CHEVROLET TRACKER · model year

2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER

82 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002CHEVROLETTRACKER carries 82 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 5 fires, 13 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 TRACKER is suspension with 11 filings, followed by structure:frame and members:underbody shields (6) and suspension:front (5). 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 TRACKER, 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.

82
Complaints
14
Crashes
5
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

82 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION11
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS6
SUSPENSION:FRONT5
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS5
AIR BAGS4
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS4
SERVICE BRAKES4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
TIRES2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
STEERING2

Recent Complaints

20240926CrashFireAIR BAGS

The safety airbags exploded and burning my face and the passenger side passenger it was very hard and his arm and the of explosion of the airbags she was spraying and burning the face and was

20240926CrashFireSERVICE BRAKES

The safety airbags exploded and burning my face and the passenger side passenger it was very hard and his arm and the of explosion of the airbags she was spraying and burning the face and was

20240926CrashFireLANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

The safety airbags exploded and burning my face and the passenger side passenger it was very hard and his arm and the of explosion of the airbags she was spraying and burning the face and was

20201026TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: AFFINITY TOURING, TIRE SIZE: 205/65/R15, DOT NUMBER: 2R9LDBF. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE TIRE BUT SAW NO DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE DAMAGED ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL AND WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

Mileage: 145,000

20190318SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FRONT END SWERVED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Mileage: 137,570

20190318STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FRONT END SWERVED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Mileage: 137,570

20181213SERVICE BRAKES

REAR BRAKES KEEP FAILING, THEY FAILED YESTERDAY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ABOUT 8,000 MILES. THEY ALSO DISCONTINUED A PART FOR THE REAR BRAKES. CANNOT FIND THE PART ANYWHERE. WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR, PULLED OVER AND IT WAS THE BRAKES. HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP.

Mileage: 86,000

20170405CrashAIR BAGS

AFTER A COLLISION WHERE MY TRACKER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AROUND 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE HIT DEAD ON TO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER (T-BONE) AND MY SENSOR SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED MY AIRBAGS AND DID NOT.

Mileage: 150,000

20170308STRUCTURE:BODY

MY MOTHER AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR JUST LUNGED FORWARD SHARPLY AND MADE US SWERVE A LITTLE. I PULLED OVER AND SEEN THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING "OFF" A LITTLE. WE TOWED IT HOME AND MY STEP DAD LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. THE SUBSPENSION SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER PART COULD OF KILLED US. SHE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 29 MILES FROM DAVE WHITE CHEVEROLT IN 2001. NOTHING WAS SENT TO US FROM THE MANUFACTURE OR THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PART BEING A DANGEROUS PART. IT WAS TO BE REPLACED I HEARD IF THE CAR REACHED 150,000 MILES OR 10 PLUS YEARS. SHE HAD THIS CAR FOR BOTH AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. WE HAD IT TOWED THIS WEEKEND AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE.

20170308STEERING

MY MOTHER AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR JUST LUNGED FORWARD SHARPLY AND MADE US SWERVE A LITTLE. I PULLED OVER AND SEEN THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING "OFF" A LITTLE. WE TOWED IT HOME AND MY STEP DAD LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. THE SUBSPENSION SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER PART COULD OF KILLED US. SHE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 29 MILES FROM DAVE WHITE CHEVEROLT IN 2001. NOTHING WAS SENT TO US FROM THE MANUFACTURE OR THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PART BEING A DANGEROUS PART. IT WAS TO BE REPLACED I HEARD IF THE CAR REACHED 150,000 MILES OR 10 PLUS YEARS. SHE HAD THIS CAR FOR BOTH AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. WE HAD IT TOWED THIS WEEKEND AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE.

20170308SUSPENSION

MY MOTHER AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR JUST LUNGED FORWARD SHARPLY AND MADE US SWERVE A LITTLE. I PULLED OVER AND SEEN THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING "OFF" A LITTLE. WE TOWED IT HOME AND MY STEP DAD LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. THE SUBSPENSION SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER PART COULD OF KILLED US. SHE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 29 MILES FROM DAVE WHITE CHEVEROLT IN 2001. NOTHING WAS SENT TO US FROM THE MANUFACTURE OR THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PART BEING A DANGEROUS PART. IT WAS TO BE REPLACED I HEARD IF THE CAR REACHED 150,000 MILES OR 10 PLUS YEARS. SHE HAD THIS CAR FOR BOTH AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. WE HAD IT TOWED THIS WEEKEND AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE.

20160821UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS EVERY 2 YEARS AS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2004 (12 YEARS) SO I'VE REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS ( ALL 3) 6 TIMES. HAS THIS HAPPENED OR BEEN REPORTED BY ANY OTHER OWNERS?

Mileage: 30,000

20150511SUSPENSION

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FOR CHEVY TRACKERIS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION AND THE GARAGE SAID THERE MUST HAVE NOT BEEN A COATING PUT ON IT FOR IT TO BE RUSTED THROUGH AND FALLING APART.

Mileage: 120,000

20141017CrashSUSPENSION

MY CHEVY TRACKER HAS A BROKEN CROSSMEMBER/SUBFRAME/K-FRAME. FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ARE MOUNTED TO THIS PIECE, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTING POINT. IT COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, NO MAJ. INJURY. GM KNOWS THE BAD PART WAS IN EVERY TRACKER/VITARA -THEY SAY IT WASN'T TREATED PROPERLY, HAD NO DRAIN HOLES. THERE IS A BULLETIN TO REPLACE THIS PART (#06186),10 YEARS OR 150K MILES -WHICH SPECIFIES THE REPAIR IS COVERED IF "DISPLAYS THE CONDITION OF" HAVING THE DEFECT WITHIN THAT PERIOD. FULLER GM DEALER AGREES "CLEARLY HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE PERIOD BASED UPON CONDITION NOW". I'VE SUFFERED THE RUN-AROUND BETWEEN SR REP ON THE PHONE, AND THE LOCAL GM DEALER. ALL SAY "WOULD REPAIR IT IF THE OTHER WOULD". GM BY PHONE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL, LOCAL SAYS GM HAS TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR. THEY ALL UNIV. AGREED WITH FACTS: HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE BULLETIN'S DEFINITION, YET INSIST THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO HELP, "THE PERIOD IS UP" -WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION! THIS

Mileage: 102,000

20141017CrashSERVICE BRAKES

MY CHEVY TRACKER HAS A BROKEN CROSSMEMBER/SUBFRAME/K-FRAME. FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ARE MOUNTED TO THIS PIECE, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTING POINT. IT COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, NO MAJ. INJURY. GM KNOWS THE BAD PART WAS IN EVERY TRACKER/VITARA -THEY SAY IT WASN'T TREATED PROPERLY, HAD NO DRAIN HOLES. THERE IS A BULLETIN TO REPLACE THIS PART (#06186),10 YEARS OR 150K MILES -WHICH SPECIFIES THE REPAIR IS COVERED IF "DISPLAYS THE CONDITION OF" HAVING THE DEFECT WITHIN THAT PERIOD. FULLER GM DEALER AGREES "CLEARLY HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE PERIOD BASED UPON CONDITION NOW". I'VE SUFFERED THE RUN-AROUND BETWEEN SR REP ON THE PHONE, AND THE LOCAL GM DEALER. ALL SAY "WOULD REPAIR IT IF THE OTHER WOULD". GM BY PHONE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL, LOCAL SAYS GM HAS TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR. THEY ALL UNIV. AGREED WITH FACTS: HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE BULLETIN'S DEFINITION, YET INSIST THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO HELP, "THE PERIOD IS UP" -WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION! THIS

Mileage: 102,000

20141017CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

MY CHEVY TRACKER HAS A BROKEN CROSSMEMBER/SUBFRAME/K-FRAME. FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ARE MOUNTED TO THIS PIECE, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTING POINT. IT COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, NO MAJ. INJURY. GM KNOWS THE BAD PART WAS IN EVERY TRACKER/VITARA -THEY SAY IT WASN'T TREATED PROPERLY, HAD NO DRAIN HOLES. THERE IS A BULLETIN TO REPLACE THIS PART (#06186),10 YEARS OR 150K MILES -WHICH SPECIFIES THE REPAIR IS COVERED IF "DISPLAYS THE CONDITION OF" HAVING THE DEFECT WITHIN THAT PERIOD. FULLER GM DEALER AGREES "CLEARLY HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE PERIOD BASED UPON CONDITION NOW". I'VE SUFFERED THE RUN-AROUND BETWEEN SR REP ON THE PHONE, AND THE LOCAL GM DEALER. ALL SAY "WOULD REPAIR IT IF THE OTHER WOULD". GM BY PHONE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL, LOCAL SAYS GM HAS TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR. THEY ALL UNIV. AGREED WITH FACTS: HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE BULLETIN'S DEFINITION, YET INSIST THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO HELP, "THE PERIOD IS UP" -WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION! THIS

Mileage: 102,000

20140630CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-WAY RESIDENTIAL STREET, JUST PICKED UP OUR TWO YOUNGEST GRANDSON'S FROM SCHOOL, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE JAMMED, VERY UNEXPECTEDLY, UP IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FRAME OF THE TRACKER. THE TRACKER WENT MID AIR, AND THEN ROLLED. CONSUMER HANDWRITING IS ILLEGIBLE. .UPDATED 07/02/14 *BF

Mileage: 144,000

20140630CrashSUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-WAY RESIDENTIAL STREET, JUST PICKED UP OUR TWO YOUNGEST GRANDSON'S FROM SCHOOL, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE JAMMED, VERY UNEXPECTEDLY, UP IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FRAME OF THE TRACKER. THE TRACKER WENT MID AIR, AND THEN ROLLED. CONSUMER HANDWRITING IS ILLEGIBLE. .UPDATED 07/02/14 *BF

Mileage: 144,000

20140322SUSPENSION

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY TRACKER ON 4/30/2002. WE'VE HAD SOME MINOR AND SOME MAJOR REPAIRS MADE, IT'S NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND HAS BEEN UP-KEPT. COMING HOME FROM WORK MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE YEAR OLD BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WAS PULLING, AND STARTED VIBRATING AND SHAKING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. WE LATER NOTICED THE BACK BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. TWO WEEKS TO FIX BY OUR MECHANIC. ON THE TEST DRIVE NOTICED VIBRATION MUCH WORSE- VIOLENT-ABRUPT SHAKING! LATER OUR MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS ALMOST RUSTED OUT! IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. I AM GOING TO NOTIFY MANUFACTURER. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS110,000. WERE NOTIFICATIONS SENT OUT? DON'T REMEMBER ONE- I'M PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT SAFETY! ALWAYS LOVED THIS VEHICLE, NOW TONS OF JUNK MEDAL SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND DOWN A VEHICLE! *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20140322SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY TRACKER ON 4/30/2002. WE'VE HAD SOME MINOR AND SOME MAJOR REPAIRS MADE, IT'S NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND HAS BEEN UP-KEPT. COMING HOME FROM WORK MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE YEAR OLD BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WAS PULLING, AND STARTED VIBRATING AND SHAKING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. WE LATER NOTICED THE BACK BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. TWO WEEKS TO FIX BY OUR MECHANIC. ON THE TEST DRIVE NOTICED VIBRATION MUCH WORSE- VIOLENT-ABRUPT SHAKING! LATER OUR MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS ALMOST RUSTED OUT! IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. I AM GOING TO NOTIFY MANUFACTURER. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS110,000. WERE NOTIFICATIONS SENT OUT? DON'T REMEMBER ONE- I'M PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT SAFETY! ALWAYS LOVED THIS VEHICLE, NOW TONS OF JUNK MEDAL SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND DOWN A VEHICLE! *TR

Mileage: 110,000

Compare 2002CHEVROLETTRACKER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER have?
The 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER has 82 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 5 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER?
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER is SUSPENSION with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER 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.