Total Complaints
9 filings
GMC SUBURBAN · model year
2002 GMC SUBURBAN
9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002GMCSUBURBAN carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 SUBURBAN is tires:tread/belt with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (2) and tires:temporary/emergency spare tire (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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2002 SUBURBAN. 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.
9
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recalls (1)
03V09400007/03/2003
STRUCTURE
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EX
Recent Complaints
20141004SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED, MUCH WORSE THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS HAD IT HAPPENED AT A GREATER SPEED! *TR
Mileage: 145,000
20060828FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.
Mileage: 69,000
20060828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.
Mileage: 69,000
20051104FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FUEL GAUGE WORKED IMPROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 05/23/06. *JB
Mileage: 75,000
20051017POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AND CHANGING GEARS, AND WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS FALLING OUT. WHILE CHANGING GEARS ITS LIKE A BIG THUD. WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING APART. WHEN TURNING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL RED LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. *AK
20041116CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE HIT A BUS AT 40 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN A CONCUSSION. *AK *SC *JB
20040128TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WITH LESS THAN 24,000 MILES ON 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, THERE IS EXTREMELY ABNORMAL WEAR ON TREADS OF FRONT TIRES IN PARTICULAR. LARGE, DEEP AND UNEVEN INDENTATIONS ON THE TREAD, ESPECIALLY FRONT INSIDE OF TIRES. *AK
Mileage: 24,000
20040128TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED FRONT END VIBRATED. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED FRONT TIRES WERE UNEVENLY WORN. *AK
20040128TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED FRONT END VIBRATED. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED FRONT TIRES WERE UNEVENLY WORN. *AK
Compare 2002GMCSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 GMC SUBURBAN have?▼
The 2002 GMC SUBURBAN has 9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 GMC SUBURBAN?▼
Yes, the 2002 GMC SUBURBAN has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is STRUCTURE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC SUBURBAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 GMC SUBURBAN is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP and TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE.
Is the 2002 GMC SUBURBAN 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.