Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (2002)
279 consumer complaints on file.
- #10132242August 10, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND IT WAS THE HAZARD SWITCH WHICH FAILED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM . OLDSMOBILE WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT MODEL YEAR. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129708July 22, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRIDAY, 7/15/05, I TOOK MY 2002 OLDS ALERO TO JEFF SCHMIDT IN FAIRBORN, OH FOR SERVICE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL AS THE WINDOW. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE LOT, THE CAR SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I PARK IN THE GARAGE AT HOME AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY SPILLS ON THE FLOOR AND ASSUMED IT WAS JUST OVERFLOW WHERE THE SERVICE TECH DID THE REPAIRS. THURSDAY, 7/21/05, I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND FOUND A PUDDLE OF COOLANT INSIDE THE CAR DOWN ON THE FRAME (I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS CALLED). I ALSO NOTICED INSIDE THE CAR THE DASH AT THE WINDSHIELD WAS RUFFLED/WRINKLED. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD HAD A FIRE OR SOMETHING REALLY GOT HOT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND LEARNED THAT I HAD TWO BROKEN HOSES AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHERE THE HOSES WERE REATTACHED AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THESE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. FUNNY I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNTIL THEY TOLD ME I HAD A PROBLEM LAST WEEK. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY, I HAVE 6 YRS. 60,000 MILES, DID NOT COVER THE DASH. IT WAS CONSIDERED COSMETIC. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. I'VE WORKED FOR GM/DELPHI FOR 28 YEARS, HAVE HAD 7 VEHICLES IN THIS TIME PERIOD, NEW ONES, AND HAVE NEVER HAD A DASH TO COME APART. ALSO, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A INTAKE MANIFOLD GOING BAD ON A CAR WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DASH WHERE THE LEATHER HAS COME APART FROM THE FRAME.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129646July 21, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR(2005). THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOWED IT TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. 3 DAYS LATER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY THEN REPLACED THE HOUSING. BEGINING OF JUNE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURE AGIAN. TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. OF COURSE IT STARTED AT THE DEALER. 2 WEEKS LATER AND IT STILL WILL NOT START AGIAN. THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS COMMING ON BEFORE IT STOPED RUNNING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IF YOU GO TO WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM AND GO UNDER ALERO, YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10129342July 19, 2005STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY 496 FROM WAVERLY RD IN LANSING HEADED EAST MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN SHAKING TERRIBLY AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW THE VEHICLE JUST SHOT TO THE RIGHT AT INCREASED SPEED CAUSING ME TO HIT A NUMBER OF TREES BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING. MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK CAME HE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE ROD BROKE ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. THIS IS A 2002 ALERO STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED JULY 14, 2005 FOR OIL CHANGE TIRE PRESSURE CHECK AND SO FORTH.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128788July 14, 2005WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THREE NEW WHEEL BEARINGS, TWO ON THE RIGHT AND ONE ON THE LEFT IN LESS THAN 57,000 MILES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125791June 20, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 2002 OLDS ALERO GLS. THE 2001 OLDS ALERO HAS THIS RECALL: HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE. MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GM WAS THE WOST HELP EVER. THEY HUNG UP ON ME. IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THEY HAVE QUIT WORKING MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REAMBER. I HAVE ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY GAGE CLUSTER. ABOUT 2-3 TIMES A MONTH IT DOSENT OPPERATE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ECT OR SPEDO RPM ECT WORK THERE JUST "DEAD" UNTIL U RESTART THE CAR. THE OLDS BRAVADA HAS A RECALL FOR IT. WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAN IS HOW AN 01 ALERO HAVE RECALLS AND A 03 HAVE RECALLS BUT NOT AN 02. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY TURN SIGNALS QUIT. I DONT KNOW HOW LONG THEY WERE OUT BEFORE I THEY WERENT WORKING. I DID HAVE A FRIND OF MINE LOOK AT THE CAR WHO IS A CERTIFIED GM TECH AND SAID IT WAS A LOSSE WIRE UP IN THE DASH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125955June 20, 2005VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT IF THE FUSE IS IN THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONSTANTLY RUN. WHEN HE FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE DEALER CLAIMED HE FIX IT. THE SIGNALS ON THE VEHICLE SEEM TO BE GOING TOO FAST, AND IT SMELLS LIKE THE WIRES ARE BURNING.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125212June 14, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MAY 26TH, 2005 I STARTED MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND TURNED ON MY REAR DEFROSTER. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS AN "EXPLOSION" IN THE REAR OF MY CAR. THE REAR DEFROSTER HEATING MECHANISM THAT HOOKS UP TO THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE TO THE ENTIRE REAR OF MY CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST, MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED MY CAR. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND NO MAJOR WORK HAS EVER BEEN PERFORMED. GM WILL NOT GET INVOLVED DUE TO THE FACT THAT LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10125040June 12, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
BASICALLY I OWN A OLDSMOBILE 2000 INTRIGUE AND AN 2002 ALERO. MY WIFES INTRIQUE HAZARD SWITCH CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS TO FAIL RAMDOMLY. I TOOK IT IN DURING WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT "REPRODUCE" THE FAILURE. AFTER WARRANTY WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A STATE INSPECTION AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION. SO I PAID THE $18 SINCE THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. NOW MY 2002 ALERO IS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING. WHEN I GO TO USE MY TURN SIGNALS THEY DONT WORK BUT IF I PUSH ON THE HAZARD SWITCH IN/OUT OR WIGGLE IT THEY START WORKING. I BELIEVE GM HAD A RECALL ON THE HAZARD SWITCH BACK AROUND 1998?? I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTY ISSUE. OBCVIOUSLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PREPARING TO INITIATE A TURN AND YOUR SIGNALS DONT WORK CAN EASILY CAUSE A COLLISION. I AM IN MY MID 40'S AND HAVE HAD MANY CARS, SO HAVE MY PARENTS FROM THE 1960'S AND NEVER HAVE I SEEN A HAZARD SWITCH FAIL. I HAVE SEEN BULBS FAIL THAT WILL CAUSE THE TURN SIGNALS TO NOT FLASH BUT I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT GM HAD A RECALL IN THE LATE 1990'S AND I HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CARS HAVE THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. I AM GOING TO GO AND BY ANOTHER SWITCH BUT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A CRITICAL SAFTEY FEATURE I FELT COMPELLED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE SEEN. I BELIEVE YOU CAN CHECK THE FAILURE RATE BY REQUIRING GM TO PRODUCE THEIR SALES DATABASE ON SALES OF HAZARD SWITCHES FROM THE 1990'S TO 2005 SINCE THIS ITEM IS NOT USUALLY REPRODUCED OR SOLD BY 3RD PARTIES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10124357June 6, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT: TWO DOOR VEHICLE. THE POWER WINDOWS MECHANISM THAT SUPPORTS THE WINDOW BROKE. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. CONSUMER HAD ONE SIDE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121928May 23, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121321May 18, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY TURN SINGALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE SINGNALS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. WHEN THE TURN SIGNIALS DO NOT OPERATE THE HAZORD LIGHTS DONT WORK AS WELL. I FOUND OUT IT WILL COST APROX. $200.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT COST 130.00 AND 70.00 FOR LABOR. THIS IS A HAZORD THAT I WILL NEED TO HAVE FIXED. THERE ARE SOME DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS WHERE I LIVE. IT IS ALSO AGAINTS THE LAW NOT TO SINGAL WHICH WAY YOU ARE TURNING. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN MARCH. IT HAD TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS MORE FREQQENT AND THEY COULD REPRODUCE IT. I FINALLY FOUND OUT ON MAY 19, 2005 IT IS THE SWITCH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10119657May 3, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK ONLY SOMETIMES. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS IN THE 2001 OLDSMOBILE AND HAD A RECALL FOR THE CORRECTION. NOTHING FOR THE 2002 WHICH IS DOING THE SAME THING AS THE OLDSMOBILE 2001
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10118505April 26, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2002 OLDMOBILE ALERO HAS FAILING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR ARE OVER $800 AND AFTER RESEARCHING THE FACT THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS GM VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1995-2003 I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. GM RELEASED BULLETIN 03-06-01-010 IN WHICH IT SUGGESTS REPLACEMENT OF A "NEW DESIGN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET" WHICH WAS CHANGED TO "IMPROVE THE SEALING QUALITIES OF THE GASKET". IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL THERE'S NO NEED FOR A REPLACEMENT. GM IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS YET IT AFFECTS 3.1 AND 3.4L V6 ENGINES OF SOME 14 DIFFERENT GM MODELS NOT TO MENTION A SIMILAR AFFLICTION WITH THE 3.8L.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10117693April 4, 2005STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY.*MR THERE WERE TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM WOULD STEER LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, STEERING ROTATION SENSOR , HUB ASSEMBLY BEARING WERE ALL REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER)*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10117105March 30, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DURING A 55 MPH COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10112351March 1, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUT OF THE BLUE THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING. ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME , AND SAID THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. UNTIL THIS DAY I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10110449February 13, 2005STRUCTURE
IN SEPTEMBER 2004 I PURCHASED A USED 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. BY NOVEMBER MY ALERO'S INTERIOR DOOR PANELS STARTED TO BUBBLE AND BUCKLE ON 3 DOORS. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER GM FACTORY WARRANTY. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BROWN (DEALERSHIP) IN SACO, MAINE AND WAS TOLD TO CALL GM TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE WORK APPROVED. THEY DENIED THE WORK AND SAID THEY DIDN'T COVER "COSMETIC PROBLEMS". I THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. SOMEONE FROM GM WHO HANDLES THE BBB CASES CALLED AND SAID ONCE AGAIN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THIS TIME THE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. BEFORE MY CASE WENT TO ARBITRATION GM REQUESTED THE BBB TO SEND OUT A TECHNICAL EXPERT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. HIS CONCLUSION WAS INADEQUATE ADHESIVE. NOT LONG AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT AND BEFORE ARBITRATION, GM CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL FIX MY ALERO. THEY TOLD ME I MUST GO TO BROWN IN SACO, MAINE WHERE KEVIN BRADY (SERVICE MANAGER) SAID HE STILL REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR. I CALLED GM BACK AND THEY SAID TO FIND A DEALERSHIP THAT WILL DO THE WORK. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO PLAGUE THOUSANDS OF ALERO OWNERS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT GM MUST OWN UP TO!!!*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10106941January 6, 2005VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
CONSUMER STATED THE DEFOGGER LINES EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK...CONSUMER DIDN'T CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT OR REPORT IT TO POLICE DEPARTMENT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10104736December 29, 2004VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FOR THE FIFTH TIME THE WINDOW ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN. USUALLY THE WINDOW REGULATOR GOES OUT AND THE BRACKETS BREAK ALONG WITH MY WINDOW. THIS TIME, ONLY THE BRACKETS BROKE AND NOT THE REGULATOR. PROBLEM IS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE MY CAR IS A 2002 MODEL AND THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE SITUATION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0