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GMC Sierra 3500Model year report

2002 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
79,000miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500. The part named most often is brakes, with 9 complaints (45% of the total), followed by fuel system (6) and suspension (3). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 79,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 153 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Brakes: “I first noticed that the anti-lock brakes were activating at slow speeds ( 5-10 MPH ) under dry road conditions. This was prior to brake line incident on 4-14-2012 but I am not sure of exact date. I researched the anti-lock brakes and found NHTSA id campaign #05v379000 action # pe05020 but this did not include my home state of kentucky. However, I have been working in ohio since the purchase of said vehicle 10-17-2001 to current date 2-11-2013. On 4-14-2012 I was preparing to take my boat to fuel it . …”

NHTSA complaint #10497825, filed 2013-02, 154,163 miles

Fuel system: “Slowing down to a red traffic light and brake pedal went to the floor. Tried to pump brake pedal to get more pressure but did not work. Drove off onto shoulder and got it slowed down . Drive very slow with hazard lights on to get it back to my house. I was only about a mile away. Got home and looked underneath to find brake fluid all over left rear wheels, fuel tank, left rear shock and drive axle. Continued to look at all brake lines and all of them were corroded bad. Getting prices on having all brake lines replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10526003, filed 2013-07, 137,000 miles

Suspension: “Vehicle bounces all over the road, both outside mirrors vibrate due to this. Dealer has balanced tires, did not remedy the problem. Please provide additional information.”

NHTSA complaint #8016110, filed 2002-08

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2002 Gmc 3500. While driving 35 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid a deer and struck a concrete wall. None of the air bags in the vehicle deployed. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The contact stated that there was minor damage to the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle has not been inspected. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 78,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10205813, filed 2007-10, 78,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 42,050 and 101,000 miles.

0%0–107%10–2529%25–507%50–7529%75–10021%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 79,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’023’04’06’08’11’13’16
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 153 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 153 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Sierra 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202652,2502———Too new
20251740,0001———Too new
20245138,3003——Too new to compareToo new
20232833,8001——47 · TypicalToo new
20223231,1543——54 · TypicalRising
202120101,5005———Rising
20205128,7008——95 · MoreRising
20191353,0047———Not enough data
20181453,8006———Not enough data
20171321,0007———Not enough data
20161927,5007———Rising
20153138,5007——50 · TypicalFalling
2014768,0003———Not enough data
20131449,2184———Not enough data
2012931,2004———Not enough data
20112077,2505———Falling
2009536,6005———Not enough data
20082559,0003——0 · FewerFalling
20071636,0003———Rising
20061149,9740———Not enough data
20052450,5000———Rising
20042484,0000———Rising
2003760,5000———Not enough data
20022079,0002———Stable
20013663,5402——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20002657,0072——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19991959,5001———Stable
199812128,0002———Not enough data
19971095,0001———Not enough data

All GMC Sierra 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 9 complaints (45% of the total), followed by fuel system with 6.

Has the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 79,000 miles and the middle half falls between 42,050 and 101,000 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.