2002 GMC Sierra

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 GMC Sierra
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, GMC Sierra Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2002 highlighted. 1982: 1 complaints 1982 1983: 2 complaints 1987: 1 complaints 1988: 6 complaints 1989: 16 complaints 1990: 18 complaints 1990 1991: 12 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 72 complaints 1994: 190 complaints 1995: 261 complaints 1995 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 238 complaints 1998: 190 complaints 1999: 600 complaints 2000: 443 complaints 2000 2001: 264 complaints 2002: 249 complaints 2002 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 188 complaints 2005: 117 complaints 2005 2006: 53 complaints 2007: 59 complaints 2008: 68 complaints 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 34 complaints 2010 2011: 43 complaints 2012: 29 complaints 2013: 39 complaints 2014: 101 complaints 2015: 53 complaints 2015 2016: 6 complaints 2017: 61 complaints 2017
2002: 249 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19821
19832
19871
19886
198916
199018
199112
199230
199372
1994190
1995261
1996246
1997238
1998190
1999600
2000443
2001264
2002249
2003206
2004188
2005117
200653
200759
200868
200937
201034
201143
201229
201339
2014101
201553
20166
201761

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 18%

18% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 45 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. BRAKE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL EXCESSIVELY WHEN APPLIED SUDDENLY; SO FAR, OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020408

SERVICE BRAKES 12%

12% of complaints: service brakes — 31 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. AS I WAS TURNING AT THE END OF ROW OF PARKED VEHICLES ,A PICK-UP TRUCK WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20131231

APPLIED BRAKES AT 35MPH AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. DRIVERS SIDE REAR BREAK LINE HAD RUPTURED DUE TO RUST. NO WARNING LIGHT OR BACKUP SYSTEM ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120702

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 10%

10% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 26 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
PARKING BRAKE 7%

7% of complaints: parking brake — 17 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%

6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 16 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

2002 — complaint volume: 249
I 20020801 — EA (closed 20040112)

THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED

R 20031203 — fuel system, other

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 PRE

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 REPLACE

Campaign 03V435000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20031208 — PE (closed 20040409)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

I 20040219 — EA (closed 20040928)

TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE

R 20040331 — equipment

AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TOGGLE WING ASSEMBLY USED TO ATTACH THE BEDLINER TO T

Remedy: DURAKON WILL ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THAT COULD HAVE PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE BEDLINER. IF YOU PURCHASED EITHER A DURAKON ALLSTAR OF PATRIOT OVERRAIL BEDLINER SINCE AU

Campaign 04E022000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20040409 — EA (closed 20050510)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

R 20040918 — structure

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 FR

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

Campaign 04V129000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20050428 — PE (closed 20050913)

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

R 20050729 — 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

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

Campaign 05V161000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050922 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 RECA

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, REIN

Campaign 05V379000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20051220 — DP (closed 20060531)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

I 20060504 — PE (closed 20060914)

CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALL

R 20070905 — equipment

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILE

Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

Campaign 07E066000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20100330 — PE (closed 20110105)

Brake line corrosion failure

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2002 GMC Sierra — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (45 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (31 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (26 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 03V435000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04E022000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V129000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V161000 (parking brake) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E066000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1992 ▲ 2010 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 1999 ■ 2000 ■ 2001

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2002 GMC Sierra reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 GMC Sierra is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 18% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2002 GMC Sierra have?

7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.