Page 4 of 4 · complaints 151–166 of 166

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 10, 2007130,000 milesTX

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT HITTING A GAURDRAIL AND CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE 2002 GMC SIERRA1 1500 EXT. CAB TRUCK HAS BEEN TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, HOOD, SIDE PANEL, BED, AND BUMPER, DRIVER SIDE TIRE, ETC. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT ALSO APPEARED THE SEAT BELT JAMMED UPON IMPACT AS OPPOSED TO LOCKING AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. EVEN THOUGH THE INJURIES WERE NOT SEVERE, SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND HAD SUSTAINED PROBLEMS FROM THE EXCESSIVE IMPACT AMONG OTHER THINGS. SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK INTO WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELT.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Mar 28, 200710,900 milesNH

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 GMC SIERRA WITH 10,900 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 15 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY HE PUT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED , NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND THEY FOUND FOUR ABS ERROR CODES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SENSORS ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,002.*AK CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED INVOICES FOR THE DEALER. UPDATE *4/23/07T *TR

Parking Brake
Filed Mar 8, 200742,000 milesTX

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 2WD 4DR EXT CAB W/ AUTOMATIC TRANS. DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRICTION LININGS DUE TO DEFECT IN RELEASE MECHANISM. HAVE 50K MILES ON VEHICLE & EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES HAVE WORN INTO ROTORS. THE LACK OF A WORKING PARKING BRAKE HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN PARK WHEN ON AN INCLINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS. REFERENCE NHTSA #PE03057, #EA04011.*JB

Parking Brake
Filed Mar 8, 200787,000 milesTX

FAILURE OF PARKING BRAKE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA PICKUP. DURING STATE INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND TO BE UNABLE TO HOLD. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ADJUSTMENTS SCREWS ON BOTH REAR EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE FULLY DISENGAGED, SO THIS MEANT THAT THEY HAD BACKED OFF. THEY WERE AGAINST THE STOPS. THEY WERE ADJUSTED BACK UP, BUT THIS WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM A MECHANIC AND KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE DEATHS IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. THE CAR INSPECTION CENTER WHERE THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED SAID THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THE DEALERS KNOW IS BAD, BUT THEY DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. HE SAID THEY SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF GMC TRUCK THAT THE PARKING BRAKES IS DEFECTIVE. (MANY OF THE PEOPLE ALSO SAY THEY NEVER USE THE PARKING BRAKE. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jan 31, 200743,500 milesIL

THERE IS ABNORMAL BRAKE ROTOR DETERIATION AND RUSTING DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING OR STEEL FORMULAS WHICH RUST ACCERLERATES AND WEARS DOWN THE PADS UNEVENLY. I HAVE WORKED ON BRAKES ON MANY AUTOS AND A FEW TRUCKS I'VE OWNED OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES AND NEVER HAVE SEEN SUCH RUSTING AND SURFACE FLAKING OF THE DISK ROTOR ON MY VIHICLE. I HAD MY DEALER LOOK AT THE ROTORS AND THEY AGREED IT MAY BE A BIT EXCESSIVE. I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR ROTORS DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND UNREPAIRABLE ROTORS. THE ROTORS LOOK LIKE THEY CAME OFF A 20 YEAR OLD TRUCK....THIS IS A SAFETY AND QUALITY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THANK YOU

Steering
Filed Nov 13, 200656,822 milesOH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND SHAFT PITMAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED, AND DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LUBRICATION WAS A PART OF GENERAL MAINTENANCE.

Suspension › Front › Hub
Filed Sep 23, 200652,000 milesTX

I HAVE A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP WITH 52000 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS ARE ALREADY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. ON CONSULTING WITH THE LOCAL GARAGE, I DISCOVERED THIS WAS NOT AN ANOMALY, BUT , RATHER, A COMMON OCCURRENCE. MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OVER THE YEARS WITH GM PRODUCTS IS THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS COULD BE PACKED OR REPLACED AT REASONABLE COST, AND THE PARTS PROVIDED AUDIBLE NOTICE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT DESIGN DOES NOT PROVIDE THIS SAFETY FEATURE. THE ENTIRE HUB MUST BE REPLACED WHEN IT FAILS. AT A COST JUST QUOTED OF JUST BELOW $450 PER WHEEL. THE UNFORTUNATE FACT IS THAT IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MANY OWNERS OF GM PRODUCTS FROM 1998 ONWARD ARE DRIVING WITH WHEEL HUBS THAT ARE SO WORN THAT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF A WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.. UNTIL THE RESOLUTION OF THIS DESIGN SHORTFALL, HIGHWAY DRIVING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *NM

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Sep 20, 200682,000 milesMI

2002 GMC SIERRA THE GALVANIZED STEEL SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE OPEN POSITION CORRODE THROUGH AND BREAK WHERE CARGO OR PEOPLE ON THE TAILGATE MAY FALL. CARGO FALLING OF THE TAILGATE VERY NEARLY STRUCK A NEARBY PERSON AND INJURY WAS LUCKILY AVOIDED. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST TIME GMC REPLACED THE CABLES UNDER WARRANTY AND SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A RANDOM FAILURE. MOST RECENTLY THEY HAVE REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GMC WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS AND REFUSED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

Steering
Filed Aug 11, 2006TX

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. FIRST REPAIRED ON 11-13-03. HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP BEING FIXED AGAIN ON 8-11-06. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR, THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN LUBRICATED. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Aug 9, 200652,577 milesMO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS OVERHEATED AND SCORCHED THE REMAINING LIGHT BULB SOCKETS WITHOUT WARNING. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS AS THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jun 26, 200627,000 milesTX

2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 P/U W/4.3 LT. V-6, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE A/C CONDENSATION LINE COVERED THREE TIMES WITH THE FOAM INSULATION FROM MY DEALER. THEY ALSO HAVE TO CLEAN THE CORROSION FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR, REMOVE THE SCREEN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DISTRIBUTOR, CLEAN THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPLACE THE CAP AND ROTOR ON EACH OCCASION. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. THIS IS AT A COST OF AROUND $680.00 TO REPLACE THE DISTRIBUTOR , NEW PLUGS DUE TO FOULING AND WIRES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THE TEMPORARY FIX (BAND-AID). THE AIR CONDITION CONDENSATION LINE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THEY REFUSE TO MOVE IT. IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT THEIR REPAIR IS NOT A FIX BUT A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO GET YOU OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL SENT TO ME BUT DOES NOT SHOW IN YOUR LISTINGS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS, YOUR VEHICLE USUALLY GIVES NO SIGNS BEFORE LEAVING YOU STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY QUESTION IS WHY THE DEALER GETS AWAY WITH A TEMPORARY FIX AND NOT A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM ? I BELIEVE THE AIR CONDITION CONDENSER LINE SHOULD BE RELOCATED AWAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR ALTOGETHER. GMC IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND RECTIFIED THE RE-ENGINEERING OF THE A/C LINE ROUTE IN THE 2003 MODELS. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 22, 200624,000 milesIN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE ROTOR HAD A 1" WIDE AND 3" LONG GAUGE IN THE METAL ABOUT "DEEP. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO POROSITY. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROTORS.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 15, 2006AZ

THE 2002 WAS IN NEED OF FRONT HUBS SINCE THEY WERE NOT REPLACED WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE TIME THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS REBUILT. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO HAVE EXCESSIVE FRONT WHEEL FRICTION, AND COMPROMISED THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SNOW, AND THE FRONT WHEEL FRICTION WOULD VARY BASED ON CHANGES IN SPEED, ROAD CONTOUR, TEMPERATURE, STEERING INPUT, THROTTLE INPUT, AND BRAKE INPUT. WHILE BRAKING THE TRUCK WOULD OFTEN PITCH SEVERELY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE ON DRY PAVEMENT. ON ONE OCCASION THE ABS ACTIVATED WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE. THE TRUCK WOULD ALSO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AS THE FRICTION VARIED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME ONCE FROM CULLIGAN GMC, THE POWER STEERING EFFORT HAD INCREASED GREATLY. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL HAD BEEN CHANGED. THE TRUCK WAS BACK TO THE DEALER, DAVID CADILLAC, MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME CONCERN WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. ON ONE OCCASION THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME GUSHING GEAR LUBE FROM THE FRONT AXLE, ON ANOTHER IT WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL EMPTY. I WAS CHARGED FOR A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHEN ONLY 2 WHEELS CAN BE ALIGNED ON THIS TRUCK. THE WRONG OIL FILTER WAS INSTALLED, THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN ABUSIVELY BY A DEALER EMPLOYEE (IT WAS RUN BEYOND MECHANICAL LIMITS WHILE COLD AS I STOOD IN THE PARKING LOT), AND WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE ADVISER AFTER THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN HIS

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Dec 28, 200576,000 milesSC

I SAT ON MY TAIL GATE AND THE TAIL GATE FELL DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED I HAD ONE BROKE CABLE AND THE OTHER SIDE THE BOLT WAS MISSING. I BOUGHT TWO CABLES FROM ADVANCE AUTO REPLACED ONE SIDE BUT I COULD NOT GET THE BOLT BACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND FOR THE RECALL BUT THE GATE FELL OFF THE TRUCK AND I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD FELL OFF AND I DRAGGED IT DOWN A DIRT ROAD FOR ABOUT HALF MILE OR MORE. I TRIED TO GET GMC TO REPLACE THE TAIL GATE BUT THEY JUST WANTED TO REPLACE THE CABLE SAYING THAT THE CABLE DID NOT CAUSE THE TAIL GATE TO FALL OFF AND THE DAMAGE WAS NOT DUE TO THE CABLES. I FEEL THAT THE CABLE PROBLEM CAUSED THE TAIL GATE TO FALL OFF. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 30, 200583,579 milesLA

ON DEC 8, 2003 I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECOUNDS IT SHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR, ALL ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS A CAR TRAVELING BEHIND THAT ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I PULLED OVER AND PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK TO SEE IF ANY THING HAD COME APART. I DID NOT SEE ANY FLUID LEAK OR ANY LOOSE PARTS. I DROVE MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN LOW GEAR. THEY TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR REPAIRS (38,127 MILES). I WAS 2,127 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND IT COST $1,057.19. TODAY 3/30/05 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE TRANSMISSION DOES THE SAME THING. I ONLY HAVE LOW GEAR AND NO REVERSE. THIS TIME I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Feb 26, 200329,100 milesGA

REAR BRAKE FULID AND EMERGENCY LINE IS EXPOSED AND EASILY DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND/OR RUBBLE. 2WD C1500 TRUCKS HAVE BRAKE LINES AND CABLES DROOPING DOWN BEYOND BELOW REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND ARE EASILY SNAGGED BY ROAD TRASH.*JB CAUSING LOSS OF FULID AND BRAKING ABILITY.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 → · Every Sierra 1500 year → · How the figures are calculated →