7th Jan 2009, 23:24

I recently bought my daughter an 02 Alero with I don't know how many miles. The car runs nice. The interior is coming apart in various places. It recently started sputtering and losing power and the service engine soon light came on. I added a bottle of dry gas (northeast) and changed all 4 spark plugs. The car runs great again, but the service engine light is still on.

8th Jan 2009, 12:31

You should bring the car to your mechanic and have them plug the car into the computer to see if there is anything else wrong with the car. And if there is nothing else wrong the mechanic can shut off the service engine soon light for you.

29th Jan 2009, 15:11

20002 Coupe, I've had issues. Do not buy at any cost

At 100K

Struts gone

Wheel bearings replaced

Brakes

Cruise intermittent

Signal lights out

Brake lights out

Windows not working

Radio button paint off

Front bumper buckled

Clutch replaced

All lights in dash on

Noisy on road

Rough ride

Leaking doors

Trunk opener does not work

Motor now blown

Buying HONDA tomorrow, so long GM, it hasn't been good to know ya.

5th Feb 2009, 16:44

Simple preventitive maintenance would have prevented a lot of problems down the road. Unfortunately if you are not the original owner this is impossible. It may not be GM's fault, but the lack of maintenance and inspection will from a previous owner. It can happen to a Toyota!

9th Feb 2009, 13:01

When I went shopping for a new car in 2002, I did everything I could to ensure my car was made in the USA and that it was a GM product. I will no longer do this due to the disappointment this car has brought be. The dash buckling up was the last straw. And the brake problems I don't even want to make a comment on them. I will never buy GM again!!

If only they had addressed some of the problems that I have heard of, instead of ignoring all of the consumers complaints. GM I am very disappointed in you!! So sorry to see this long relationship come to a end!! But it has!!!

25th Feb 2009, 20:29

2001 Alero 2 door coupe.

I love this car, and even put pipes on it, and it sounds good, but the stuff this car has put me through, I should hate it.

I've had both power windows fixed, man. gasket replaced, knob fixed for the defrost, heater, vents and know it's broke again.

Had problems with sec. light coming on and the car would not start, and at the same time as that, my track, anti brake lights would come on as well.

They replaced the pass lock and key 5-6 times, and still had the same problem, and then I found out I had a leak that was getting water inside the control box under the glove box, which was causing it to short out.

Now I'm getting a noise out of my front wheels, which from reading is a hub/ bearings going bad, and I've replaced the front brakes and rotors, but never had the backs replaced.

I have 92,000 on it, and also it's started to rust on the passenger side between the door and rear wheel.

21st Mar 2009, 17:55

My mother bought me a 2002 Alero in Dec. 2007.

In June of 2009 the problems started. When it got hot, the car just wouldn't start, even if it was just hot from sitting in the sun. I replaced the fuel pump and filter, and that didn't help. I eventually wore out my starter and had to have that replaced. It got colder and the problems stopped, but I am getting worried now that the warm weather is coming.

17th Apr 2009, 12:59

I have a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero GL1 and it has 157000 miles on it. The car has been the best car I have ever had. I have always done the regular maintaince and the biggest problem I have ever had with the car is the brakes when I first got the car. But that was easily fixed. I love this car!!!

17th Jun 2009, 14:53

I just purchased a 02 Alero in January 2009.

I just replaced the ignition switch, ignition lock cylinder. Car would not start. Wish I would have known about the 10 minute wait and then try to start. The same day I got my car back, I went to turn the air conditioner on and now my air/rear window control buttons do not work. What the heck. Back to the shop again. I am going to dump this car soon.

I do wish I would have read about the car first before I would have bought it. But it was cheap and was just going to get me by for a year. ugh! Julie~

11th Sep 2009, 14:47

I have a 2002 Alero - I have been the only owner, changed oil every 3000 miles, now have 118000 miles and this is the list of repairs;

Drivers side window failure - 4 times (fixed under warranty 2 times).

Passenger side window failure - 2 times.

Wheel bearings replaced - 2x front left, 1x front right.

Front seal leak - replaced.

Brakes 3 times all around.

Tires 3 times on front, 2 times on the back (in need of new all around).

ABS sensor - replaced.

Turn signal doesn't work all the time.

I have a friend with the same car and we have almost identical repair records.

I wish I had seen this site when I was choosing to buy this vehicle.

12th Sep 2009, 10:59

We own a 99 Olds Alero. I do all the maintenance as on all our vehicles. NEVER had the problems we have had with this car. We bought this car to replace a Nissan Altima - big mistake. We kept the Nissan and it has been passed down through our three girls, 0 problems. The Alero on the other hand has had nothing but problems. All 4 window motors and tracks have been replaced 1 twice, too many front break jobs to remember. Front bearings at 80000. The interior dash and side panels are coming apart. Money pit is the cars name, and no way I would sell it to anyone, so I am stuck with it. Biggest piece since the Vega and Pinto. What's worse is you get 0 answers from GM. GM has lost me as a customer.

4th Mar 2010, 21:44

I have a 02 Alero GLS. I have had this car for 3 years, and the only thing I had to change was general (oil, tires etc). Well I did have to replace the speakers because I blew two speakers, but that is my fault and not GM.

I have never had brake trouble, nothing leaks or needs repairing. I even get 29 mpg!!

It currently has 180,000 miles on it, and still nothing is wrong with my car. I love it to death.

I love GM, and I will stay by them till they die. We have currently had 5 vehicles from GM, and we have had nothing wrong with any of our vehicles.

Yes GM has its problems, but so does every other company. Some Alero's have a lot of problems, but I think most of those problems could be avoided if the right precautionary measures are used.

26th Mar 2010, 19:52

I have a 2002 Alero that we purchased in 2003. We have kept low mileage on it, but about 2 months ago it just wouldn't turn over. I was so frustrated and had some guys come look at it. When you turn the key on, I can hear the fuel pump kick in, but it just won't start, so they added gas to the tank and changed the battery. The car started after about 20 minutes.

It drove great for 1 week, and then the same problem; went to go start it, and wouldn't turn over. I don't know what to do. I tried the 10 minute thing for the security, but the light always stays on solid red, never turns off, and it wouldn't start after the 10 minutes. Am I doing it wrong? Seemed all it did was kill my battery.

I also have issues with the rear defrost and the blower only working on high. Also buttons wore off on the radio. We also had an issue with not being able to get the key in the off position unless we toggled the gear shift.

My current is the not starting; can anyone help.