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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Gmc SIERRA 2500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

134 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

85,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 114 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 134 complaints (23.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior8261.2%
Transmission and shifting139.7%
Steering behavior129.0%
Engine operation86.0%
Fuel system concerns86.0%
Electrical and battery issues21.5%

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.

Service Brakes
32
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
27
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
11
Engine And Engine Cooling
7
Fuel/Propulsion System
5
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
Power Train
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes32
Service Brakes, Hydraulic27
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip11
Engine And Engine Cooling7
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine4
Power Train4

Service Brakes: 32; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
15
50,000 to 74,999
24
75,000 to 99,999
19
100,000 to 149,999
30
150,000 and above
15
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,99915
50,000 to 74,99924
75,000 to 99,99919
100,000 to 149,99930
150,000 and above15

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 15

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 20 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.

2002
3
2003
9
2004
4
2005
4
2006
11
2007
8
2008
9
2009
10
2010
17
2011
13
2012
14
2013
8
2014
14
2015
4
2016
2
2017
2
2019
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20023
20039
20044
20054
200611
20078
20089
200910
201017
201113
201214
20138
201414
20154
20162
20172
20191
20231

2002: 3; 2003: 9; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 11; 2007: 8; 2008: 9; 2009: 10; 2010: 17; 2011: 13; 2012: 14; 2013: 8; 2014: 14; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2019: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 82 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 10019805 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)

THE BRAKE LINE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB THE BRAKE LINE CONTAINED A BEND, WHICH WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING SNAGGED. THE CONSUMER REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE HIMSELF. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 11,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019805 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031948 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)

DIESEL ENGINE QUIT AND IT WAS ONLY EQUIPPED WITH ONE FUSE, AND THE FUSE BLEW. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *AK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WHEN THAT FAILED IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO BRAKES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 36,403 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10051170 · 2003-12-27 (December 27, 2003)

THE ALLISON 1000 WITH THE DURAMAX DIESEL,DURING THE COLD WEATHER THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD. I SPOKE TO MY TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THE SOLUTION TO THIS IS TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION AND REFILL WITH A PURE SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR A COST OF ABOUT $ 400.00. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL ABOUT THIS OR A SERVICE BULLITEN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051170 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10164369 · 2006-08-03 (August 3, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED DURING ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING 25 TO 35 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO PROBLEMS RESTARTING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2006 - THERE WERE SUBSEQUENT PROBLEM RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, AND AS MANY AS 3 TO 5 STALLING EPISODES PER WEEK. NOT ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING. SOME INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE AT IDLE, AND AT A STOP. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING A…

Owner-reported narrative. 57,778 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164369 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003767 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 20/35 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF THE STEERING SHAFT SPLITTING IN HALF. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018445 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIMES. HAVE HAD IT SERVICED 8 TIMES AT PURCHASING DEALER, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO OFF AT 1:00 POSITION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018445 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10159068 · 2006-06-06 (June 6, 2006)

2002 GMC SIERRA STALLS WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND NORMAL DRIVING. 2 NEAR ACCIDENTS, SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL CRANK WITH A NO START CONDITION. KILLED ONE OF MY AC DELCO BATTERIES. HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159068 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049828 · 2003-12-01 (December 1, 2003)

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM: INJECTOR FAILED WHILE ACCELERATING. THE GAS PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED CLEANING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049828 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083848 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)

DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10190418 · 2007-05-10 (May 10, 2007)

BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN MESSAGE CENTER AND ENGINE CUT OFF, DISABLING STEERING AND BRAKES. NEARLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY AS VEHICLE HAD TO CUT OVER TO LANES INTO DIRT SHOULDER TO STOP. VE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND A NEW DIAGNOSTIC CODE ENTERED IN THE VEHICLE. FOUND 3 OTHER ODI'S WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM, 10159068,10174007, AND 10164369.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190418 at NHTSA ↗