2002 Oldsmobile Alero GL 3.6

Summary:

A good deal with a good price

Faults:

The only problems I had with the car have been routine issues. When I first bought it, one key-less remote had to be reprogrammed. Techs had problem getting to access program, but this lasted ten minutes.

Only other thing was replaced the brake pads at 45000 miles. Quite standard.

General Comments:

I don't like the speed control set at 106. Back seat is rather small.

Otherwise, the suspension and engine make for a very nice & sporty ride. First gear has excellent pickup and speed. Stereo system is awesome stock. All the creature comforts of a car that I expect.

Price is high for new, so buy used with 15-20k miles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th January, 2004

2002 Oldsmobile Alero

Summary:

The 2002 Alero is a series of factory defects in workmanship and materials and should be recalled

Faults:

A week after the 36,000 mile bumper to bumper was past, the dash and three door pads came unglued and have buckled up like an accordion.

The dealer and GM both refused to fix it since it had turned just over 36,000 miles. The extended warranty will not cover it. This factory defect has depreciated my 2002 until it has no resale or trade-in value.

Just as it turned 37,000 the fuse blew to the tail and dash lights. It has been in the shop several times, and they can't find what is causing the short that keeps blowing the fuse to the tail and dash lights.

I can no longer drive the 2002 Alero after dark because even if I put in a new fuse, it will only blow again and leave me with no tail and dash lights.

It is going in the shop yet again, to try to trace down where the short is in the electrical system that keeps blowing the fuse to the tail and dash lights.

General Comments:

Not only is my 2002 falling apart before my eyes in the inside, it is also very dangerous to drive.

I have an extended warranty, but it does not cover the things that Alero owners complain that go wrong the most.

I have owned many vehicles before, but this is by far the worst that I have ever owned. I will never buy another GM product again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 5th January, 2004

29th Apr 2007, 10:05

I have had a 2002 Alero for 2.5 years and it has been a terrible car. Within the first year of having it the motor blew in it, not long after that I had to replace struts, brake pads etc. when it was only a year old. I hate this car and was so glad to get rid of it.

14th Aug 2007, 22:21

This car is a piece of junk. I recently got into an accident with it and I'm not to sorry to see it go. The brakes were ALWAYS a problem, continually getting them fixed whether the car was used heavily or barely. I got the brakes fixed before I went to school and after one drive to school (about 150 miles) the pads were so worn that it cut the rotor.

The steering wheel shakes vigorously every time I apply the brakes. I thought it was a problem unique to my car, but I see that it is common.

The car shuts off on its own while still in motion. Can you imagine my horror when my car decided to just shut off while on the interstate???

28th Feb 2008, 06:14

Ah yes that was something I forgot in my last comment, my car also stopped on the highway, the security light came on, something buzzzed for a minute. Also nice that I was going into a turn at about 80km when this happened. About 3 inches from causing a major accident.

2002 Oldsmobile Alero GLS 3.4 Litre

Summary:

A Total Waste of Money!

Faults:

Loud front brakes at 5,000 km.

Fuel system related problem at 7,000 km.

Intermittent check engine light, dealer can't find problem.

Fuel pump packed it in at 8,000 km.

Front rotors turned at 10,000 km.

Fuel pump packed it in at 30,000 km.

Needed new front brakes at 30,000 km.

Now at 40,000 km I have a major problem with the engine or transmission. Dealer has had my car for a total of 11 days on 3 different occasions trying to find the problem and have come up with nothing. At times my car loses power and won't go over 50mph and the power with surge up and down. Dealer basically has said sorry don't no what the problem is.

General Comments:

My car had to be towed into Dealership three times in its first year.

The brakes are an ongoing issue and I can see are going to become very costly.

The problem with engine that dealer can't find is a major safety issue. I have lost power a couple times in situations where this put me and my family at risk. All the dealer says is there is no codes coming up in the computer and they have a real poor attitude towards it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th August, 2003

9th Feb 2005, 09:04

I just wanted to perhaps make a suggestion that might help you in solving your lost power problem. My mother once owned an Oldsmobile and my father is a mechanic. They are not on speaking terms, however my father did comment that it could be a vacuum problem. The car was continuously revving itself and losing power. Sure enough it was just a leak in the vacuum hose. We had the air conditioning disconnected, the whole car practically torn apart and it was something very minor. Just a suggestion.

5th Mar 2005, 10:49

My olds dealer put a "black box" in my 2001 Alero to help ID the cause of stalling and let us drive it around town. When the car would stall, we pushed a button and the error codes were recorded for future review. They immediately pinpointed the problem, which was the ignition switch. No other problems, knock on wood...