Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Oldsmobile Alero owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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
I was driving along, I had defroster on, rear window defroster started smoking, melted the rear window trim and rear passenger panel. I stopped the car and turn off engine. Called fire department, took the car to the mechanic, found that the defroster module went bad. The defroster module and wire harness for rear window was replaced. Lots of smoke damage to interior of car.
These cars are nightmares. I replaced the intake manifold gasket (extremely common issue, well documented online), the oil pressure sensor broke off the engine and leaked all of oil out, replaced the thermostat, learned how to deal with a constantly defective security system (passlock defect causes a no start, extremely common and well documented online), and now the car will crank but not fire (also extremely common, but due to the nature of the problem, the online resources can only provide one of a hundred different places to start attempting to diagnose). A no start should not require a mechanic to throw a full battery of tests at the car. There is no way this car should have been legal to sell, it is a money pit and a hazard to anybody around them. …
Security light comes on and the car shuts off while driving. We lost steering and were headed toward oncoming traffic, but ran over a street sign and stopped. Sometimes the light will come on and no problems until after we park and shut the car off. When we try to start it again, sometimes it starts back up fine and other times it turns over, but wont fire. When this happens, we have to turn the key to the on position for 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes the security light flashes. After exactly 10 minutes the light turns solid for 5 seconds and then shuts off. We then take the key out, put it back in and the car starts. My understanding is that the car think it's being stolen and shuts down the fuel system instantly. We lose complete steering when this happens. Whats also happening is the security system is draining the battery while the car is shut off. …
I have a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero which throughout the years has not started when you put the key in the ignition and turn. Numerous times I've had my car towed to a mechanic only to have it start once it gets dropped off... Hence they were never able to diagnose the issue. On September 24, 2015 again my car just didn't start. Lights, blinkers,horn all worked but it would not turn on. Finally had a mechanic come to my house and do a diagnostic which read security system lockdown. I went online and this apparently is an ongoing issue with this particular make and model. Hundreds of complaint are listed with the exact problem. Oldsmobile refuses to do a recall. I am a senior citizen on a fixed income. To fix this issue my mechanic wants $650.00. …
Just a couple of days after the purchase of the vehicle the brakes were making a bad scrubbing noise, and I had no turn signal at all I noticed a clicking sound coming from the hazard warning light .during the clicking sound the turn signal would work at times and I would smell something like a burning smell. While the car was park and no one around it the lights would come on inside and out by their self and this causes my battery to go dead and I have to boost it off. I have contacted the car dealer that I purchased it from and they were very rude and hateful and told me it was my problem and that there is nothing they can do about it. That they sold it to me at a good deal and they could not help me.
Was driving slowly in heavy traffic. Weather: approximately 50 degrees and raining. I have the heat and defrost (including rear window) on. I hear a pop from the back and I think someone has just lightly rear-ended me. I look over my shoulder and the rear passenger seat, at approximately the right-hand shoulder is on fire. I pulled-over, turned-off the car, and tried to dowse the flames to no avail. All I could do was watch it burn until the fire department showed-up about 10 minutes later. Fire department agreed likely cause was rear defroster short-circuit. Rear seat and rear window destroyed. Water and smoke damage. Car is likely totaled due to age (11 years) and miles (124K).
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and caused the contact to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to start and was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
I was driving down the street when the car just cut off on me with no warning. I had to force the steering wheel to turn while other cars where trying to keep from hitting me from behind . Finally got the car off of the main street and onto a side street, until I was able to get the car towed . After having the car towed and it not being able to restart a mechanic told me that the anti theft system went out on the car so now I am without a car and no way to get it fixed because as I was told that they were having a problem with this on most older GM models.
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.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.
Electrical complaints in other Alero years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero?
NHTSA has 133 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero, 48% of the model year's 279 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-400 (ignition, Jul 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 5 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.