2002 Gmc SONOMA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005980 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
AIR FILTER IS DIRTY AND PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005980 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 10008474 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING IN A SLOW RAIN, THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER ARM CAME LOOSE AND FLEW ALL THE WAY PAST THE WINDSHIELD TO THE LEFT OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL ATTACHED, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS LESS THAT A MILE FROM HOME AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. MY HUSBAND GOT A WRENCH, REPOSITIONED THE WIPER ARM AND TIGHTENED IT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO THEN GO TO WORK. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE THAT HAPPEN QUITE OFTEN WITH THIS MODEL AND THAT I SHOULD CARRY A 13 MM WRENCH WITH ME SO IF IT HAPPEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012356 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
NAR 03-24-2003 MR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST 2 TIMED THE GAS GAUGE REAR 1/8TH OF A TANK AND THE LAST TIME IT READ 1/4TH OF A TANK. T HE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015648 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKED, WHICH CAUSED THE ACTUATOR TO SHORT AND LEAKED OIL INTERNALLY. OIL WAS SEEN IN THE LIGHTER, ASH TRAY AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015648 at NHTSA ↗
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 10019755 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
THE CLUTCH FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN ENGAGED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039585 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
MY 2002 GMC SONOMA'S RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE USED. MY DEALER & GM TELLS ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF RUNNING LIGHTS IS TO BEEN SEEN. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN CHANGING LANES OR TURNING. GM SHOULD RECALL THESE PICKUP TRUCKS AN CORRECT THIS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039585 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.