2002 Gmc SIERRA 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002465 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. *NLM *DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017162 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040375 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER, AND STOPPED TO CHECK THE TIRE. NOTICED THAT TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. BRIDGESTONE TIRE, SIZE 285/75R16. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040375 at NHTSA ↗
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 10065803 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD AND RASHED; ON-STAR DID NOT FUNCTION EITHER MANUALLY OR UPON IMPACT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065803 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 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 10171471 · 2006-10-20 (October 20, 2006)
THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT WAS NOTED THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD FROM THE SIDEWALL. A MAJOR LEAK WAS NOTED. THE SPLIT WAS LOCATED AT THE POINT OF SIDEWALL TO TREAD JOINT. THE TIRE HAS >9/32 OF TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE. I AM AT A LOSS TO REPLACE THE TIRE. NO TRAUMA WAS INFLICTED ON THE TIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 88,689 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171471 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V220000 · Interior Lighting
Reported: 2001-06-26 (June 26, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 6.6L DIESEL ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT MAY NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT MEET THE PARTIAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105.
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE LOCATION OF A WIRE CONNECTION IN THE UNDERHOOD BUSSED ELECTRICAL CENTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗