2002 Gmc SONOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
57 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
49,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 57 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 35.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 15.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 2 |
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Electrical System: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 2
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 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 4; 2003: 9; 2004: 11; 2005: 11; 2006: 8; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2015: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 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 10019089 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 GMC SONOMA ZR5 4WD PICKUP. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE THE VENT CONTROLS FOR THE A/C UNIT STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THIS DID NOT SEEM TO BE A BIG DEAL UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN TRACED TO A VACUUM MODULE ON THE TRANSFER CASE THAT CONTROLS SWITCHING IN AND OUT OF 4WD. THE DEALER REPLACED TO DEFECTIVE PART AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. ON MONDAY, I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE, TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS AND STARTED BRAKING FOR THE OFF RAMP. AS I WAS COMING AROUND THE SHARP CURVE ON RAMP, THE TRANSFE…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064224 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
NOTICED A PULL ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED ENGINE HAD STOPPED I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 285 NORTH ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR. HAD JUST TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. WAS ABLE TO COAST AND SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE EXIT. *AK ENGINE WOULD TURN BUT NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS SAFE BECAUSE IT WAS SATURDAY AFTERNOON, NO TRAFFIC, PER TECH FUEL PUMP SENSOR FAILURE, THEREAFTER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS IE, HEADLIGHTS OUT, DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS OUT, HAD RADIO/CD PLAYER PROBLEMS B4 ENGINE FAILURE, WITH INTERMITTENT CHANGING OF S…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008472 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
I NOTICED IN A REFLECTION OFF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WHEN I TURNED MY TURN SIGNAL (DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE, RIGHT OR LEFT), THAT MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS STARTED OUT AS ONLY HAPPENING ON OCCASION AND THEN PROCEED TO GET WORSE. BY FEBRUARY 17, 2003, THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF EVERY TIME I USED MY TURN SIGNAL. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON THAT DATE AND WAS INFORMED AFTER THEY HAD CONTACTED GM, THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR IT TO DO THAT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN JULY OF 2002 AND IT HAD NOT DONE IT UP UNTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095924 · 2004-10-17 (October 17, 2004)
COMPLAINT COVERS SAT OCT 9TH THRU 10-14 2004 RADIO MALFUNCTIONING-1)TOOK VEHICLE TO JONESBORO RD GMC DEALER AND COMPLAINT ABOUT RADIO FIRST. DIGITAL DISPLAY SHOWING ONE STATION AND PLAYING ANOTHER. THE PANEL GETS VERY HOT . RADIO WAS SHOWING ISSUE AT THE TIME. MARK SERVICE ADVISOR REACHED INSIDE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO PRESS THE BUTTONS. THEY REFUSED TO DOCUMENT MY RADIO PROBLEM AT THE JONESBORO DEALERSHIP. I CALLED BACK AND SPOKE TO MARK ABOUT DOCUMENTATION. HE SAID HE COULDN'T BECAUSE THE TECH DIDN'T SEE IT. I ADVISED HIM THAT HE DID AND I A…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,548 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220734 · 2008-03-10 (March 10, 2008)
ON 1/25/06 I TOOK MY 2002 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK TO ALLEN GMC IN LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT A CLICKING NOISE I WAS HEARING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (GMC P/N 26056116) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 244.90 PLUS 188.00 FOR LABOR. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED FOR A WHILE BUT IN DECEMBER 2007 I NOTICED THAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS (CLICKING NOISE AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,386 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567795 · 2002-10-28 (October 28, 2002)
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE USED IN THE FULL TILT POSITION BECAUSE IT OBSTRUCTS FULL EXTENSION OF THE RIGHT FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, MAKING BRAKING DIFFICULT. CONSUEMR FEELS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE ONLY REPLY FROM THE DEALER AND GMC IS DON'T USE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ITS FULL TILT. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567795 at NHTSA ↗