2002 Oldsmobile Alero: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 2, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 157,000 miles · TN

Just a couple of days after the purchase of the vehicle the brakes were making a bad scrubbing noise, and I had no turn signal at all I noticed a clicking sound coming from the hazard warning light .during the clicking sound the turn signal would work at times and I would smell something like a burning smell. While the car was park and no one around it the lights would come on inside and out by their self and this causes my battery to go dead and I have to boost it off. I have contacted the car dealer that I purchased it from and they were very rude and hateful and told me it was my problem and that there is nothing they can do about it. That they sold it to me at a good deal and they could not help me.

Filed Nov 29, 2011 · Electrical · 124,000 miles · NC · fire

Was driving slowly in heavy traffic. Weather: approximately 50 degrees and raining. I have the heat and defrost (including rear window) on. I hear a pop from the back and I think someone has just lightly rear-ended me. I look over my shoulder and the rear passenger seat, at approximately the right-hand shoulder is on fire. I pulled-over, turned-off the car, and tried to dowse the flames to no avail. All I could do was watch it burn until the fire department showed-up about 10 minutes later. Fire department agreed likely cause was rear defroster short-circuit. Rear seat and rear window destroyed. Water and smoke damage. Car is likely totaled due to age (11 years) and miles (124k).

Filed Apr 9, 2011 · Engine · 122,000 miles · CA · fire

I was on my way to work on 3/13/11 driving my 2002 oldsmobile alero, and my car started filling up with black smoke. I immediately pulled over and got out of my car, I suddenly saw flames inside of my vehicle . I called the fire department and by the time they put out the fire my car was totaled.

Filed Nov 22, 2005 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · MI

There are several defects with this vehicle. The first started in 2004. The windshield wipers do not work, will not shut off, or start again while in the off position and stop in the middle of the windshield. This creates a hazard while driving, especially at high speeds on the highway - startles you, then blocks vision. Next, the security feature is malfunctioning. Sometimes the vehicle will not start, security light flashes and problem is fixed with leaving the car in the on position for 10 to 20 minutes (resets the security). This drains the battery and is a major inconvenience. Also, the turn signals have now begun to work only intermittently. This is dangerous obviously. The window controls sometimes don't work, the side-mirror controls also do not work sometimes. The heat/AC controls do not work properly - most of the positions do not blow. You can hear the muffled sound of the air when on high, but air does not come out of the vents. These are the combination settings, the individual settings work, so it cannot be clogged vents. Lastly, the rear defrost recently stopped working and, when turned on, emits a burning smell. This car is an accident waiting to happen and driven daily out of necessity.

Filed Jun 14, 2005 · Electrical · 63,480 miles · OH · fire

On may 26th, 2005 I started my 2002 oldsmobile alero and turned on my rear defroster. After about 3 minutes of driving down the road there was an "explosion" in the rear of my car. The rear defroster heating mechanism that hooks up to the rear window exploded and caught fire to the entire rear of my car. The vehicle was not able to be repaired due to the cost, my insurance company totaled my car. My car has never been in an accident and no major work has ever been performed. Gm will not get involved due to the fact that luckily no one was injured.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Electrical · OH · fire

Consumer states that vehicle was shut off and it caught on fire. Dealer notified.