There are 5 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
WHEN FUELING THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING CAUSE OF GAS SPILLED ON THE GROUND MAY CAUSE OF FIRE. *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
AFTERFUELING UP AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING GASOLINE SPLASHED OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. DEALER REPLACED TANK SOLENOID, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
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