2002 GMC Sierra Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 7%of 249 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,650miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the body and structure of the 2002 GMC Sierra, 7% of the 249 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,650 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This is an old incident; however, until just recently, I did not realize there was a website such as yours. Also, I am reporting a specific incident, but also want to include other general information. The incident which occurred was related to my brake fluid lines rusting completely through while I was driving down the road with my two small grandchildren. When a vehicle stopped in front of me, I pushed on my brakes only to find I could not stop. Fortunately, there was a field on the right side of the road and I drove into it, rather than hitting the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10537360, filed 2013-08, 70,000 miles“Both the driver side and rear brake lines, because of rust, burst at the same time. It was lucky the car was not on the road.I have replaced all the lines and had to replace the front calipers because the bleeding nippled were completely gone due to rust. The rear calipers were in good shape.over the course of ownership, I have had to forcefully remove the tires from the hub because they were rusted to the hub. Again I was lucky that I did this work at home and would have been in serious trouble had I been forced to change tires due to a flat. …”
NHTSA complaint #10439288, filed 2011-12, 147,000 miles“The accident happened in a parking lot. As I was turning at the end of row of parked vehicles ,a pick-up truck was backing out of a parking place. I applied the brakes but there was no response only a ratcheting noise coming from the front end of my pick-up. I put the truck in neutral but it continued to go forward until my truck ran into the other one. This happened at a very low speed but there was still quite a bit of damage to the trucks. It almost felt like the truck was being pulled forward on its own. I got my truck in to a mechanic and he replaced the left front wheel speed sensor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10557989, filed 2013-12, 103,250 miles“My 2002 Gmc 2500hd truck this past weekend had a failure in the tailgate cable system. I was driving my atv into the bed when the left cable broke and the tailgate suddenly lowered a few inches. Fortunately, the right cable didn't break or serious injury would have occurred. After looking at the broken cable, there was evidence of rust inside the plastic covering on the wire strands that make up the cable. There is no way to inspect the cables for a potential hazard prior to a catastrophic occurrence. …”
NHTSA complaint #10061842, filed 2004-03, 41,000 miles“When traveling between 40 and 50 MPH the pickup has a vibration that has been deemed normal by the service tech. This determination was by a factory rep. Not the local rep as he was unaware of any noise at this speed in any other vehicle. The tech. Did hear and feel this vibration. This continues to be an everyday occurrence.”
NHTSA complaint #10017003, filed 2003-05, 10 milesRelated recalls
- 04V129000Mar 17, 2004On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal)…Covers: GMC Sierra 2000–2004, Chevrolet Silverado 2000–2004, Avalanche 2002–2004 +3 more
Related service bulletins
- 10113406Feb 8, 2017This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10011755Oct 4, 2006Tailgate cable slack. This includes 1998-2006 chevrolet and gmc full and mid size trucks. *eh updated.
- 10014808May 10, 2005Door hinge replacement kit.
- 10015770Oct 1, 2004Rattle type noise coming from the rear of the cab during body twist maneuvers or over bumps. Gm tech link.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2015 | 2 | 4% |
| 2014 | 8 | 8% |
| 2013 | 3 | 8% |
| 2012 | 6 | 21% |
| 2011 | 8 | 19% |
| 2010 | 7 | 21% |
| 2009 | 6 | 16% |
| 2008 | 12 | 18% |
| 2007 | 6 | 10% |
| 2006 | 1 | 2% |
| 2005 | 7 | 6% |
| 2004 | 9 | 5% |
| 2003 | 6 | 3% |
| 2002 | 17 | 7% |
| 2001 | 13 | 5% |
| 2000 | 34 | 8% |
| 1999 | 30 | 5% |
| 1998 | 4 | 2% |
| 1997 | 5 | 2% |
| 1996 | 3 | 1% |
| 1995 | 5 | 2% |
| 1994 | 2 | 1% |
| 1993 | 2 | 3% |
| 1992 | 1 | 3% |
| 1990 | 2 | 11% |
| 1989 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2002 GMC Sierra
145 complaintsEngine cooling
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsSuspension
12 complaintsTires
10 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 GMC Sierra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology