The Used Car Index

2002 GMC Sierra problems

NHTSA lists 249 complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra, 23 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 5 complaints mention an injury, with 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-07.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as GMC SIERRA.

At a glance

Complaints
249
With crash
23
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
5
Injuries
6
Deaths
0
Recalls
4
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
3,662,211
Investigations
8
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
462

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 BRAKES, HYDRAULIC9337.3%
SERVICE BRAKES3112.4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING228.8%
POWER TRAIN187.2%
PARKING BRAKE176.8%
STRUCTURE176.8%
STEERING124.8%
SUSPENSION124.8%
TIRES104.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM62.4%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP47
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS23
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE15
STRUCTUREBODY12
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
SUSPENSIONFRONT6
SERVICE BRAKES, AIRANTILOCK4
VISIBILITYREARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES4
AIR BAGSFRONTAL3
SEATSFRONT ASSEMBLY3

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

4 recalls.

05V379000

Date: 2005-08-29. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: 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, OHI (excerpt)

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. (excerpt)

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 (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V161000

Date: 2005-04-22. Systems: PARKING BRAKE.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V129000

Date: 2004-03-17. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

03V435000

Date: 2003-11-03. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

8 investigations; 0 open.

PE10010

Opened: 2010-03-30. Closed: 2011-01-05.

Brake line corrosion failure

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

Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE06016

Opened: 2006-05-04. Closed: 2006-09-14.

CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALL

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 SE

Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP05009

Opened: 2005-12-20. Closed: 2006-05-31.

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

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.

Systems: PARKING BRAKE.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE05020

Opened: 2005-04-28. Closed: 2005-09-13.

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

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 VEH

Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Linked campaign numbers: 05V379000.

EA04011

Opened: 2004-04-09. Closed: 2005-05-10.

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

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 LINING

Systems: PARKING BRAKE.

Linked campaign numbers: 05V161000.

EA04005

Opened: 2004-02-19. Closed: 2004-09-28.

TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE

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

Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE.

Linked campaign numbers: 04E067000, 04V129000.

PE03057

Opened: 2003-12-08. Closed: 2004-04-09.

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

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 T

Systems: PARKING BRAKE.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

EA02015

Opened: 2002-08-01. Closed: 2004-01-12.

THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED

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 AP

Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

462 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING134
POWER TRAIN116
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30
EQUIPMENT29
STRUCTURE24
STEERING20
SUSPENSION20
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER18

10108599

Date: 2017-07-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.

10113406

Date: 2017-02-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of thei

10113364

Date: 2017-01-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.

10114431

Date: 2016-02-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone. Technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any Emojis loaded to any contact.

10112299

Date: 2016-01-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on Part Restriction and Ordering Process Information for OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Modules (VCIM) (GMNA Only)

10113662

Date: 2015-05-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with information on flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and the usage of E85 fuel in GM vehicles.

10113654

Date: 2015-05-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on a GM of Canada OnStarA? cellular communication upgrade.

10114470

Date: 2015-04-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that may have an OnStar system that has progression tones when pressing the blue or red button. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center with the scan tool data from the OnS

10113720

Date: 2015-03-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on a GM of Canada OnStarA? cellular communication upgrade.

10113722

Date: 2015-03-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on communication with OnStarA? module after Canadian cellular upgrade.

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
SIERRA249

Same model, other years

All model years | All GMC models

Other GMC models, 2002

Sources

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