2002 Oldsmobile Alero Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero, 48% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 89,092 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (14% of reports).
- 133electrical system complaints
- 89,092median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $780typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 19 of 133 complaints (14%)
- Turn signals: mentioned in 10 of 133 complaints (8%)
- Start security: mentioned in 7 of 133 complaints (5%)
- Anti theft: mentioned in 7 of 133 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero at $780, and half of them between $580 and $1,050.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 88 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 133 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 1 an injury.
Oldsmobile Alero electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Alero | 57 | 52% | 97,000 |
| 2003 Alero | 103 | 56% | 84,764 |
| 2002 Alero | 133 | 48% | 89,092 |
| 2001 Alero | 130 | 36% | 86,250 |
| 2000 Alero | 89 | 16% | 79,308 |
| 1999 Alero | 89 | 19% | 91,300 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: 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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
2002 olds alero,present mileage@5/17/20-187,037. Where do i start? Okay,the trunk has started to arbitrarily decide to pop open...apparently during rain/thunderstorms...i wonder if this has anything to do with the door locks recently deciding to not lock the passenger side when using switch on…
"takata recall" i own a 2002 oldsmobile alero and my blinkers only work maybe 2 time a month when i use my turning signals in either direction i just hear a buzzing sound sometimes it is only in one direction and sometimes there is no sound and no blinker at all. Now my gas gauge says empty and i…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Oldsmobile Aleros have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 133 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero (48% of the 279 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 89,092 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero?
Owners report a typical cost of $780 (half paid between $580 and $1,050), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 19 of 133 complaints, followed by “turn signals” (10).
Other 2002 Oldsmobile Alero problems
See all 2002 Oldsmobile Alero problems or electrical system problems across all Alero years.