Complaints
192
Crashes
20
Fires
0
Injuries
9
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#164 complaints
Brakes
Avg mileage:105,466 mi
Crash-related:6
#236 complaints
Hydraulic Brakes
Avg mileage:75,406 mi
Crash-related:2
#310 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:62,774 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 64 | 6 | — | 105,466 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 36 | 2 | — | 75,406 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 | 4 | — | 62,774 mi | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 8 | 1 | — | 41,042 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 5 | — | 138,200 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 | — | — | 79,260 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | 33,607 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 113,823 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Hub | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — |
Brakes
64
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,466
Hydraulic Brakes
36
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,406
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
10
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,774
Parking-Brake Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,042
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
138,200
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,260
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,607
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
113,823
Wheel Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Hub
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other GMC Sierra 1500 Years
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 has 192 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 64 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500?
Top reported problems: Brakes (64 complaints, avg 105,466 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (36 complaints, avg 75,406 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (10 complaints, avg 62,774 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 88,732 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 include 20 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full GMC Sierra 1500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 GMC Sierra 1500
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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