2002 Oldsmobile Alero GLS from North America - Comments

I own a 1999 Alero GLS - bought new off the lot in August, 1998. I love the car, and yes, I have had many of the similar issues.

For example, I had the car in several times for the brakes. Finally, they came out with 'redesigned' rotors and that seemed to make them last longer.

The intake manifold leaked and the dealer replaced the gasket more than once, but never managed to get it right and I got tired of taking it back.

The front hubs had to be replaced due to grinding noise. Recently, the ABS and TRAC light came on, so one of the hubs had to be replaced again. I did this myself and the new hub quickly started doing the same thing as the old one! I took the new Valuecraft hub back to Autozone and paid $30 more for a Timkin hub and all lights are off and have stayed off ever since. If you are someone who changes your own brakes, this is an easy repair.

The car has over 110k, so I know things will break. However, one of front springs just broke and that's something I let the dealer fix (which cost me dearly). In speaking with friends and coworkers, everyone has car problems and new 'model year' vehicles seem to be more likely to have problems.

All in all, I would rather drive my Alero with three wheels than drive a foreign car.

Hmm! This is strange! My boss's 2003 alero has the ABS/Trac/service vehicle soon lights on intermitintally. She took it into the dealer today and they said its her left front wheel bearing. only 50,000 miles on her car!! This makes no sense. GM makes great cars and products. I myself own an 89 cav z24 and an 02 z24. I do agree GM has some issues with the wheel bearings, but that doesn't make them a bad company. You need to do research before you buy a car for these exact reasons! So don't jump the gun and think GM products are all like this, when in fact they are not.

Any buy an import if you want, its only YOUR country that you are hurting.

"Any buy an import if you want, its only YOUR country that you are hurting."

That is without a doubt the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life.

People don't buy Ford or GM because of their horrible quality and reliability that is nearly non existent.

And besides what is better? A Japanese car made in America (Camry, Civic) or an American car made in MEXICO (Fusion, Contour, Avalanche)?

I bought a 2000 alero 3 days ago and just had to call the dealership because the lifters are knocking. They are gonna put a new motor in it and I have to drive it like that until then. I love the car, but I am already having problems with it and it has only been three days. The car only has 57,000 miles on it.

Wow, I was checking for my friend he has a 2000 Alero with 130,000 and he is on his second set of bearing. Man this sucks hearing all of this I love GM I always had good cars from them I am shocked to hear this.

As a former employee in a "big three" dealership and an owner and driver of many of all three company's products (as well as Mazda), I am extremely disappointed in the Olds Alero. I bought the top model GLS sedan new in 2000 for my wife and have meticulously maintained it with GM only parts and expensive synthetic lubricants. The car now has 80,000km, has exhibited tire to alloy wheel noise (Goodyear RSA tires are the problem) from sidewall flexing early in the second year, brake pulsation from warped rotors, the heater motor speed resistor corroded from water leakage and some blower speeds were lost (it's located high up and behind glove box), now wheel bearing failures (warning lights for traction control, ABS and service engine soon all come on). Olds Division was killed by GM and this car must have been one of the main reasons why. Pity such poor quality is one of the reasons GM is losing market share in droves. S. Brear

I own a 2002 Alero and am having a very frustrating problem with it.

It runs well and usually starts fine. Lately it will (usually at the most inconvenient time) refuse to start. It sounds like it wants to, but it just won't.

I have it towed to the repair shop, but when it gets there it starts right up just fine. Then it runs and starts great for a while. Then the problem repeats itself.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you repair it?

The the commenter above: I believe what you are experiencing can be cured by turning the key into the ON position and wait 3 seconds before starting. The false starting has something to do with the anti-theft system in your car called PASSLOCK, I believe. Just give the computer a second and it should fire up fine. Besides, It's always better to wait just a couple of seconds before you actually turn the key to the start position. It allows the fuel pump to prime and the computer a chance to run some diagnostics.

I have a 2001 Alero with the same types of problems.

-Bearings keep going...

-Manifold Gasket leak at 50K ($1400 repair) GM would not back me up on this.

-Puddle in rear floor when it rains

-bad rotors

-Shocks, Strut rattles.

I've seen them all.

Will not buy another GM. Have bought 2 new vehicles since and they have NOT been GM. They deserve what they get. (plant closures, lost market share, etc...)

I own a 2002 Alero, bought used with 44000 miles about a year ago. Now has 68000 miles. The only problem I did have with it was the turn signals work intermittently (which I found out is a problem in many models and has been recalled in previous model years). At about 60000 miles, everything has started to go wrong.

-New right front wheel bearing.

-Brand new front brakes and rotors, started making noise again less than six weeks later.

-Service Vehicle/ABS/Trac Off lights were coming on once in a while, but are now on constantly. I was told this was the wheel bearing, but got it fixed and they stay on. Still have to take it to get a diagnostic check done on it.

-Just today my service engine light came on and I think it is my catalytic converter!

-the suspension is horrible and is constantly making noises and creaks.

I bought this car thinking it was going to be a good investment, was very excited because I was able to pay for it all at once and figured I'd finally have a car that wasn't a money pit, but boy was I wrong. While this car is sporty and nice looking, in my experience it has been a piece of crap and I am not looking forward to taking it in this coming week to get this service engine problem looked at.

I have a 2002 Alero coupe, and reside in Canada. Started leasing at 40k and now we're at 60k. This past winter, the motors for both electric windows broke, and since winter just ended, I'm only fixing them now. I have the top Optimum warranty, which apparently covers the problem, but they are having me pay 70.00 for some frame to hold the windows... does this make sense? When I brought it in they said "anything, but the glass is covered" and now this.

My brakes rumble like crazy on the highway. They just told me the back pads and rotors are shot, and have to be replaced. GM quoted me around 500.00 for both, is this normal?

Thanks.

May 2006...I wish I read this site a long time go.. I bought my 2001 Alero with 20,000 NOT knowing it was from Canada until lights came on and didn't know what they meant. I now have 110,000 and have spent thousands of dollars for lites coming on, tune ups, brakes, leaks in EVP system and now PASS LOCK sensor that left me calling AAA once again this past Friday... Heaven help me... I have always been a CHEVY girl... made a huge mistake in buying OLDS... won't happen again.. thanks for the chance to VENT today... I am soo frustrated...

I just bought a 2002 Alero today. I went in looking at several different makes of vehicles, but this seemed to be the best deal at the time (he was a good salesman!). I am only now looking at these comments and I am wondering what I've gotten myself into. I should have done my research beforehand!!

I have a 2001 3.4 v6 alero, I love this car. performs very well. I haven't had a lot of problems... yet.

I'm at 80,000km and now ABS, no trac, and service vehicle soon light are coming on every once and a while. They started coming on 1 month after putting rear pads and rotors on. The lights haven't come on for about 3 days now. I'm going to wait until they come on and take it to the shop and see exactly what needs to be fixed (Hub, bearing, or ABS sensor). I also used to have squealing when turning. the mechanic cleaned behind tires and noise stopped. slowly coming back.

Other than that I've only replaced rotors and pads once, replaced power steering pump for turning to sharply (my fault), and replaced passenger door handle (door frozen and pulled to hard). Thanks for everyones comments. Very helpful, I'm not alone.

I just bought a 2002 Alero GLS. These comments are scaring the crap out of me! I wish I had read this all before, but Im hoping for the best!