11 of the
407 complaints about the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero are about the
steering — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
81,000 miles.
1. Security turns on while driving, making the vehicle to spin but not drive normally on road or highway when driving 2. Horn malfunctioning, stops working when security turns on while driving 3. Seatbelt warning and airbag light flashing when security turns on while driving, seatbelt becomes locked preventing driver from being able to move to check blind spots or rear while driving 4. Emergency lights become disabled when security lights turn on Key ignition was inspected and fixed according to recall. The above are things that have been noticed by new driver/owner. Only drive when necessary to avoid traffic accidents. Do not have money to pay a dealership or GM to check problems. These problems occurred since day 1 after purchasing the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11450066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 141,111 milesSalt Lake, UT
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JERRY SEINER CHEVROLET, 1530 S 500 W, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84115) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORIGINAL KEY WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,111.
NHTSA complaint #11080966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 147 milesChicago, ILFire
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147.
NHTSA complaint #10654437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,363 milesSunbury, PA
STEERING
MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON DOWNTOWN STREET. TOW WAS NECESSARY. IGNITION SENSORY ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I RECEIVED RECALL FOR THIS TODAY GM #14350. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE DIRECTIONS IN THE CASE THAT I ALREADY MADE REPAIR. THERE ARE NO INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC RECEIPT FOR THE REPAIR. HOW DO I GET REIMBURSED. PHONE #'S ARE ALWAYS BUSY...THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING FOR INFORMATION HERE. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10633307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesAllen, TX
STEERING
THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL AND POWER COMPONENTS. NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME AND I'VE TAKEN IT IN AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10566295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Owasso, OK
STEERING
I LOVE MY CAR BUT THE THING IS A DEATH TRAP. IT SHUT OFF 15 TIMES WITHIN A MILE OF DRIVING IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC. IT HAS ALMOST ME MY LIFE SEVERAL TIMES. THE DASH CLUSTER GOES OUT SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED IM GOING OR IF THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT. GM IF YOU THINK THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM IT IS PLEASE RECALL THE CAR FIX IT AND I WILL KEEP IT TILL I NEED A BIGGER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10497824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mcarthur, OH
STEERING
THE CAR HAS BROKE DOWN AND WOULDN'T RESTART, FUEL PUMP, ECM? MODULATOR FUSES. POWERING STEERING LEAKS ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP. REAR DEFROSTER WON'T WORK. DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROLS FOR WINDOWS, LOCKS, STOPPED WORKING. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROPS DOWN AND BREAKS-REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. BELT BROKE, LOST POWER BARELY ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL THUMPS, POPS, ETC. HAD FIXED AND STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. I'VE MAINTAINED ROUTINELY, BUT IT CONTINUES TO KEEP BREAKING DOWN. THE HANDLE TO PUT IN GEAR/PARK HAS BROKE. A LOT OF PLASTIC PARTS, CLIPS ETC CRUMBLING APART, KNOBS, LIGHT SWITCHES, WINDOW TRACTS. ALL OUT OF POCKET. RECALL FOR WINDOWS, REAR DEFROST, POWER STEERING, FUEL PUMP, BELT BREAKING, FRONT HUBS/WHEELS/STEERING !!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10494745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,950 milesEllicott City, MD
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
THE STEERING WAS HARD AND HAD IT INSPECTED. THE RESULTS BEING A WORN OUT STEERING RACK THAT WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE ASE CERTIFIED MASTER MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GM VEHICLES. CARS ARE ENGINEERED PRODUCTS - THE USER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE SUCH PARTS ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE, THE CUSTOMER BUYS CARS BASED ON THE RELIABILITY OF MECHANICAL AND HYDRAULICALLY ENGINEERED COMPONENTS. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT IT IS A CONSTANT MENTAL STRESS FOR THE OWNER TO ACTUALLY 'EXPECT' KNOWN PROBLEMS THAT GM IS NOT READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE - THOUGH COMPARABLE JAPANESE AND GERMAN CARS RUN WITHOUT SUCH PROBLEMS IN THE SIMILAR COMPONENTS FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10172046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesLansing, MICrash1 injured
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY 496 FROM WAVERLY RD IN LANSING HEADED EAST MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN SHAKING TERRIBLY AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW THE VEHICLE JUST SHOT TO THE RIGHT AT INCREASED SPEED CAUSING ME TO HIT A NUMBER OF TREES BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING. MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK CAME HE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE ROD BROKE ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. THIS IS A 2002 ALERO STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED JULY 14, 2005 FOR OIL CHANGE TIRE PRESSURE CHECK AND SO FORTH.
NHTSA complaint #10129342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charleston, WV
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY.*MR THERE WERE TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM WOULD STEER LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY, STEERING ROTATION SENSOR , HUB ASSEMBLY BEARING WERE ALL REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER)
NHTSA complaint #10117693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tabernash, CO
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE SHOOK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $900.00
NHTSA complaint #10072057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.