Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 10 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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AFTERMARKET STRUTS INSTALLED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE STRUTS CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR AND PULLED APART THE CONTROL ARMS AT THE CENTER BUSHINGS, WHICH CAUSED THE GEOMETRY OF THE SUSPENSION TO CHANGE. AS A RESULT, IT WAS DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE PART MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY FAILURES WITH THE STRUTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
MY IGNITION KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE MY CAR IS RUNNING. CALLED ON 10/30/14 @ 2:51 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT I SPOKE TO [XXX] & WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T GET ME IN UNTIL 12/1/14 AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAVE SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS BUT THEY ONLY ACCEPT 35 CARS AND IF I WAS NUMBER 36 I WOULD BE TURNED AWAY. THIS IS A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE & I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE EXACT THING YOUR COMPANY HAS RECALLED MY VEHICLE FOR AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLEASE CALL ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DRIVER SIDE STRUT SPRING FRACTURED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. *KB
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
LAST YEAR I HAD A RUBBING TYPE SOUND COMING FROM MY FRONT END, UPON TAKING IT TO TUFFY I LEARNED THAT I NEEDED A LEFT WHEEL BEARING. I REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING AND 7 MONTHS LATER I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. CURRENTLY I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY ABS LIGHTS ARE ON AND THERE IS A POPPING SOUND WHEN MY CAR TURNS. I HAVE A NEW TIE ROD SO THAT RULES THE NOISE COMING FROM IT. THE BEARINGS ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND I ONLY HAD THE CAR THREE YEARS AND I HAD TO REPLACE BEARINGS, THE MANIFOLD INTAKE, A TIE ROD, AND HOSES. *NM
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
WHILE BRAKING, THE FRONT END WOULD WOBBLE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
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
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 .