The 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora has 2 safety recalls and 25 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (6 complaints).
Problem: 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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal
NHTSA recall 02V222000 · Aug 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles
Problem: 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.
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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2002 Oldsmobile Aurora 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Aurora
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Aurora
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Suspension Front › Macpherson strut; Front
6
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood; Alternator/generator/regulator
5
1
0
0
61,000 mi
Steering Rack and pinion; Gear box › Shaft sector
5
0
0
0
35,291 mi
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly
4
0
0
0
110,236 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights
3
0
0
0
26,750 mi
Structure Body
3
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt; Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
2
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
2
0
0
0
—
Visibility Windshield; Power window devices and controls
2
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission
2
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, other Delivery › Fuel pump
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 17, 2024Structure › 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.
Sep 1, 2022Suspension I am adding new parts to this vehicle 100 000 tune up
Feb 7, 2014 · 120,000 milesElectrical 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
Jan 1, 2012 · 147,473 milesFuel 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
May 7, 2010 · 361,000 milesSuspension › 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
Apr 28, 2010 · 54,783 milesSteering 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.…
Jan 27, 2009Structure › 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…
Jan 28, 2007 · 61,000 milesElectrical 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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
