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2002 Oldsmobile Aurora Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora, most often about the suspension (24% of complaints). It is the 2nd most complained-about Aurora model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.

Complaints25
Recalls2
Crashes reported1
Fires reported0
Injuries reported0

Most common 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora problems

  1. Suspension

    6 complaints · 24%

    Parts named most often: front.

    Clunking noise in front end/undercarraige, on turns or bumps, can be felt in steering, since 15000 miles (noticed sometime after imploded gas tank replacement). Four dealers worked on at least 10 times - replaced steering gear, lubed intermediate shaft, replaced strut bearings, replaced intermediate shaft, replaced…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 26,750 miles
    Broken/snapped sway bar link, left side front. Car swerved to the left, no accident upon snap. Upon investigation/replacement the bolt was rusted through at mid point and snapped. I saved the broken part, if it is needed.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 361,000 miles

  2. Electrical

    5 complaints · 20%

    Parts named most often: wiring, alternator/generator/regulator.

    1. Driving to work in the morning with the headlights on 2. Alternator amps charging from 13.2 - 15.7 amps, headlights and instrument lights will flicker when this is happening. 3. Replaced generator, 1 10464442 w-gen rem part number 10464442 this was done on may 9, 2003. Service manager said it was because of an air…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 23,280 miles
    I notice when I am driving that the head lights will flicker every once in awhile. I also had the dash lights go out on me in the middle of the night, this would be the second time this part had been fixed. A few months later the heating component went out. I have had nothing but trouble with this vehicle since I…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 61,000 miles

  3. Steering

    5 complaints · 20%

    Parts named most often: rack and pinion, gear box, column.

    Clunking noise in front end/undercarraige, on turns or bumps, can be felt in steering, since 15000 miles (noticed sometime after imploded gas tank replacement). Four dealers worked on at least 10 times - replaced steering gear, lubed intermediate shaft, replaced strut bearings, replaced intermediate shaft, replaced…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 26,750 miles
    : the contact stated that every 1500 miles, the steering wheel made a popping and cracking noise. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the steering sector shaft was lubricated, however the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the problem. The repair worked intermittently, but then had to be redone…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2006, at 36,282 miles

  4. Fuel system

    4 complaints · 16%

    Parts named most often: storage, delivery.

    I have a 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora with a v6 engine that has the same system as the v8. The fuel tank pressure sensors are unusually susceptible to malfunctions.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2007, at 50,000 miles
    The vehicle would not start properly. So I took my Aurora in to have it serviced and found out it was the fuel tank pressure sensor, which then I was told this defective part could have caused a fire. This sounds like a very unsafe part and I looked the part up and found out that it had been recalled at one point…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 73,000 miles

  5. Wheels and tires

    3 complaints · 12%

    Parts named most often: tread/belt, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.

  6. Lights

    3 complaints · 12%

    Parts named most often: headlights.

    Headlights flicker in cold weather about once every 10 seconds. Multiple generators have been installed on the vehicle which have not fixed this problem. I have heard that this problem is very wide spread on this vehicle type. Aurora 3.5l.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 15,000 miles
    Clunking noise in front end/undercarraige, on turns or bumps, can be felt in steering, since 15000 miles (noticed sometime after imploded gas tank replacement). Four dealers worked on at least 10 times - replaced steering gear, lubed intermediate shaft, replaced strut bearings, replaced intermediate shaft, replaced…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 26,750 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2002 Oldsmobile Aurora recalls

  1. Fuel system: tank assembly

    NHTSA 03V238000 · July 1, 2003 · 102,212 vehicles

    Risk: Fuel system components can be damaged and fuel can leak from the vehicle when it is refueled. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank pressure sensor. Owner notification began on october 17, 2003. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.

    Full defect summary

    On certain cadillac deville and seville passenger vehicles, funeral coaches, and limousines equipped with a v8 (4.6l) engine, oldsmobile aurora passenger vehicles equipped with a v8 (4.0l ) engine, and pontiac bonneville ssei passenger vehicles equipped with a supercharged v6 (3.8l) engine, the fuel tank pressure sensors are unusually susceptible to malfunctions. If the sensor malfunctions, excessive vacuum can be applied during self-diagnostic testing.

  2. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 02V222000 · August 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles

    Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.

    Full defect summary

    Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora?
By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (6 complaints); electrical (5 complaints); steering (5 complaints).
How many recalls does the 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora have?
2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 1, 2003 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2002 a bad year for the Oldsmobile Aurora?
It is the 2nd most complained-about Aurora model year since 2000, with 25 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Oldsmobile Aurora years

Oldsmobile Aurora problems by year