2002 Gmc SIERRA 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 10146270 · 2005-12-28 (December 28, 2005)
I SAT ON MY TAIL GATE AND THE TAIL GATE FELL DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED I HAD ONE BROKE CABLE AND THE OTHER SIDE THE BOLT WAS MISSING. I BOUGHT TWO CABLES FROM ADVANCE AUTO REPLACED ONE SIDE BUT I COULD NOT GET THE BOLT BACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND FOR THE RECALL BUT THE GATE FELL OFF THE TRUCK AND I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD FELL OFF AND I DRAGGED IT DOWN A DIRT ROAD FOR ABOUT HALF MILE OR MORE. I TRIED TO GET GMC TO REPLACE THE TAIL GATE BUT THEY JUST WANTED TO REPLACE THE CABLE SAYING THAT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146270 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 10160447 · 2006-06-22 (June 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE ROTOR HAD A 1" WIDE AND 3" LONG GAUGE IN THE METAL ABOUT "DEEP. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO POROSITY. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROTORS.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160809 · 2006-06-26 (June 26, 2006)
2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 P/U W/4.3 LT. V-6, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE A/C CONDENSATION LINE COVERED THREE TIMES WITH THE FOAM INSULATION FROM MY DEALER. THEY ALSO HAVE TO CLEAN THE CORROSION FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR, REMOVE THE SCREEN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DISTRIBUTOR, CLEAN THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPLACE THE CAP AND ROTOR ON EACH OCCASION. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. THIS IS AT A COST OF AROUND $680.00 TO REPLACE THE DISTRIBUTOR , NEW PLUGS DUE TO FOULING AND WIRES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND TO THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165016 · 2006-08-09 (August 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS OVERHEATED AND SCORCHED THE REMAINING LIGHT BULB SOCKETS WITHOUT WARNING. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS AS THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,577 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165016 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Reported: 2004-11-26 (November 26, 2004)
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.
NHTSA campaign record ↗