2002 GMC Sonoma Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2002 GMC Sonoma most often describe ABS warning lights and uneven braking, and extended cab door handles and latches that broke. Tailgate cables or straps that broke or rusted and worn or corroded brake parts are also frequent themes. Door and tailgate reports mostly come after about 30,000 miles, while some ABS complaints appear within the first few hundred miles of ownership.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS faults, warning light, and uneven braking

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • median 35,548 mi at 3.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2012

   Owners describe the ABS warning light coming on, with the anti-lock function switching off so the brakes do not fully apply, or the vehicle pulling, veering, or sliding during braking. Some report the wheels locking on a dry road, and another describes brakes releasing unevenly when a wheel hits a bump. A complaint says a wheel speed sensor was replaced after repeated visits for ABS problems. According to complaints, some dealers said the behavior was normal for ABS braking. Some reports come within the first few hundred miles (about 127 to 200), and others at about 19,500 to 111,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS warning light has been diagnosed and whether a wheel speed sensor was replaced, and request the repair records. On a test drive on a safe, empty road, check for the warning light and for pulling to one side during braking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problem-I dont feel safe in my truck-ABS brakes is not working properly when coming in contact with a bump in the road or pothole cover at times. On going incident since purchasing the vehicle new with 127 miles. Despite what the dealer service department has told me, this is normal for ABS brakes, this is a problem for me. They have either incorrectly documented or did not document at all my complaint. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10073089, filed 2004-05, 200 miles

   “Tonight, a rainy night in texas I had to brakes suddenly. Finally my ABS brakes worked properly .there was no heavy pull to the left swerving into the next lane, as it did from 2003-2005. There was pulsation from the braking mechanism that I never felt before like I told it should work. I didn't have to fight with the wheel to keep control. It never swerved like numerous times before out of the over 100 times my ABS brakes malfunctioned , this time finally it worked the way ABS should work during a wet bumpy road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10174751, filed 2006-11, 111,111 miles
2. 2
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Extended cab door handles and latches breaking

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 58,705 mi at 5.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2015

   Owners describe handles or latches on the third door of the extended cab breaking, in some cases several times. Some report the door would not open from inside, including a case after a rear-end collision and another that says someone in the back could not have got out. According to the complaints, the dealer replaced the part under warranty in some cases, but later failures were not covered and diagnosis labor was charged to the owner. Reports range from about 23,000 to 194,000 miles, and most of those with mileage given are above about 35,000 miles.

   What to check: Open and close the third door from both inside and outside, and check the handle and latch several times before buying. Ask whether the handle or latch has been replaced before, and whether that repair was under warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned this vehicle since 2002, bought it brand new. The third door handle has been replaced 4 times, today it broke again. If someone were in the back of the cab and had to get out, they could not. This handle is plastic and breaks continuously. The chevy house informed me that they have this part in stock all the time because it happens quite often. They replaced it 4 times while it was under warranty. It is not under warranty now, so I will have to pay for it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10244347, filed 2008-10

   “The 3rd door on ext cab. The door does not open. Was told by dealer this is major complaints for these 3rd models. Have to replace pins or something, but it keeps happening. This a a life & death hazard & defect. Why hasn't this been recalled? In an accident, (rear ended) the door could not be opened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10782137, filed 2015-10, 194,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Tailgate cables and straps breaking or rusting

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2006

   Owners describe tailgate support cables or straps that snapped or broke, sometimes while stepping onto the open tailgate or simply lowering it. Some say the cables showed rust or corrosion before they failed, and a report describes the tailgate dropping onto the bumper when the cables snapped, leading to the owner falling. A complaint says a tailgate cable recall existed but did not cover that vehicle because of its identification number. Reports mostly fall between about 33,000 and 68,000 miles, and some describe rust or corrosion in the cables.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the tailgate cables and support straps for rust, fraying, or prior replacement before buying. A service bulletin describes slack in tailgate cables and tells technicians not to replace parts for that condition, so ask the dealer to confirm the cables are intact.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2002 Gmc Sonoma pick-up. I had the cables on the tailgate break when climbing into the back of the truck. I have found articles on this subject on the internet from news agencies that say Gmc would be sending out a letter to owners of the Gmc Sonoma's and s10 that would warn of the problem and offer an inspection of the cables and replacement of the cables. I never received the letter and the dealerships seem to know nothing about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10164921, filed 2006-08, 58,000 miles

   “On 30 oct. 05, I was preparing to load a motorcycle on the back of my Gmc Sonoma. After opening-up the tailgate on my Gmc Sonoma, I proceeded to step on the tailgate. Both tailgate cables snapped causing the tailgate to slam down on the bumper causing me to fall to the ground. I was not injured, but was thankful that it broke before and not during the loading of the truck. Both cables snapped exactly in the same spot. Cables showed signs of corrosion inside the cable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10148129, filed 2006-01, 33,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Reduced braking, worn pads or rotors, corroded lines

   • 14 complaints (25%)
   • median 35,548 mi at 3.6 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2012

   Some owners describe a brake pedal that went to the floor without slowing the vehicle, with a brake line failure mentioned. Another report describes brakes that would not stop the vehicle at an intersection, with the brake and ABS warning lights on. Other complaints describe worn-through front pads, scored rotors, rotors that wore out early, and a brake job the dealer proposed with a non-factory product. An owner noticed corroded brake lines during an inspection but reported no brake failure. Where mileage is given, reports fall between about 30,000 and 75,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the brake pads, rotors, and brake lines for wear, scoring, or corrosion, and ask for recent brake service records. Ask whether any brake line work or non-factory parts were used on the vehicle before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While braking for a yield intersection on 3/30/2012, approx. 10am, in dry and clear conditions, brakes on 2002 Gmc Sonoma failed. Vehicle would not stop despite hard pressure on the brake pedal and ran through intersection almost colliding with another vehicle. When managed to get vehicle stopped and pulled to side of road, both the ABS and brake failure warning lights were illuminated on the dash. Upon turning the ignition off and restarting, both the ABS and brake failure warning lights cleared and were no longer illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10455210, filed 2012-04, 64,988 miles

   “While driving. The consumer heard a squeaking sound. The consumer found that the vehicle needed brakes at 29000 miles on the driver's side. The consumer took the vehicle in for an inspection and found that the vehicle needed new brakes on both sides. However, the dealer did not want to put factory brakes on the vehicle they want to use a product call dura stop. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108734, filed 2005-01
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Exterior lights going out or staying on

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe daytime running lights switching off whenever the turn signal was used, which became more frequent over time, and dealers said this was normal. Another report describes brake lights that stayed on after the vehicle was parked and turned off, so the battery had to be disconnected. A further report says headlights and running lights went out after a fuel pump sensor failure was diagnosed. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 15,900 to 60,000 miles, and the running light complaints describe turn signal use.

   What to check: Test the running lights and brake lights while using the turn signals and brake pedal, and check that the brake lights turn off after the vehicle is parked. Ask whether any lighting or switch repair has been done, and request the records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I noticed in a reflection off the vehicle in front of me that when I turned my turn signal (doesn't matter which one, right or left), that my day time running lights go off. This started out as only happening on occasion and then proceed to get worse. By february 17, 2003, the day time running lights would go off every time I used my turn signal. I took my vehicle into the dealer on that date and was informed after they had contacted GM, that it was normal for it to do that. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10008472, filed 2003-03, 15,900 miles

   “My 2002 Gmc Sonoma's running lights go off when the turn signals are used. My dealer & GM tells me that this is normal. The whole purpose of running lights is to been seen. This is most important when changing lanes or turning. Gm should recall these pickup trucks an correct this situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10039585, filed 2003-09

Buying note. Before buying, operate the extended cab door handles, latches, and tailgate cables several times, and ask whether any of those parts have been replaced. Ask for brake and ABS service records, since braking and ABS complaints recur for this model.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.