Your vehicle report

2002 GMC Sierra

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
249
Received Oct 2001 to Mar 2016
Official recalls listed
4
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines45 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up37 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Front brake rotors warp and wear early13 complaints · 5.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #05V379000Certain 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.
  • Recall #05V161000On 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 23 crashes, 2 fires, 6 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 16 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

1 more problem

Brakes

1 more problem

Electrical & lights

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2002 GMC Sierra
68
Show as a table
YearComplaints
20011
200220
200333
200439
200568
200616
20076
20085
20094
20105
201111
201212
201310
201410
20157
20162
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total249

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines4518%–
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up3715%–NHTSA recall #05V379000
Front brake rotors warp and wear early135.2%–
Parking brake fails to hold or release114.4%–NHTSA recall #05V161000
Tailgate or trunk latch fails83.2%–NHTSA recall #04V129000
Tires blow out or tread separates72.8%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips62.4%–
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings62.4%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract52.0%–
Frame rusts and corrodes through52.0%–
Chevrolet Silverado loses power and hesitates52.0%–
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps52.0%–
Side mirrors give poor rear visibility41.6%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving41.6%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes31.2%–
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed31.2%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #05V379000August 29, 20051,353,718 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    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.

    This Can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed brake applications, which could result in a crash.

    Remedy

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #05V161000April 22, 200590,242 vehicles affected

    parking brake

    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.

    If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.

    Remedy

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #04V129000March 17, 20043,662,211 vehicles affected

    structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments

    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.

    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.

    Remedy

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #03V435000November 3, 2003395 vehicles affected

    fuel system, other: delivery

    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.

    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.

    Remedy

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 GMC Sierra.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN