GMC PICKUP · model year

2002 GMC PICKUP

5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002GMCPICKUP carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 PICKUP is steering with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (1) and service brakes, hydraulic (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 PICKUP. 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.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

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

ComponentCount
STEERING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
PARKING BRAKE1
SEAT BELTS1

Recent Complaints

20111221SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A GRACO CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL: COMFORT SPORT. THE CHILD SEAT WAS SECURED IN A 2005 GMC PICKUP (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BECAME LODGED INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THE CHILD SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20051104PARKING BRAKE

I FOUND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS SET WHILE LAUNCHING MY BOAT ON THE SLOPE OF A BOAT RAMP. THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DAMAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHILE SOMEONE WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BEGAN ROLLING. THE LOCAL DEALERS MECHANIC CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT ONE WAS EXTREMELY WORN WHILE THE RIGHT ONE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. THIS INDICATES THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ACCIDENTALLY LEFT ON WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE BOTH BRAKES WOULD BE WORN. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO COMPENSATE ME OR MAKE MODIFICATIONS SINCE THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL TRUCK EVEN THOUGH OTHER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME TO HAVE THE BRAKE SHOE REPLACED.*JB

Mileage: 32,000

20030606SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

20030603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. BRAKE LINES RUBBED AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN AND RUPTURED. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.*AK

Mileage: 12,000

20030303STEERING

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER.*JB

Compare 2002GMCPICKUP to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 GMC PICKUP have?
The 2002 GMC PICKUP has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC PICKUP?
The most-complained component for the 2002 GMC PICKUP is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2002 GMC PICKUP 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.