Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 18 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
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
"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
IT JUST STARTED AFTER THE SECURITY GOT LOCK AND HAD TO BE OVER DRIVE. WHEN YOU DRIVE YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR IDLE BAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IF YOU HAVE TO STOP TO TURN AND YOU GET BELOW 1 MGA TURNS OFF. YESTERDAY IT DID THIS AND TURN OFF AND ALL IT WOULD DO IS JUST TURNS BUT DOESN'T START. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'S NOT GET FUEL OR AIR WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. YOU CAN DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT AND WATCH THE MGA, I THINK, 1,2,3, ILDEL DOWN A LITTLE. STARTED END OF SEPT OR NO TROUBLER
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
THE CAR INITIALLY WOULD NOT START, GOOGLED HELP LEFT IN START POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES THEN STARTED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SHUT OFF MID TRAFFIC, THOUGHT IT WAS STOLEN. TAKEN TO GM DEALERSHIP PUT IN NEW PASSCODE KEY, TOLD IT WAS OK. LEFT DEALERSHIP CAR CUT OFF, TAKEN BACK, SAID IT WAS FUEL INJECTORS, HAS ALL OF THEN CHANGED. CAR CUT OFF, READ ON INTERNET THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING ERROR. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REIMBURSE MONEY AND CAR CONTINUES TO NOT CRANK AT TIMES AND CUTS OFF, THINK IT IS STOLEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE SOLD WITHOUT WARNING FUTURE DRIVERS. NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE. *TR
CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, WOULD NOT START, SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING, TOOK TO SHOP COST 800.00 FOR NEW FUEL PUMP, THEN A MONTH LATER SAME DEAL COME TO FIND OUT IT: IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVING TO DUE WITH THE SECURITY, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS ITS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION THE 800.00 SPENT FOR A FUEL PUMP I GUESS I DIDN'T NEED. YOU CAN RESET IT. WORKS ONLY TEMP. LEAVE THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT GOES OUT THEN GO STRAIGHT TO START, MOST THE TIME THIS WORKS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CAR TO SHUT OFF AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH HAS HAPPEN TO US. *JS
ATTEMPT TO START CAR AND IT WON'T START. TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING IT ON FOR 10 MINS. APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET. ALSO YOU CAN BE DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SHUTS DOWN TOTAL. THIS IS A EXTREME DANGEROUS AND CAN GET SOME ONE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED BUT IT STILL CONTINUES AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER EXPENSE. VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND IT WON'T START. IT WAS AS IF THE FUEL WAS SHUT-OFF. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME. I NOTICED THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND PEOPLE SUGGESTED, TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND LEAVING FOR 10 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THIS ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO RESET. (OR YOU CAN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT IT, THIS WILL ALSO RESET THE COMPUTER.) THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
WHEN FUELING THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING CAUSE OF GAS SPILLED ON THE GROUND MAY CAUSE OF FIRE. *TR
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FUEL SMELLS SEEPING THRU MY AIR VENTS WHEN I DRIVE AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT MY ORINGS AND SOME OTHER ITEMS NEED REPLACING. THESE EXPENSES ARE VERY COSTLY AND I HAVE NO JOB! I'VE DRAWN ALL MY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BUT I NEED MY CAR TO KEEP BEING ABLE TO SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT OR GO TO WORK WHEN I GET THESE TEMP OFFERS FOR WORK!!! I SAW MY CAR HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL, BUT GM SAYS IT'S NOT MY CAR--BASED ON THEIR SYSTEM OF KNOWING THE LAST 8 DIGITS OF MY VIN. BUT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES! EVEN WHEN I FILL UP ON GAS, THE SMELL IS ALL ON MY CAR, ON ME! I EVEN HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER I RE-FILL!!! CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME???? I AM SO SICK OF THE VIRTUES IN THIS COUNTRY! PEOPLE DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING FOR FEAR OF IT COSTING THEM A DOLLAR!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LIVES THEY ARE IMPACTING--JUST THEIR [XXX] WALLETS! EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE AND CHOICE OF VERBAGE, BUT IT REALLY MAKES ME SICK! IHAVE TO QUIT NOW BECAUSE IT REALLY BOTHERS ME TO KNOW THAT BETWEEN THE MANUFACTURERS AND THESE AUTOMAKERS, NEITHER WANTS TO VALUE ANYTHING OVER MONEY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2002 OLDS ALERO IN MAY OF 2006 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP PAID FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR THAT TIME, BUT I WAS ON MY OWN FROM THERE. FREQUENTLY I WAS HAVING THE PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE TURNING OVER, BUT NOT STARTING. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK 6 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND A WEEK LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME IT THE BODY MODULE WAS REPLACED. 2 DAYS LATER I WAS CALLING THE TOW TRUCK AGAIN. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THIS TIME. THE NEXT TIME I THREATENED TO SUE THE MECHANIC WHO HAD WORKED ON MY CAR. THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP FOR THE MECHANIC. HE CONTACTED GM TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE AND OF COURSE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP A FEW MORE TIMES THE MECHANIC FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZED IN GM REPAIRS. THAT MECHANIC TOLD HIM ABOUT THE FAULTY SECURITY SYSTEM. HE PASSED ON THE INFO TO ME. IF THE CAR WON'T START, TURN THE KEY ON FOR 10 MIN. UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT STOPS FLASHING, TURN THE KEY OFF, TAKE IT OUT OF THE IGNITION AND TRY IT AGAIN. THIS HAS WORKED EVERY TIME FOR ME, BUT REALLY, WHO HAS THE EXTRA 10-15 MINUTES TO SPARE EVERY TIME THEY NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE, JUST IN CASE THEIR CAR WON'T START? I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TURNING SIGNALS WORKING ONLY WHEN THEY WANT TO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALERO OWNERS. AFTER THE NIGHTMARES I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND THE DISRESPECT SHOWN BY GM TO THEIR "VALUED CUSTOMERS", I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM MODEL AS LONG AS I LIVE! BUYER BEWARE!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. IT TOOK HIM APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR SEVEN WEEKS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
ON 9/26/2007 MY 2002 OLDS ALERO REFUSED TO START, I FINALLY HAD TO LEAVE AT AT MY JOB, IT STARTED THE NEXT DAY, I CALLED THE DEALER (I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM DRIVETIME) IN NOV 2006, THEY STATED THAT I HAD TO BRING IT TO THEIR APPROVED MECHANIC, I TOOK IT THERE, THEIR MECHANIC STATED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WOULD COST 755.00. THAT INCLUDED THE DRIVERS WINDOW WHICH FELL INTO THE DOOR FOR THE SECOND TIME, I CALLED DRIVETIME WHO THEN PUT ME ON A REPAIR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, I DROVE THE CAR HOME, THAT SAME DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, IT IS NOW JANUARY 2008 AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A WORKING VEHICLE AND AM REFUSING TO PAY FOR IT. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT IT IS THE COMPUTER AND HE CANNOT FIX IT I NOW HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHO MAY OR MAY NOT FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. I THINK ITS A DISGRACE, THAT A COMPANY CAN MAKE SUCH A PIECE OF JUNK HAVE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ON IT AND NOTHING IS DONE. I FOR ONE AM NOT GOING TO PAY ONE MORE CENT, THE DEALER COULD KEEP THE CAR, AND DO WITH IT WHATEVER HE WANTS, I REALIZE THIS IS A REPOSESSION BUT I AM NOT A RICH PERSON AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT PROBLEMS WILL ONLY GET WORSE WITH THIS VEHICLE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM, OLDS, DRIVETIME FOR SELLING THE LEMON KNOWING ALL THE PROBLEMS THESE VEHICLES HAVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION AND THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND MADE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT IS HORRIBLE , STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, AND I PRACTICALLY HAVE TO BRAKE MY ARMS AND BACK TRYING TO TURN IT TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHEN IT SHUTS OFF IT MAKES AND AWFUL BUSSING NOISE AND ALL DISPLAY LIGHTS ARE LIT UP. I BELIEVE IT MAYBE WEATHER RELATED BECAUSE IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. WHEN I GO TO RESTART MY CAR I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION, AND MAKE SURE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON BEFORE I CAN START THE CAR. OTHERWISE, IT WILL TURN OVER ,BUT WON'T FIRE UP. WHEN THE LIGHT DOES COME ON I CAN HEAR SOMETHING SWITCHING ON TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE CAR. SINCE I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS I AM ASSUMING THAT IT IS THE FUEL PUMP. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THESE SAME PROBLEMS, AND HAS AN IDEA OF A WAY TO FIX THIS ,PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO THE CAR DOESN'T KILL ME.*AK
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 181,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH BEGAN DECELERATING AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITH NO WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND 75 DEGREES. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 30 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF RECALL 07E021000 FOR FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES. THE RECALLED FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE RECALL FAILURE TO DATE. SHE SPOKE WITH DELPHI, GM AND OLDSMOBILE DEALERS, AND NONE OF THE DEALERS WERE WILLING TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK FREE OF CHARGE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONIES BESIDES THE $417.21 THAT WAS ALREADY PAID. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE DEALERSHIPS POSSESSION AND SHE WANTS THE VEHICLE RETURNED WITH THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 06/07/07 THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE THAT IT WAS READY WHEN CONSUMER CAME TO PICK UP VEHICLE THE MANAGER INFORMED HER HE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE RETURNING THE CAR TO HER AND THE DEALERSHIP IS REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $262.00 FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH. UPDATED 06/25/07 *TR
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.
AFTERFUELING UP AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING GASOLINE SPLASHED OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. DEALER REPLACED TANK SOLENOID, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*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
Data on this page last refreshed .