The Used Car Index

2002 GMC Sierra 3500 problems

NHTSA lists 20 complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500, 3 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as GMC SIERRA 3500.

At a glance

Complaints
20
With crash
3
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
38,863
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
158

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
SERVICE BRAKES420.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM315.0%
PARKING BRAKE315.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC315.0%
SUSPENSION315.0%
AIR BAGS210.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL210.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE210.0%
TIRES210.0%
ENGINE15.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
AIR BAGSFRONTAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM1
PARKING BRAKEDRIVELINE1
SUSPENSIONFRONT1
TIRESSIDEWALL1
TIRESTREAD/BELT1
VISIBILITYREARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

04V562000

Date: 2004-11-26. Systems: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

Defect: ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

01V220000

Date: 2001-06-26. Systems: INTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 6.6L DIESEL ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT MAY NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT MEET THE PARTIAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS OF (excerpt)

Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE LOCATION OF A WIRE CONNECTION IN THE UNDERHOOD BUSSED ELECTRICAL CENTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE04004

Opened: 2004-01-08. Closed: 2004-04-30.

HYDRAULIC PUMP SHAFT FAILURES

THE PRELIMINARY EVAULATION IS BEING UPGRADED.DURING THE EA ODI WILL LIMITITS INVESTIGATION TO ONLY THOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HYDRO-BOOST SYSTEM, WHICH PROVIDES POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKING AND STEERING SYTEMS.VACCUUM BRAKE BOOSTER VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED.ODI HASEXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE EA TO INCLUDE MODEL YEARS2003 AND 2004, ASDURING THE PE, ODI LEARNED THAT THE HYDROBOAST PUMPS WERE MODIFIED I

Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

158 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT52
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
POWER TRAIN11
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY9
SERVICE BRAKES9
ENGINE8
STRUCTURE7

11020816

Date: 2025-07-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

11012907

Date: 2024-12-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

11010544

Date: 2024-10-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

11006621

Date: 2024-08-26. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is com

11006421

Date: 2024-07-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions durin

11004761

Date: 2024-06-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

11004557

Date: 2024-06-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.

11002312

Date: 2024-06-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.

10252735

Date: 2024-03-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors replacement fasteners with conductive finish.

10251887

Date: 2024-03-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

This bulletin advises the technician of possible location of an internal coolant leak from a specific cylinder head and location.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
SIERRA 350020

Same model, other years

All model years | All GMC models

Other GMC models, 2002

Sources

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