2002 Oldsmobile Alero: won't start

Filed Aug 17, 2026 · Engine · WY

2002 oldsmobile alero was driving on interstate and very low on fuel when i exited the interstate at the street light it turned green and as i was accelerating my car stalled out and since then ive pur 2 gallons of fuel in it and now it cranks but wont start up and now it back fires when trying to start it and my security light is off and I'm getting fuel pressure in the front rail and I got spark and yea my fuel pump is humming.

Filed Oct 14, 2017 · Driver assistance, Engine · 260,000 miles · KY

It just started after the security got lock and had to be over drive. When you drive you can feel the car idle bad when you have to stop for a light or stop sign or if you have to stop to turn and you get below 1 mga turns off. Yesterday it did this and turn off and all it would do is just turns but doesn't start. In the middle of the road. It sounds to me like it's not get fuel or air where it needs to be. You can drive the speed limit and watch the mga, I think, 1,2,3, ildel down a little. Started end of sept or no troubler

Filed Apr 30, 2017 · Electrical, Transmission · 113,000 miles · TN

Alero cuts off while driving and won't start back for hours. Dealership and mechanics can't find out why this is occurring. Extremely dangerous, the car randomly cuts off without warning. I have searched online and found this forum where others have encountered the very same issue: http://www.carcomplaints.com/oldsmobile/alero/2000/engine/engine_cuts_off_while_driving.shtml.

Filed Mar 14, 2016 · NY

"electrical system recall" my car is not registered with the recall but I am having the same issues with my cars starter as my brother did with his 2002 malibu that has this recall and he got his fixed and it fixed the problem. My car does not start half the time when I try to start it.

Filed Oct 7, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MO

When u shut your car off and try to restart won't start and security lights come on then u turn key off and on and wait 10 min to restart .general motors knows about problem. Has been seen by chevy dealer and hasn't been able to fix. This problems happens on regular bases.

Filed Oct 1, 2015 · Electrical · 140,000 miles · NY

I have a 2002 oldsmobile alero which throughout the years has not started when you put the key in the ignition and turn. Numerous times I've had my car towed to a mechanic only to have it start once it gets dropped off... Hence they were never able to diagnose the issue. On september 24, 2015 again my car just didn't start. Lights, blinkers,horn all worked but it would not turn on. Finally had a mechanic come to my house and do a diagnostic which read security system lockdown. I went online and this apparently is an ongoing issue with this particular make and model. Hundreds of complaint are listed with the exact problem. Oldsmobile refuses to do a recall. I am a senior citizen on a fixed income. To fix this issue my mechanic wants $650.00. I feel because this has been an issue that has been reported repeatedly with thousands of complaints oldsmobile should be responsible to reimburse me.

Filed Jan 30, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 86,000 miles · KY

These cars are nightmares. I replaced the intake manifold gasket (extremely common issue, well documented online), the oil pressure sensor broke off the engine and leaked all of oil out, replaced the thermostat, learned how to deal with a constantly defective security system (passlock defect causes a no start, extremely common and well documented online), and now the car will crank but not fire (also extremely common, but due to the nature of the problem, the online resources can only provide one of a hundred different places to start attempting to diagnose). A no start should not require a mechanic to throw a full battery of tests at the car. There is no way this car should have been legal to sell, it is a money pit and a hazard to anybody around them. Systems are constantly failing, the car allows water to reach the fuse panels and corrode them, creating the potential for an electrical fire or failure of crucial driving/safety systems. The car has trouble starting if the ambient temperature is at or above 80 degrees. And I have experienced all of this in roughly a years time since I bought the car with relatively low mileage (~70k).

Filed Dec 29, 2014 · Electrical · 71,600 miles · ME

My first problem was with the security system .the car would not start. Learned through the internet how to reset system, for my used car not having an owners manual. The next problem was my blinkers not working, be it intermittently. I've seen all the posts on these conditions and I am appalled that these concerns haven't been addressed. Shame on these money grabbers. We pay enough for vehicles ...the manufacturer's must be held accountable. Fix our vehicles.

Filed Oct 14, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 1,200 miles · WA

Blinkers work sometimes and sometimes not.. Most of the time they will work if you press the hazard lights if they work.. And keep playing with the blinkers eventually they turn signal will turn on.. Extremely frustrating!! Now I see.. Some have been recalled..my make and model haven't???? Its the exact same problem!! I have this well documented as I bought this car new. Gm had no problems taking my money for their car, now will not stand behind their product, go figure!!! I've had the 10 min reset going on now with the engine for about 3 yrs again extremely frustrating!!! But this time..my car died on the street in traffic and would not start would crank over but did not re- start and will not! This car has 117000 miles on it and is in perfect shape I have to take care of the things I own!!! How about gm giving me my money back, or at the very least fixing the safety features of this car???? God forbid someone dies and now, seeing all the complaints on line...I know gm has known about this issue for many yrs and will do nothing till some lawyers go after them and each of the people who trusted you get zip or 2.00 each.. This is wrong!!!!!! I hope you have the moral integrity to do the right thing and sooner rather than later!!!!

Filed Sep 21, 2014 · Electrical · 185,000 miles · MN

I was driving down a country road at 45 MPH and my car shut off. I pulled over to the side of the road and then the car started up. This happened again, a couple days later, when I was driving down a city street at 30 MPH. A couple days after this incident, the car shut down three times as I was driving out of a parking lot. I took the car to the mechanic (6/4/2014), they replaced the cam shaft sensor. ($395.58). A couple days later, the car was in the parking lot and would not start. It cranked over, but wouldn't start. I had it towed to the mechanic (6/13/2024), this time the mechanic replaced the ignition starter switch ($289.62). A month later, the car was sitting in the parking lot and again would not start. It was towed and the mechanic (8/25/2014) and the mechanic replaced the crankshaft position sensor ($194.09.) now I am crossing my fingers that this does not happen again. Look at the website car complaints.com and you will see numerous postings from people experiencing the same problems. The first incidents of the car shutting down while I was driving could have resulted in an accident. The recent incidents are inconvenient. Gm needs to be held accountable for these issues. It appears from other users that as the car gets older with more miles, these electrical/sensor issues are becoming more prevalent.

Filed Aug 28, 2014 · Electrical · 100,200 miles · OH

Known problem with anti theft system car wont start, safety system wont allow, repairs can be maid at dealer for 500. No long term fix. Online people say had repair to have problem happen over and over, dealer recharges for repair each time knowing its a defect in anti theft. Car will strand u cause gm refuses to recall defected system parts.

Filed Aug 23, 2014 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · AL

I have had the same problem for a while! About 3 months ago I get in my car to go to school and work and guess what the car would not start and I waited and it still did not start. I called the towing company and they took it to the mechanic and it started 10 times and they could not find anything wrong. So for the last 2 months it has drove fine. Well last monday morning it did it again would not start so I had to miss work and call a tow truck and took it to the dealership and the car would turn over but not start. I just paid 430.00 to put a cam sensor in and now it seems to be running. I put a new anti theft lock system in around 2011. I see my car is one that is in a recall and I hope they can get this fixed.