2002 GMC Sonoma Problems

Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 GMC Sonoma has 74 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.

Top reported problems: Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments (6 complaints, avg 51,142 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (5 complaints, avg 56,663 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (5 complaints, avg 54,413 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.

The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 53,890 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.

NHTSA complaints for the 2002 GMC Sonoma include 2 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 2 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.

No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 GMC Sonoma 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.

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.