There are 29 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2002 oldsmobile alero was driving on interstate and very low on fuel when i exited the interstate at the street light it turned green and as i was accelerating my car stalled out and since then ive pur 2 gallons of fuel in it and now it cranks but wont start up and now it back fires when trying to start it and my security light is off and I'm getting fuel pressure in the front rail and I got spark and yea my fuel pump is humming.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000.
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON 3/13/11 DRIVING MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO, AND MY CAR STARTED FILLING UP WITH BLACK SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR, I SUDDENLY SAW FLAMES INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE . I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BY THE TIME THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START .... SOMETIMES AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN IT WILL NOT START BACK SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE AROUND 30MINS TO START BACK OTHER TIMES LONGER, THE LENGTH OF TIME IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN WHEN IT DOES THIS VARIES SOMETIMES ITS VERY SHORT DISTANCE OTHERS IT IS A LITTLE LONGER. THE CAR TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. IT DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL DO THIS. WE HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP CHANGED RECENTLY AND THE BATTERY IS FINE. *TR
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
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
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
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
EXISTENCE OF ENGINE OIL APPEARING IN RADIATOR SYSTEM COOLANT. *TR
(1) NO WARNING -JUST AT DEALERSHIP 3 WEEKS BEFORE. (2) TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE ON INTERSTATE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE & HAD TO STEER CAR OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH NO POWER & HIGH TRAFFIC LOAD. HAVE READ NOW OF NUMEROUS FAILURES OF OLDSMOBILE ALEROS WITH 2.2 ENGINE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT WAS APPARENTLY REDESIGNED IN 2005 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. NO RECALLS ON THIS DEFECT. (3) I AM HAVING ENGINE REPLACED AS IT IS DESTROYED FROM THE 70MPH FAILURE. ENGINE IS STILL AVAILABLE IF NEEDED FOR INVESTIGATION IF YOU LET ME KNOW REAL SOON. *TR
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
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. ON 4/6/07, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ,THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING SOUND, AND SMELLED GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SO SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FOX CHEVROLET IN LAUREL, MD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO COOLANT BEING MIXED WITH OIL ,CAUSING A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ALL CYLINDERS. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $2,600. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 84301. *AK UPDATED 0626/07 *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A VERY NICE DAY THE TIMING CHAIN SHEARED OFF WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WARPED ALL OF THE RODS AND HEADS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,363. *AK
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY CAR TEMPERATURE HOT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE COLD AND VICE VERSA. I CHECKED THE ANTI-FREEZE AND PLACED MORE IN THE CAR. IN THE PAST MONTH I NOTICE THAT THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND I CHECKED THE ANTIFREEZE ONCE AGAIN. I THEN LEARNED THAT MY MANIFOLD INTAKE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS VERY COMMON FOR IT TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS PLASTIC. I PAID OVER $700.00 TO GET IT REPLACED AND IT IS A COMMON FACT THAT IT IS REPLACED OFTEN DUE TO THE MANUFACTURERS CHOICE TO USE PLASTIC FOR THE PART. *NM
I HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CARS SECURITY DEVICE IS FAULTY CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT START AND SOMETIMES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING EVEN AT OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OVER THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH GM CARS AROUND THIS YEAR. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT COMMON MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR YOU ARE FORCED TO GO TO THE COSTLY DEALERSHIP AND IN A LOT OF CASES THEY TO ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX IT. *NM
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO WITH 65,000 MILES IN FEB. 2006. EXPERIENCED A TICKING NOISE DAY BEFORE AND WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN CHAIN BROKE AND LOST POWER. AUTO REPAIR SERVICE INDICATED IT WILL COST AT LEAST $1500 TO REPLACE CHAIN AND ADDITIONAL PARTS. ALSO INDICATED OIL PAN WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AS FRAGMENTS WERE DETECTED INSIDE. *JB
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 60K MILES. DESTROYED VALVES. ALSO IGNITION SWITCH BROKE AT 45K MILES. *NM
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.
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.
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
Showing 1–20 of 29 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026