2002 Oldsmobile Alero GLS from North America - Comments

I own a 2002 Olds- Alero. I have had many of these problems above. My main new problem has been that my ANTI-THEFT light keeps coming on.

The security light had come on several times before- but the manual said if it turns on, pull over and turn off your car. If the light continues to come on get your car serviced. I did so and my car was fine. I noticed it would happen more often, but the light always turned off so I thought it was my car just being a pain.

I was going to the grocery store at 9 pm one evening. I got some food, came out and attempted to start my car. It would not turn on. I thought the starter went on my car. I called a tow truck and they brought it to the dealership. They looked at it- charged me $150 Can and they said that my car thought it was getting stolen. So it refuses to allow anyone to turn on the vehicle. They reset the car (as they said) and said that it should be fine. It was fine for about a month and on my way to work it did it again. I was SO ANGRY!

I called the dealership and they said that to do the following:

Put my key in the ignition, turn the key to ON leave it there. The security light at this time will continue to flash. Let it do so. It will continue to do this until your car detects it is NOT being stolen. This took about 30 minutes I had to wait. After the light stopped flashing. I took the key out, and tried to restart my car. It worked.

My car worked fine. It happened again 3 weeks later. Then it happened a month later.

IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING AGAIN! That is why I am writing this comment. Who has time to do this procedure all the time. What is going on and how can this be fixed?

I have a 2001 Olds Alero

Windshield replaced 2 times

Shift button broke 3 times

Heater fan broke 5 times

Brakes every 10,000 miles

Bearing 3 times in 80,000 miles

All known problems not recalled by the AH’s @ GM

In short my last American car! What a POS.

I just went out yesterday and finally got rid of my POS 03 Olds Alero GLS. After this one I said I would never own another North American vehicle! Bought a 2006 Nissan Altima, I know it is assembled in TN, but all the parts are Japanese made and I looked in to QC at Nissan and it is amazing. So glad to get rid of this stress. But before I hand in my lease I have to replace the wheel bearings and brakes, BIG SURPRISE!!!

I own a 03 Alero 4 cil. Quick fixes to all your problems

Problem 1- I learned to ignore the engine light and just about any light, I noticed engine light started going off and on after the car reach 15k, it seems more often when drastic change in temperature.---Solution allow few days to go off again. (Keep this in mind for state inspections)

Problem 2- Rotors/brake problems, I replaced all brakes and rotors on all wheels last year (50k). It started vibrating 3 months later. To compensate, I keep my distance and brake more carefully, you can also move to the country were driving is less stress full. I will replace them again later this year when I get ready to sell this pile of junk.

Problem 3 -The heating/AC fan, --solution I keep my window crack in winter, and fully open in summer.

Problem 4 – I learn my lesson with power windows, So this one is manual

Problem 5- water in the trunk/spring does not hold the trunk open, keep trunk open after heavy rains. Let it dry for a couple days, and carry a large metal pipe in the trunk to keep it open (also security enhancement).

Problem 6 - the acid and weight from the battery destroyed the tube for the windshield fluid. --Solution I stole the tube used from my nephews fish tank and use it to fix the stupid hose with a little duck tape. It is still working.

Problem 7 – The front bumper, the bottom part was ripping apart and hitting the from right tire. --Solution with a handsaw cut the bottom part or the whole-grill so it did stop the noise and solve future problem in left side.

Problem 8 – still have one year of payments. I'm so glad for 0% finance when I purchased.

Any one interested in purchasing a beautiful Alero 03 in July 07 contact me ;-)

secservn@optonline.net.

Yes, I have an 1999 Olds Alero, and I must say that I love the car, but since I bought it in August of 2005, I have had the ignition coils and catalytic converter replaced (700.00), 3 sets of brakes, and my check engine, brake, and service engine lights come on regularly.

My rear defrost also affects my radio and only works with the CD player on, and now every time I turn on my A/C, it causes my car to cut back as if it's going to cut off.

I'm in the market of looking for a new car, but as for the piece of crap that I'm driving, I will not recommend anyone buy an Alero. Help!!!

I too have experienced *most* of the recurring issues with my 2001 Alero as mentioned in the above pages. My biggest problem has been the Security Switch that locks down the car and prevents it from starting. Some have mentioned that if you wait "10 minutes" it will start, but not so in my case. I am mortified to say that it has happened to me FOUR Times now in the course of 2 years... each resulting in a call for towing. The first three times were in the dead of winter, once while parallel parked on a city street... another on the 8th floor of my parking garage which resulted in my having to roll the car down with the tow truck driver in order to get it to the street. Good times.

Well, it happened again this week in a pay parking lot in the heart of Chicago and it was the last straw. My 2001 Olds Alero is about to get sold and I will never by a GM product again. Period.

I bought a 2003 Olds Alero, 6 cyl in April. It has 52,000 miles on it.

Problem 1: Fit and Finish. The body lines are not symmetrical at all. The dash constantly "moves" in the heat of summer.

Problem 2: Paint peel. There is almost no clear coat left on the bumper. The hood is starting to peel, and under each door. THIS IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD! I looked at my 92 Lumina, and it looked a lot better than the Alero!

I took it to dealers and they said there was nothing they could do for me, since it doesn't qualify for rust through protection. BOGUS WARRANTY!

I will never buy GM again...

Way to screw up the American Economy.

1999 Olds Alero (Canada)

I have been driving this car for approximately 4.5 years, I bought it used and it had 112 000 kms. I too have replaced wheel bearings many times both sides and now I ignore the low trac, ABS lights because I know it is the sensor in the hub- until I hear the familiar whine of the wheel bearing I ignore the lights – if you have the connectors in the hub assembly cleaned it will eliminate the light problem. I do not care for ABS brakes so I don’t mind that they don’t work. I just came to accept that the hub assemblies would have to be replaced.

I purchase after market parts and do not use GM – they are too expensive as well my services are not done at the dealership – GM still has to honor your warranty.

My heater blower stopped working and a sensor had to be replaced (200 000 kms) The rear defrost quit and a sensor had to be replaced (160 000 kms). My gas gauge has not worked since 180 000 kms. I just fill it and drive 450 kms and fill up again.

I don’t know what it is with the gear shifter mine broke twice and I had to replace it. Replaced an oxygen sensor around 150 000 kms. The paint has stayed great – I have had rust touched up (regular maintenance at 260 000 kms.)

Front coil spring broke at 280 000 kms – put in a used from the recycler. Rear shocks are original as is the exhaust.

I have the car serviced (not by gm) regularly – oil change, plugs etc. and the motor is strong – I never have to add oil, no smoke and it always starts – it now has 310 000 kms. I love the car, it handles nicely and lots of room and I would like to buy another - I looked at a 2002 today, and I am hesitant after reading your reviews…

I have a 2002 Alero with 74000 miles. If you are even considering buying an Alero, Don't DO IT!!! My ABS/Trac/Service Vehicle lights have been on since 60k. They came on about 100 miles after the warranty ran out, funny how GM planned that one... After reading all the comments I'm assuming it's the hub assembly since I just had a wheel bearing replaced not even 10k ago, and also brakes more recently than that. The brakes are already going bad, and I do not live in the city where I have to drive it hard whatsoever. There is terrible noise while driving just sounding like something is going to bust off the car, really bad grinding/rubbing. Also when turning it makes a rubbing noise. There are SO many problems with this car and I'm a college student so I definitely do not have the cash to afford to pay all these repairs all the time. My a/c and heater blower also now only works on setting 4 and 5, and it seems that my rear defrost is broken. I'm getting ready to move from NY to GA with this car and I'm doubting the ability to even get it there without getting stuck on the side of the road somewhere.

This car is the biggest piece of crap. I had both a 93 and 96 Chevy Lumina before this, both went well into the high 100k's without nearly as many expensive problems. But I won't buy GM again, ever after this Alero. I almost traded this car two weeks ago, but decided I couldn't afford the new payments (this is paid off) but now I wish I had because anything even a ridiculous payment, would be better than this car!!!

It's a nice looking car in some ways, but it is SUCH A POS... run far far away from it before you sign on that dotted line!

I bought a 2000 Alero about six months ago. The fuel pump was broken a week after I drove off the lot. Just today the driver's window stopped working. I understand it could be the regulator which costs between $300 and $400. Is this a common problem with the Alero? Does anyone know the best place to get parts for it?

I have a 2002 Alero and I loved it at first, but not now! I had the rotors replaced at 60,000 miles. Brakes at 70,000. I currently have it in the shop to get the waterpump replaced as well.

Other little things that are wrong...

Dash board has about 10in. x 18 in. area that is totally warped and buckled. Looks so terrible.

Turn signals work only about 80% of the time. I found that if you hit the hazard button they will start to work again.

The numbers and graphics are coming off the radio, and I have to push the buttons so hard that it hurts my fingers to make them work.

There is so much road noise. I got new tires that were supposed to be the best for lowering road noise and it is still loud in the car.

Driver's side door creaks even after lubing it.

Automatic door opener has been replaced once already.

Change oil light is always on.

Low tire pressure light is always on.

Never buying an American car again!

We have a 2002 Alero, they are nice looking cars and we loved it when we first bought it. The dash board has warped and is curling back, the window on the drivers side will not work, my air conditioner only works on high speed all the other speeds are dead. At first it was only one speed gone now one by one they stopped working so I only have one left that I need to replace quickly or I will be roasted out of my car, I live in South Texas. There are so many problems with this car, too many to even mention. Just one quick tip to anyone who is thinking about buying and Alero, DON'T!!!

I bought a 2002 Olds Alero GLS with the 3.4 eng brand new. It has been a great car with 136,000 miles on it. I have had the brakes worked on twice and its on its 3rd set of tires. The car is just now starting to act up once in a while and the check engine light comes on. I think I lost a lot of miles on the engine when I mixed up the engine coolant and put in the green stuff instead of Dex-cool and caused the two fluids to gel and the engine to over heat. (Oops) Before I met my wife she also had purchased a new 2000 Alero with a 2.4. The only problems encountered were the emergency flashers went out affecting the signal lights as well. After I replaced the flasher I got the recall letter. Now Both front windows don't roll down. This car also has 140,000 miles and still running strong. We plan to operate both these cars for several more years to come. Sorry to hear so many other people have had rotten luck with their OLDS.

Well I guess everyone has had the same problems with there alero. I have a 2000 alero. the first month I had it the wheel bearings went out on it. needless to say they have been fixed 4 times since. all the sensors have been fixed at least 3 times since I had the car too. what a peice of crap...

Now for the past year my sercurity light comes on and when I turn the car off it does not start. I have to wait at least 30min for it to start again. I waste a lot of time when this happens. my macanic told me every time I try to start my car it thinks its being stolen. what a bunch of crap. they told me the could fix it, but it would cost around 700.00-800.00

dollars. also the sensors are bad again. all of my lights are on and the bearings are bad again. can't trade it the car is only worth 2000.00 if even that and I still owe 5000.00. and I'm done fixing it. its too much money out of the pocket when you need it fixed every month... Now mind ya I only had the car for about 2 years now... and owe all this money yet and fix it every month. I've put more money in it then is worth... oh yea does any one know what it is when your driving and the car acts like it bogs down or wants to stall out. I'm driving down the highway when this happens. any suggestions?... yea I have one. DON'T EVER BUY ONE THEY ARE JUNK. STAY A WAY...

Well my girlfriend had a problem like this with her grand prix awhile back and eventually it did stall, one of her engine valves went out... get a shop to check out the valves.