2002 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
166 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 153 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 166 complaints (38.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 127 | 76.5% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 64 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 36 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Parking Brake | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
Service Brakes: 64; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 36; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Parking Brake: 8; Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 5; Steering: 5; Suspension: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 19
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2003: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 8; 2007: 11; 2008: 17; 2009: 5; 2010: 20; 2011: 13; 2012: 19; 2013: 21; 2014: 10; 2015: 17; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 127 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008146 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
REAR BRAKE FULID AND EMERGENCY LINE IS EXPOSED AND EASILY DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND/OR RUBBLE. 2WD C1500 TRUCKS HAVE BRAKE LINES AND CABLES DROOPING DOWN BEYOND BELOW REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND ARE EASILY SNAGGED BY ROAD TRASH.*JB CAUSING LOSS OF FULID AND BRAKING ABILITY.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150360 · 2006-02-15 (February 15, 2006)
THE 2002 WAS IN NEED OF FRONT HUBS SINCE THEY WERE NOT REPLACED WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE TIME THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS REBUILT. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO HAVE EXCESSIVE FRONT WHEEL FRICTION, AND COMPROMISED THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SNOW, AND THE FRONT WHEEL FRICTION WOULD VARY BASED ON CHANGES IN SPEED, ROAD CONTOUR, TEMPERATURE, STEERING INPUT, THROTTLE INPUT, AND BRAKE INPUT. WHILE BRAKING THE TRUCK WOULD OFTEN PITCH SEVERELY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, THE ABS WOULD ACTIVAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165236 · 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. FIRST REPAIRED ON 11-13-03. HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP BEING FIXED AGAIN ON 8-11-06. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR, THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN LUBRICATED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10165236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116116 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
ON DEC 8, 2003 I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECOUNDS IT SHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR, ALL ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS A CAR TRAVELING BEHIND THAT ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I PULLED OVER AND PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK TO SEE IF ANY THING HAD COME APART. I DID NOT SEE ANY FLUID LEAK OR ANY LOOSE PARTS. I DROVE MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN LOW GEAR. THEY TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR REPAIRS (38,127 MILES). I WAS 2,127 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,579 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184539 · 2007-03-08 (March 8, 2007)
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 2WD 4DR EXT CAB W/ AUTOMATIC TRANS. DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRICTION LININGS DUE TO DEFECT IN RELEASE MECHANISM. HAVE 50K MILES ON VEHICLE & EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES HAVE WORN INTO ROTORS. THE LACK OF A WORKING PARKING BRAKE HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN PARK WHEN ON AN INCLINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS. REFERENCE NHTSA #PE03057, #EA04011.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326514 · 2010-04-19 (April 19, 2010)
1. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS 3-5 MPH. 2. ALWAYS THE FIRST TIME APPLIED WHEN COLD AFTER THAT AT VARIOUS TIMES 3. THIS IS THE SAME CONDITIONS AS NHTSA 05V379000 OR GM 05068 WHICH STARTED IN 2005. THE TRUCK WAS LOOKED AT THEN WHEN THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BUT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING NOW GM SAYS THAT IT IS ONLY A ONE TIME RECALL. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE TRUCK AND SAID THE HUB WAS WORN AND NEEDED REPLACED FOR $500 PER SIDE. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE REP IF THE BEARING WAS WORN HE SAID NO. I THEN ASKED WHAT WAS WORN SINCE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340258 · 2010-06-27 (June 27, 2010)
I HAVE A 2002 GMC SIERRA Z71 4X4 TRUCK, REGULAR CAB WITH AN 8 FOOT BED. IT HAS 75000 MILES. THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS BOTH OF THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK OPEN A LITTLE AFTER YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND GET IN. NOW WHEN YOU PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR, OR START MOVING THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. WHEN YOU STOP AND PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. NOW SINCE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS STUCK SLIGHTLY OPEN THE DOOR WON'T UNLOCK OR OPEN WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE, YOU HAVE TO REACH OUTSIDE PUSH THE HANDLE IN THEN YOU CAN U…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552919 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)
WHILE TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT THE BRAKES ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGED. I WAS PULLING FORWARD TO BACK INTO A STALL. THERE WAS A PERSON WALKING DOWN THE PARKING LOT SOME DISTANCE IN FRONT OF ME. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP GOING FORWARD AND START TO BACK THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED AND I COULD NOT STOP. THE GENTLEMAN IN FRONT OF ME THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT HIM, AND QUITE FRANKLY I THOUGHT THAT I WAS ALSO. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY, THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 62 DEGREES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 208,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524453 · 2013-07-11 (July 11, 2013)
THERE WAS ALMOST A CRASH! A CAR, FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, STARTED TO PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME AT AN INTERSECTION. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND FELT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ABS ACTIVATING. FORTUNATELY THE CAR STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND THE CAR AND I AVOIDED A COLLISION. IT WAS CLOSE! A 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TURN LEFT INTO MY DESTINATION AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WE INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE REAR AXLE. WE LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524453 at NHTSA ↗