNERS MANUAL. THE NEXT PROBLEM WAS MY BLINKERS NOT WORKING, BE IT INTERMITTENTLY. I'VE SEEN ALL THE POSTS ON THESE CONDITIONS AND I AM APPALLED THAT THESE CONCERNS HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. SHAME ON THESE MONEY GRABBERS. WE PAY ENOUGH FOR VEHICLES ...THE MANUFACTURER'S MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. FIX OUR VEHICLES. *TR
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO GL CUSTOMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION REPAIR. *MW THE IGNITION PASSLOCK CYLINDER AND MODULE WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD INDEPENDENTLY COME OUT OF THE SWITCH WHILE IN THE START POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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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