Total Complaints
13 filings
GMC GMC TRUCK · model year
2002 GMC GMC TRUCK
13 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002GMCGMC TRUCK carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 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 GMC TRUCK is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 2 filings, followed by seats:front assembly:head restraint (1) and electrical system (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 2 investigation files overlapping the 2002 GMC TRUCK. 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.
13
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130721SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES WHEN COMING UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT , I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 95,000
20111208CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2002 GMC 4X4 CAB LONG WIDE BED PICK UP. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER ALSO STATES BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY AT TIMES AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEVERE VIBRATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD A BAD KNOCK, UPON START-UP AND THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
20111208CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 GMC 4X4 CAB LONG WIDE BED PICK UP. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER ALSO STATES BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY AT TIMES AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEVERE VIBRATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD A BAD KNOCK, UPON START-UP AND THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
20111208CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2002 GMC 4X4 CAB LONG WIDE BED PICK UP. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER ALSO STATES BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY AT TIMES AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEVERE VIBRATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD A BAD KNOCK, UPON START-UP AND THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
20111208CrashPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
2002 GMC 4X4 CAB LONG WIDE BED PICK UP. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER ALSO STATES BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY AT TIMES AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEVERE VIBRATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD A BAD KNOCK, UPON START-UP AND THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
20111208CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2002 GMC 4X4 CAB LONG WIDE BED PICK UP. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER ALSO STATES BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY AT TIMES AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEVERE VIBRATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD A BAD KNOCK, UPON START-UP AND THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
20050728STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
SUPPORT CABLE ON TAILGATE OF 2002 GMC SONOMA SNAPPED IN TWO. RUST AND CORROSION WERE EVIDENT AT THE BREAK POINT. I NOTICED ON THE CHEVY SILVERADO'S AND GMC SIERRA'S THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CABLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE CABLES ON THE SONOMA HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CABLES THEN THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I DISAGREE. *JB
Mileage: 37,000
20050726LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
2002 GMC S-15 SONOMA.....LEFT SIDE TAILGATE CABLE BROKE
Mileage: 36,230
20050725SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SPONGY BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES BELOW THE ACCELERATER. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH SAID THE BRAKES MET FACTORY SPECS.THIS PROBLEM HAS NEARLY GOT ME IN A WRECK,DUE TO HITTING THE GAS PEDAL
20050614SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES,THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES BELOW THE GAS PEDAL. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT BRAKES MEET FACTORY SPECS.I'VE CALLED GMC AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, WHICH I DID AND GOT SAME ANSWER THAT BRAKES MEET FACTORY SPECS. CONTACTED GMC AGAIN AND WAS OFFERED FREE OIL CHANGES FOR THREE YEARS.I REQUESTED THAT A GMC REPRESENTATIVE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE OR TO GIVE ME SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE,TO NO AVAIL. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 GMC SIERRA PICKUP WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT.MY WIFE AND I ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO A VERY CLOSE HIGHWAY ACCIDENT WHICH REQUIRED IMMEDIATE BRAKING.WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES MY FOOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO THE BRAKE GOING BELOW THE GAS PEDAL.
Mileage: 60
20040416VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND RAN ON DIESEL FUEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SIX TIMES. HOWEVER, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE CONSUMER A COPY OF THE WORK ORDER. *AK
Mileage: 1,600
20040115ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 TRUCK. IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 37000 MILES ON IT. APPARENTLY THE TRUCK STALLED AND WE HAD TO TOW IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP DEFECTIVE. THE 36000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SO IT COSTS US OVER 250.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED (PARTS/LABOR/TOWING). WE AND OUR MECHANIC BELIEVE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED ON A VEHICLE SO NEW WITH SUCH FEW MILES ON IT. PLEASE LOOK INTO FINDING OUT IF THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER GMC TRUCKS. THANK YOU. *CB
20021206SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD REST ON THE SEAT BACK OBSCURES VISION TO THE SIDES AND THE REAR, PRIMARILY EVIDENT WHEN THE DRIVER TURNS TO CHECK THE BLIND SPOT DURING LANE CHANGES OR PASSING. *JG
Compare 2002GMCGMC TRUCK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 GMC GMC TRUCK have?▼
The 2002 GMC GMC TRUCK has 13 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC GMC TRUCK?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 GMC GMC TRUCK is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2002 GMC GMC TRUCK 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.