RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Tracker

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
59
Latest Sep 26, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
12
8 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 59 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Tracker, most frequently naming the suspension, body & structure and brakes categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 315 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA06018ClosedEngineering Analysis

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION

Opened Oct 30, 2006
Closed Dec 3, 2007

IN OCTOBER 2007, GM INITIATED A SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL MY 1999 THROUGH 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT-BELT STATES.THE PROGRAM EXTENDS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.GM IS ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM IN PHASES DUE TO PART AVAILABILITY.THE FIRST PHASE STARTED IN OCTOBER 2007 AND COVERS THE MY 1999 AND 2000 VEHICLES.OWNERS OF MY 2001 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE LETTERS AT A FUTURE DATE, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FREE REPAIRS FROM THE PROGRAM IF THE CROSSMEMBER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT.GM'S PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE INSPECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS EVERY 12 MONTHS THROUGH THE TERMS OF THE POLICY ADJUSTMENT.COPIES OF THE DEALER BULLETIN AND OWNER LETTER FOR GM'S SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM ARE ATTACHED TO THE CLOSING REPORT FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. THE RATE OF CONFIRMED LCA SEPARATIONS AT 5 YEARS IN SERVICE IS LESS THAN 10 PER 100,000 VEHICLES, WHICH IS LOW RELATIVE TO OTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUES PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED BY ODI. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 26, 2024
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported

The safety airbags exploded and burning my face and the passenger side passenger it was very hard and his arm and the of explosion of the airbags she was spraying and burning the face and was

NHTSA ID
11616661
Incident
Sep 25, 2024
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: AFFINITY TOURING, TIRE SIZE: 205/65/R15, DOT NUMBER: 2R9LDBF. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE TIRE BUT SAW NO DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE DAMAGED ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL AND WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID
11366519
Incident
Oct 23, 2020
Mileage
145,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Mar 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FRONT END SWERVED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID
11189764
Incident
Mar 11, 2019
Mileage
137,570 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 13, 2018

REAR BRAKES KEEP FAILING, THEY FAILED YESTERDAY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ABOUT 8,000 MILES. THEY ALSO DISCONTINUED A PART FOR THE REAR BRAKES. CANNOT FIND THE PART ANYWHERE. WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR, PULLED OVER AND IT WAS THE BRAKES. HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP.

NHTSA ID
11161236
Incident
Dec 12, 2018
Mileage
86,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 5, 2017
Crash reported2 injuries reported

AFTER A COLLISION WHERE MY TRACKER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AROUND 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE HIT DEAD ON TO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER (T-BONE) AND MY SENSOR SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED MY AIRBAGS AND DID NOT.

NHTSA ID
10970730
Incident
Apr 5, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 8, 2017

MY MOTHER AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR JUST LUNGED FORWARD SHARPLY AND MADE US SWERVE A LITTLE. I PULLED OVER AND SEEN THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING "OFF" A LITTLE. WE TOWED IT HOME AND MY STEP DAD LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. THE SUBSPENSION SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER PART COULD OF KILLED US. SHE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 29 MILES FROM DAVE WHITE CHEVEROLT IN 2001. NOTHING WAS SENT TO US FROM THE MANUFACTURE OR THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PART BEING A DANGEROUS PART. IT WAS TO BE REPLACED I HEARD IF THE CAR REACHED 150,000 MILES OR 10 PLUS YEARS. SHE HAD THIS CAR FOR BOTH AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. WE HAD IT TOWED THIS WEEKEND AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE.

NHTSA ID
10959512
Incident
Feb 17, 2017
Filed Aug 21, 2016

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS EVERY 2 YEARS AS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2004 (12 YEARS) SO I'VE REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS ( ALL 3) 6 TIMES. HAS THIS HAPPENED OR BEEN REPORTED BY ANY OTHER OWNERS?

NHTSA ID
10897458
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 11, 2015

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FOR CHEVY TRACKERIS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION AND THE GARAGE SAID THERE MUST HAVE NOT BEEN A COATING PUT ON IT FOR IT TO BE RUSTED THROUGH AND FALLING APART.

NHTSA ID
10715760
Incident
May 11, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

PIP4723J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Tracker by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004150148.8
2003690148.8
2002Viewing590145.3
2001830144.8
20001090245.8
1999490143.5
1998100026.4
1997400
1996700
1995300
1994000
1993100
1992100
1991000
1990100
1989100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.