Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 GMC Sierra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip — runs 6.4× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
249Complaints
7Recalls
23Crashes
2Fires
6Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip (18.1% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints here are 6.4× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 45 · 18.1% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Service Brakes | 31 · 12.4% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 26 · 10.4% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Parking Brake | 17 · 6.8% | Recalled | Recall 05V161000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor | 16 · 6.4% | Recalled | Recall 05V379000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 9 · 3.6% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 249 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Equipment:electrical
NHTSA campaign 07E066000 · 2007 · reported 08/28/2007
IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Parking Brake
NHTSA campaign 05V161000 · 2005 · reported 04/22/2005
IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
NHTSA campaign 05V379000 · 2005 · reported 08/29/2005
THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment
NHTSA campaign 04E022000 · 2004 · reported 03/23/2004
THE BEDLINER CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PICKUP WHILE IT IS MOTION, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
NHTSA campaign 04V129000 · 2004 · reported 03/17/2004
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.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Other:delivery
NHTSA campaign 03V435000 · 2003 · reported 11/03/2003
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“2002 GMC SIERRA ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO…”NHTSA complaint 10124681 — filed 05/23/2005 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPHTHE ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS) MALFUNCTIONED AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS FLAW WITH…”NHTSA complaint 10118879 — filed 05/19/2005 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING SLOW THE ABS KICKED IN. IT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE NO BRAKES. THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE ABS KICK IN…”NHTSA complaint 10121168 — filed 05/17/2005 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra?
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues are the most-reported category, cited in 45 of 249 NHTSA complaints (18.1%), followed by service brakes (31), service brakes, hydraulic (26), parking brake (17). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 GMC Sierra have?
249 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 23 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 6 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 GMC Sierra have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 GMC Sierra's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
