OLDSMOBILE AURORA · model year

2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA

38 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002OLDSMOBILEAURORA carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 AURORA is suspension with 4 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (3) and electrical system (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 2002 AURORA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

38
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

38 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
STEERING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT1
STEERING:RACK AND PINION1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1

Recalls (2)

02V22200009/08/2002

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

03V23800001/07/2003

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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

Recent Complaints

20241020STRUCTURE:BODY

The Frame has rust under door panel broke Car Frame body near battery cave in hole and rusting hole in trunk near spare tire.

20241020UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Frame has rust under door panel broke Car Frame body near battery cave in hole and rusting hole in trunk near spare tire.

20221030SUSPENSION

I am adding new parts to this vehicle 100 000 tune up

20221030STEERING

I am adding new parts to this vehicle 100 000 tune up

20140718ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2002 AURORA V6, RPM STARTED ACTING HAYWIRE IT SHOT UP TO 8 GRAND AT 30 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ACTING NORMAL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATTER THEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP. I HAD THE TRANS VACUUM SENSOR CHANGED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS DID THE TRICK FOR 24 HOURS. NOT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG OR HOW TO FIX IT. CAN SOMEONE HELP WITH THIS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140718ENGINE

MY 2002 AURORA V6, RPM STARTED ACTING HAYWIRE IT SHOT UP TO 8 GRAND AT 30 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ACTING NORMAL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATTER THEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP. I HAD THE TRANS VACUUM SENSOR CHANGED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS DID THE TRICK FOR 24 HOURS. NOT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG OR HOW TO FIX IT. CAN SOMEONE HELP WITH THIS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140718POWER TRAIN

MY 2002 AURORA V6, RPM STARTED ACTING HAYWIRE IT SHOT UP TO 8 GRAND AT 30 MPH. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ACTING NORMAL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATTER THEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP. I HAD THE TRANS VACUUM SENSOR CHANGED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS DID THE TRICK FOR 24 HOURS. NOT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG OR HOW TO FIX IT. CAN SOMEONE HELP WITH THIS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20120201FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK WHILE REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,473 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,673. UPDATED 03/15/12 *BF UPDATED 03/23/12

Mileage: 147,473

20120201FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK WHILE REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,473 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,673. UPDATED 03/15/12 *BF UPDATED 03/23/12

Mileage: 147,473

20100601SUSPENSION:FRONT

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. *TR

Mileage: 361,000

20100428STEERING

MY 2002 AURORA 4.0L SUDDENLY LOCKED IN THE LEFT TURN STEERING MODE. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS MAKING A TURN ON THE AISLE. AFTER THE TURN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND AVOIDED HITTING THE ONCOMING CAR (THE OTHER DRIVER DID THE SAME). I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CONFIRMED THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS TURNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PUMP RESERVOIR WAS FULL. BY WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THE STEERING RESUMED TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. THIS IS SCARY. IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY ON MY WIFE'S 2008 ENCLAVE. GM REPLACED LOTS OF PARTS BEFORE IT STARTED STEERING AGAIN. IS THIS A GM ISSUE? *TR

Mileage: 54,783

20090127STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE A 2002 OLDS AURORA THAT TODAY HAS WATER STANDING IN THE BACK PASSENGER FLOORBOARD FOR THE TENTH OR TWELFTH TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MUCH THAT I HAVE LOST TRACK OF HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS IN FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WIDOW SEAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN AND THEN RUNS DOWN TO THE MOLDING AT DOOR OPENING AT THE FLOORBOARD. FROM THERE IT THEN RUNS DIAGONALLY BACK TOWARD THE BACK PASSENGER FLOORBOARD ALONG THE MOLDING AND POOLS UP. LIKE THIS MORNING, THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIMES THAT TWO INCHES OF WATER IS PRESENT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MILDEW OR ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE PRESENT OR MAY SHOW UP AS A RESULT OF THIS CONTINUAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLUE ON HOW TO FIX THIS, ORIGINALLY THEY KEPT REPLACING THE DOOR SEAL ON THE BACK DOOR. NOW FOR SOME TIME THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAL ON THE FRONT DOOR OR FRONT WINDOW. BUT THE LEAK CONTINUES. I UNDERSTAND THAT

20090127STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 2002 OLDS AURORA THAT TODAY HAS WATER STANDING IN THE BACK PASSENGER FLOORBOARD FOR THE TENTH OR TWELFTH TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MUCH THAT I HAVE LOST TRACK OF HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS IN FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WIDOW SEAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN AND THEN RUNS DOWN TO THE MOLDING AT DOOR OPENING AT THE FLOORBOARD. FROM THERE IT THEN RUNS DIAGONALLY BACK TOWARD THE BACK PASSENGER FLOORBOARD ALONG THE MOLDING AND POOLS UP. LIKE THIS MORNING, THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIMES THAT TWO INCHES OF WATER IS PRESENT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MILDEW OR ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE PRESENT OR MAY SHOW UP AS A RESULT OF THIS CONTINUAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLUE ON HOW TO FIX THIS, ORIGINALLY THEY KEPT REPLACING THE DOOR SEAL ON THE BACK DOOR. NOW FOR SOME TIME THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAL ON THE FRONT DOOR OR FRONT WINDOW. BUT THE LEAK CONTINUES. I UNDERSTAND THAT

20080221FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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, JUST NOT ON THE MY MAKE OF VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

20080221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 BOUGHT IT. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR STATED UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

20080221EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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 BOUGHT IT. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR STATED UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

20080107WHEELS

FACTORY SUPPLIED WHEELS RUST CAUSING AIR LOSS. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

20070507STEERING:COLUMN

THERE IS A CLUNG/NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DURING TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT CAN ALSO BE FELT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. A REQUEST WAS SENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT GM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PAYMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB) ISSUED BASED ON CUSTOMERS PROBLEMS. A PAYMENT OF AT LEAST 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIRS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TENDERED BY GM. *AK

Mileage: 34,300

20070128FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

20060726STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

DT*: 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 LATER.

Mileage: 36,282

Compare 2002OLDSMOBILEAURORA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA have?
The 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA has 38 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA?
Yes, the 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA?
The most-complained component for the 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA is SUSPENSION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.