Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET SONOMA · model year
2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CHEVROLETSONOMA carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 SONOMA is air bags:frontal with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (1) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 SONOMA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080428LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE HANDLE CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Mileage: 42,000
20041010FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 MPH & 50 MPH I HAD TO BRAKE HARD THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOT BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STARTED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEALER IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT TRUCK FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Mileage: 32,061
20020823AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A BOULDER HEAD ON AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER
Compare 2002CHEVROLETSONOMA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA have?▼
The 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.