KnownCarProblems2002 GMC Sierra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 249 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 GMC Sierra, most often about the brakes (58% of complaints, typically around 45,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Sierra model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2002 GMC Sierra problems
Brakes
145 complaints · 58%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, antilock, power assist.
Vehicle is a 2002 GMC 6.0l 2500hd Sierra truck. It has the gm hydroboost braking system (brake assist is from the power steering pump). The pressure line running from the brake booster to the steering rack was incorrectly routed, resulting in a very sharp bend in the flexible part of hose. The hose cracked at this…
Dt: the front and rear rotors fell apart. The mechanic had to replace the rotors at 47,000 miles. He said it was a common problem. The consumer went to the dealer and they said it was normal. The consumer sent letters to GMC and they are returning letters.
Engine
25 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
- the contact has a 2002 GMC Sierra and stated that the vehicle keeps shutting off completely. When the vehicle loses power it also loses steering and braking ability. This failure has happened to the contact 20 or more within the past year. The stalling had happened while driving anywhere between 5-65 MPH. The…
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that 7 out of 8 glow plugs malfunctioned. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis where the glow plugs were replaced. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileage was…
Transmission
18 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, driveline, manual transmission.
I have a 2002 GMC truck. At 38,000 miles the clutch went out completely. The mechanic told me the clutch plate was ok but the 2 hydraulic cylinders needed to be replaced.
GMC 2002 1/2 ton pickup,transmission reverse went out at 44,000 miles (first time it went out at 28,000 miles). Repaired for second time parts. Reaction shell gear stripped. Parts shell, gear, fltr kit, seal, seal oil, gasket. R&r trans replace reaction shell and gear.
Body and structure
17 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
My 2002 GMC 2500hd truck this past weekend had a failure in the tailgate cable system. I was driving my atv into the bed when the left cable broke and the tailgate suddenly lowered a few inches. Fortunately, the right cable didn't break or serious injury would have occurred. After looking at the broken cable, there…
When opening the tailgate two support brackets broke. As a result, the tailgate fell to the ground. Both supports were replaced. There were broken cables.
Wheels and tires
13 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles. Parts named most often: sidewall, tread/belt, rim, temporary/emergency spare tire.
See attached memorandum date june 3, 2005 memo #06032005-1 for items (1), (2), and (3) for item (3) parts on GMC truck still exist and are currently secured only by a tightened wire held in position by turn style torque system. Defective spare tire assembly bracket hold down and release system. System design provides…
Firestone wilderness at 265 75 r16 treadbelt came completely off while driving. Ties only have 31xxx on them. Tire have been rotated every 5000 miles and infalted to manufactures specs. I will take pictures tonight of the damage and tire.
Suspension
12 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
There is rattle/vibration in my truck's steering column. Any time I go over an uneven surface I hear an annoying rattle coming from under the hood in front the steering wheel, and I feel a consistent vibration in the steering wheel. This rattle started with about 35,000 miles on the vehicle, just in time for the…
Dt: the contact states the ABS system is bad. It almost caused an accident on 8-20-05 because brakes went to the floor. There was no braking power. Had to shift the car into park to get the vehicle to stop. The contact was going very slowly when this happened. This was the first incident of this kind. The dealer…
Steering
12 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, hydraulic power assist, column, gear box.
Dt: 2002 GMC Sierra. The consumer states the steering shaft bounced up and down, it was not correctly put in. This caused the front end bounce from the steering box to the steering wheel. This problem has been corrected, but the dealership stated they were having a lot of these problems. This has been happening since…
While my 17 year old son was driving, the truck suddenly lost all power steering and brake capability. My son was traveling with his younger brother and a friend in the vehicle.
Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices, glass, side/rear, windshield.
Exterior driver side rear view mirror had to be replaced 3 times because of severe vibration. The vibration was so severe that the driver was unable to see oncoming vehicles.
The mirrors on my GMC 1500 z71 truck keep breaking. I've only taken it through the car wash, when the attendent folds in the mirrors on both sides, when finished I fold them back and then they break. It has happened 2 times and the cost is $200 per mirror. Very unreasonable for a mirror. I have called gm(case…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 GMC Sierra recalls
Brakes: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Risk: This can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed brake applications, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel speed sensor, and check the peak-to-peak output voltage to ensure the wheel speed signal is within specifications. The recall began september 22, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas. This recall will be launched in the "salt belt" states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maryland, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia only.
Brakes: parking brake
Risk: If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly. The recall began on july 29, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings may wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
Body and structure: hinge and attachments
Risk: Anyone sitting or standing on the horizontal surface of the tailgate when both cables fractured could be injured by falling from the tailgate. On vehicles that have had the bumper removed, the tailgate may drop even lower. Additionally, if there is cargo on the tailgate the cargo may fall off if the support cables fracture.
Fix: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on april 7, 20004. The recall began on september 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through october 29, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or visit www.mygmlink.com, and enter your vehicle identification number.
Full defect summary
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
Fuel system: delivery
Risk: A strong odor of natural gas may be detected from inside the vehicle, possibly accompanied by a hissing noise. If the natural gas were accidentally ignited, serious injury could result.
Fix: Dealers will secure the throttle cable to eliminate the possibility of contact with the cng fuel line. The cng fuel line, throttle cable, and cruise control cable are also to be inspected and replaced if necessary. Owner notification began on december 11, 2003. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
Some 2wd and 4WD pickup trucks, converted to either dedicated or bi-fuel compressed natural gas (cng) fuel usage, were assembled with a throttle cable that can contact and rub through the flexible pressurized fuel line creating a pinhole leak of natural gas to the atmosphere.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) received defect petition dp10-003 on march 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (my) 2003 chevrolet silverado 2500hd 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.dp10-003 was granted and on march 30, 2010, preliminary evaluation pe10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility vehicles manufactured and sold by general motors corporation (gm).on july 2, 2010, odi received gm's response to an information request, which included gm's assessment of the frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect. Gm stated that:(1) the brake system of the subject veh
Crank position sensor failure - stall
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe06-016) on may 4, 2006 based on eleven vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) and early warning (ewr) data alleging sudden engine shutdown while driving as a result of crank position sensor failures in my 2001-2002 general motors c/k platform vehicles equipped with 8.1l engines.in response to an information request letter sent by odi, general motors (gm) provided owner complaint information, field reports and warranty claim data based on a population of 108,338 vehicles. The data was categorized by engine stalls while driving, engine stalls with an unknown driving condition, no start conditions and claims where it was
Parking brake failure
Summary
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
Summary
In a letter dated august 29, 2005, gm notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that may result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).gm's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently registered in the following 14 salt-belt states:connecticut, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, and west virginia.the recall procedure will involve removing the sensor, cleaning the mounti
Parking brake failure
Summary
In a letter dated april 20, 2005, gm notified NHTSA that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to gm, some of these vehicles may have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.gm's action covers an estimated total of 142,585 vehicles.dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with the pbr parking brake system and install a redesigned park
Tailgate cable breakage
Summary
General motors filed a defect notice 04v-129 on march 17, 2004, which outlines a program to replace the tailgate cables installed in affected model year 2000-2004 vehicles.refer to odi's closing report for ea04-005 for additional information.odi is aware of reports of tailgate cable breakage occurring in model year 1999 and earlier vehicles.these vehicles were equipped with similar tailgate cables as addressed by 04v-129, but are not being addressed by campaign o4v-129.odi is initiating a separate investigation to address these vehicles.the complaint-injury-fatality statistics summarized above pertain to model year 2000-2004 vehicles. The complaint-injury statistics for model year 1999 and e
Parking brake failure
Summary
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake system's torque below that needed to immobilize the vehicle.gm has attributed this accelerated wear to foreign material intrusion and a failure of the brake shoe to properly self-center within its brake drum.effective with the start of my 2003 production, a newer reduced force hold-
Throttle sticking closed
Summary
This investigation involves the general motors corporation (gm)throttle body (tb) utilized in model year (my) 1999-2002 silverado, sierra, tahoe, suburban, avalanche and yukon (subject vehicle(s)) with 4.8l, 5.3l, and 6.0l engines. The tb valve may intermittently stick in a closed position.in such a situation, an operator may apply additional accelerator pedal force to increase engine speed.the application of additional accelerator pedal force, to open a stuck throttle valve, may open the throttle valve more than intended and, in turn, accelerate the engine and vehicle more than intended and reasonably expected by the driver.on august 1, 2002, the office of defects investigation (odi), of th
Questions about the 2002 GMC Sierra
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (145 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); engine (25 complaints, typically around 41,000 miles); transmission (18 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 GMC Sierra have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 29, 2005 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the GMC Sierra?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Sierra model year since 2000, with 249 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.