Oldsmobile Alero Complaints (2002)

279 consumer complaints on file.

#10275655July 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS A START MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSES THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO SHUT THE CAR OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FUEL PUMP ON MY CAR, WHICH WERE TOLD TO ME WERE THE PROBLEM, AND THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START AT TIMES, AND WHENEVER IT DOES START, THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS PUTS ME AND MY CHILDREN IN DANGER OF GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE CAR STOPS ABRUPTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267831May 6, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHERS DON'T WORK. SOMETIMES THEY WORK FINE, OTHER TIMES DO NOT. HAPPENS MORE AND MORE. SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN FLASHING CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265723April 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE EVENT IS UNEXPECTED, THERE IS NOTHING DEFINITIVE THAT LEADS UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS. ONCE IT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES; ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO RESTART IT THEN IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN AFTER DRIVING 12 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. EACH TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE AND PLACED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC, IT DOESN'T SHOW A PROBLEM EXISTS, THEREFORE, TO DATE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS . THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY INJURY AT THIS TIME DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT IF THIS CONTINUES A SERIOUS OCCURRENCE IS INEVITABLE; I.E. LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263369March 20, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD MODULE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AT TIMES. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENT AND A TIMES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL, HOWEVER SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL THAT HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER QUALIFIED FOR. RECALL # 03V327000. *JB UPDATED 03/01/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258946February 17, 2009
SUSPENSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258679February 14, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON SOME TIMES. I HAVE A 2002 ALERO AND I SEE A THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS A PE 05-055 WHERE THERE IS A RECALL. MY CAR HAS UNDER 50 000 KM. CAN I GET MINE CHANGED FOR FREE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256881January 29, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN MY CAR 2002 ALERO WITH 67,500 MILES, COME TO FIND OUT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND IT IS A COMMON REPLACEMENT, DESIGN FLAW WITH GM VEHICLES EVEN THE REPAIR SHOPS HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS. IS THERE A R-EMARKET REBATE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL VCOST ME ABOUT 700 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254977January 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A.. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER QUIT WORKING. REPLACED FUSES, RELAY BUT STILL DID NOT WORK. HAVING DONE SOME INTERNET RESEARCH FOUND OUT THAT A REAR CONNECTOR WILL MELT. LOOKED AT THE REAR CONNECTOR AND IT HAD MELTED. DEALER CHARGES $ 45 FOR A NEW CONNECTOR SO I HOT WIRED IT TO THE MODULE. IF THEY MELT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. B. THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE CAR WILL BE LOCKED DOWN. IF YOU SIT FOR 10 MINUTES WITH THE IGNITION ON BUT NOT STARTED THE SECURITY WILL RESET. LUCKILY FOR ME, THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ME ANY $, BUT I AM SURE OTHERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING. ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCONNECT THIS OPTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253268December 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE 2006, ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND TWO TO THREE DAYS LATER THE SYSTEM LOCKS DOWN AND THE CAR DOES NOT START. I AM STRANDED AND HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. EACH OCCURRENCE HAS COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $600-$800. TOWING FEES, TAXIS TO AND FROM WORK, AND USE OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS' CARS ARE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES. I ONLY TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. EACH TIME THEY TELL ME A DIFFERENT FEATURE ON THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER REPEATEDLY TO DISMANTLE THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT. WHO IS GOING TO STEAL A 2002 ALERO? I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO CHILDREN IN TWO DIFFERENT COLLEGES. THIS ALERO IS OUR ONLY CAR. TO DATE I HAVE SPENT $3000 ON THIS "SOPHISTICATED" ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. HELP ME PLEASE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248976November 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWO YEARS AGO, MY SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER MODULE ON MY SECURITY SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH COST MORE THAN $700. LAST FRIDAY, 11/14/2008, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME GM DEALER AGAIN AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED? AND NOW, AGAIN, THIS WILL COST ANOTHER $700 TO FIX, IF THAT IS ALL THAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED BEFORE WHEN THE COMPUTER MODULE WENT OUT. I WAS LUCKY THIS TIME SINCE I HAD MY CAR AT HOME WHEN THIS BCM WENT OUT. THE BCM ONLY HAS A YEAR WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248059November 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ON MY 2002 ALERO HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT. I HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES WITH KEY IN ON POSITION BEFORE IT WILL START. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME, AND AS I OBSERVED ONLINE, FOR MANY OTHERS. I HAD IT TOWED AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS AND UNTIL I GET A 100% ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS ON SOMETHING, I DON'T PAY OUT MONEY FOR ASSUMPTIONS. I FOUND OUT ON MY OWN AND BY READING THE OWNERS MANUAL, WHAT THE EXACT PROBLEM WAS. I REALIZE I MUST DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR ANY THING TO BE DONE. SAD TO SAY THAT IS HOW THINGS WORK IN THIS DWINDLING ECONOMY. I HAVE THE FEAR THAT STALKERS I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST MAY CATCH UP WITH ME AT A TIME WHEN MY CAR WON'T START. SHOULD I TELL THEM "HEY WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE YOU CAN ATTACK ME THEN I CAN GET AWAY." PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOU CAN GOOGLE TO SEE THE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247389October 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247139October 29, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MY BLINKERS ON MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO DON'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246131October 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR THEN IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THAT THERE WAS OTHER INTERNAL VALVE AND ENGINE COMPONENT DAMAGE. THE ENGINE IS A 2.2L GM MOTOR THAT WAS RECALLED FOR SATURNS, AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT NOT THE ONE WE OWN WHICH IS AN OLDSMOBILE ALERO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240999September 4, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I HAVE HAD MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SINCE 2002. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF HAVING THIS CAR THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT BAD AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WENT BANKRUPT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE A GASKET IN THE ENGINE THAT KEEPS ENGINE COOLANT AND ENGINE OIL FROM MIXING TOGETHER BECAUSE THE GASKET THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE CAR WAS NOT THE RIGHT THICKNESS. (SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY MECHANICS WHY WASN'T THIS RECALLED OR A SERVICE BULLETIN INITIATED?) I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER DOOR CONTROL PANEL THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS AND THE SIDE MIRRORS AND WINDOW LOCKS. THE WINDOWS IN MY CAR CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE WINDOW LOCK IS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS FALLING DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND HAVE HAD ONE WINDOW REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2007 BUT NOW IN SEPTEMBER 2008 THE PASSENGER WINDOW IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND NOW WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS WINDOW AS WELL. RIGHT NOW THE MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS CAR IS THE TURN SIGNALS. THEY FUNCTION AS THEY SHOULD BUT THE CLICKING NOISE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN I HAVE MADE A TURN (IT ACTUALLY MAKES A CLICKING NOISE ABOUT 3 TIMES AS FAST AS THE REGULAR TURN CLICK). I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE HAZARD LIGHT RECALL WHICH MY CAR FALLS UNDER SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. IT IS A VERY DISTRACTING PROBLEM AND THE ONLY TIME I CAN GET RELIEF FROM THE CLICKING NOISE IS WHEN I ACTUALLY GET READY TO MAKE A TURN BY TURNING ON THE ACTUAL TURN SIGNAL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. I AM HOPING THAT SOME THING IS DONE ABOUT THE WINDOWS AND THE ENGINE GASKET. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. GM SHOULD MAKE THINGS RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237783August 11, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH OUR TURN SIGNALS GOING OUT SPORADICALLY. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BUT WE WERE TOLD TAT ONLY CERTAIN VIN#S HAD THIS RECALL. HOWEVER THIS IS HAPPENING TO TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR, IT IS RIDICULOUS. WE ALSO LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO START OUR VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION. WE HAD TO PAY $700 TO GET IT REKEYED, AND WE HAVE A PASSENGER WINDOW THAT HAS FELL INTO THE DOOR, WHICH STILL IS NOT FIXED. WE SHOULD ALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE SIGNALS FIXED UNDER RECALL NOT JUST SOME WHEN ITS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237377August 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I'VE ONLY HAD MY CAR SINCE NOV 07 FOR THE PAST 4MOS MY TRAC OFF, TRAC LOW, SERVICE ENGINE, AND CHANGE OIL LIGHTS COME ON AND STAYS ON I'VE TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND THEY CANT SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT WHEN I M DRIVING MY CAR ACT LIKE IT GOING TO CUT OFF OR IT'LL LIKE SLOW DOWN A LIL BIT AND THEN CATCH SPEED. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY ITS VERY SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236867August 4, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THERE MIGHT BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY WIFE'S 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAZARD SWITCH IS FAULTY CAUSING INTERMITTENT TURNING SIGNAL FAILURE, THE SAME PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODELS OF THE ALERO. I CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH UNDER RECALL WHICH APPARENTLY THEY TOLD ME MY VIN ISN'T INCLUDED, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND PROBLEM. I THOUGHT I WOULD NOTIFY YOU OF THE PROBLEM THAT SEEMS WAS NOT CORRECTED WHEN THE RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR PREVIOUS YEARS. THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ANY ALERO THAT EXPERIENCES THIS ISSUE, NOT JUST CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235573July 23, 2008
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I PURCHASED A 2002 V-6 OLDSMOBILE ALERO SEDAN IN AUG 2006 AT 80,000 MILES AND AT 85,000 MILES IN SEPT 2006 ALREADY HAD MY FIRST REPAIR ON THE IGNITION PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED BUT IN JUNE OF 2008 A FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. I CONTACTED SUPERIOR CHEVROLET MON JULY 21ST IN PERSON AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR THAT OCCURRED AT PERRY CHEVROLET IN COLUMBIA, MO. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY LIMITS BUT THIS WAS "AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 45,000 MILES." HIS NAME WAS BERNIE SMITH. I THEN CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DANIEL CHURCHILL THE SAME DAY 7/21/08. I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED BETWEEN 11:30A AND 3:30P ON WED JULY 23RD 2008 BUT WS CONTACTED AT 4:30P WITH THE NEWS THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR JERRY AT SUPERIOR CHEVROLET SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS "COMMON FOR THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE." I HAVE YET TO BE REIMBURSED OR GIVEN A STRAIGHT ANSWER OF WHY THE PART FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234944July 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - CAR WILL NOT START AND SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT IS BLINKING FOR NO REASON. MUST WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THE SYSTEM RESETS IT SELF. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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