U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Gmc SIERRA 3500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

79,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 20 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	10	50.0%
Fuel system concerns	3	15.0%
Transmission and shifting	1	5.0%
Steering behavior	1	5.0%

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

Fuel/Propulsion System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Fuel System, Diesel

Fuel System, Gasoline

Parking Brake

Suspension

Air Bags

Service Brakes: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Parking Brake: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 6 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

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2011

2012

2013

2015

2016

2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10065141 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)

DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WORE OUT. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK/FORWARD ON A INCLINE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK RETAINER ON EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065141 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10115704 · 2005-03-23 (March 23, 2005)

THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE STREET AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE PARKING BRAKES DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115704 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10497825 · 2013-02-11 (February 11, 2013)

I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING AT SLOW SPEEDS ( 5-10 MPH ) UNDER DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS WAS PRIOR TO BRAKE LINE INCIDENT ON 4-14-2012 BUT I AM NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE. I RESEARCHED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND FOUND NHTSA ID CAMPAIGN #05V379000 ACTION # PE05020 BUT THIS DID NOT INCLUDE MY HOME STATE OF KENTUCKY. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN OHIO SINCE THE PURCHASE OF SAID VEHICLE 10-17-2001 TO CURRENT DATE 2-11-2013. ON 4-14-2012 I WAS PREPARING TO TAKE MY BOAT TO FUEL IT . WHILE CHECKING THE TRAILER LIGHTS I STEPPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 154,163 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497825 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10526003 · 2013-07-21 (July 21, 2013)

SLOWING DOWN TO A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL TO GET MORE PRESSURE BUT DID NOT WORK. DROVE OFF ONTO SHOULDER AND GOT IT SLOWED DOWN . DRIVE VERY SLOW WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO GET IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. I WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE AWAY. GOT HOME AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO FIND BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER LEFT REAR WHEELS, FUEL TANK, LEFT REAR SHOCK AND DRIVE AXLE. CONTINUED TO LOOK AT ALL BRAKE LINES AND ALL OF THEM WERE CORRODED BAD. GETTING PRICES ON HAVING ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526003 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168645 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING NHTSA ID # 05V161000 AND GM RECALL # 05042. THE ABOVE IS FOR A DEFECT IN THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO MY VEHICLE SINCE A PARKING BRAKE IS ALSO INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE AND IT IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. IF A PARKING BRAKE IS NOT NEEDED ON MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY THAN WHY IS ONE INSTALLED? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168645 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10731304 · 2015-06-30 (June 30, 2015)

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY STREET, THE ENGINE DIED. I LOST ALL MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO HEDRICK'S CHEVROLET IN CLOVIS CA. IT TOOK 2 DAYS FOR THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY SAID WHEN THEY WENT TO BRING IT IN TO THE SHOP IT STARTED UP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP AND THE NEXT DAY IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO PRESS THE PUMP ON THE TOP OF THE FILTER HOUSING UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER PRESS…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,118 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731304 at NHTSA ↗