Complaints
164
Crashes
13
Fires
2
Injuries
12
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#132 complaints
Brakes
Avg mileage:125,775 mi
Crash-related:4
#227 complaints
Hydraulic Brakes
Avg mileage:85,758 mi
Crash-related:2
#311 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:55,170 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 32 | 4 | — | 125,775 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 27 | 2 | — | 85,758 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 | — | — | 55,170 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | — | — | 57,071 mi | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | 124,330 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | — | — | 55,944 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Trailer Hitches | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Diesel Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 | — | — | — |
Brakes
32
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
125,775
Hydraulic Brakes
27
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,758
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,170
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,071
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
124,330
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,944
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Trailer Hitches
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Diesel Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other GMC Sierra 2500 Years
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 has 164 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 32 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500?
Top reported problems: Brakes (32 complaints, avg 125,775 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (27 complaints, avg 85,758 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (11 complaints, avg 55,170 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 2500?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 94,805 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 2500?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 include 13 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 1 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 2500 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 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 2500?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (brakes) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full GMC Sierra 2500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 GMC Sierra 2500
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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