RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Tracker Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Mar 18, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
24%
of 59 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Tracker submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Oct 17, 2014
Crash reported

MY CHEVY TRACKER HAS A BROKEN CROSSMEMBER/SUBFRAME/K-FRAME. FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ARE MOUNTED TO THIS PIECE, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTING POINT. IT COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, NO MAJ. INJURY. GM KNOWS THE BAD PART WAS IN EVERY TRACKER/VITARA -THEY SAY IT WASN'T TREATED PROPERLY, HAD NO DRAIN HOLES. THERE IS A BULLETIN TO REPLACE THIS PART (#06186),10 YEARS OR 150K MILES -WHICH SPECIFIES THE REPAIR IS COVERED IF "DISPLAYS THE CONDITION OF" HAVING THE DEFECT WITHIN THAT PERIOD. FULLER GM DEALER AGREES "CLEARLY HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE PERIOD BASED UPON CONDITION NOW". I'VE SUFFERED THE RUN-AROUND BETWEEN SR REP ON THE PHONE, AND THE LOCAL GM DEALER. ALL SAY "WOULD REPAIR IT IF THE OTHER WOULD". GM BY PHONE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL, LOCAL SAYS GM HAS TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR. THEY ALL UNIV. AGREED WITH FACTS: HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE BULLETIN'S DEFINITION, YET INSIST THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO HELP, "THE PERIOD IS UP" -WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAILURE, FAR WORSE THAN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. IN THOSE CASES, THE CAR CAN STILL FUNCTION WITH AN AWARE DRIVER. THE TRACKER FAILURE IS CATASTROPHIC. GM SAYS BULLETIN NOTICE MAILED OUT TOLD OWNERS TO CHECK FOR THE "SIGNS" EVERY YEAR, BUT ONLY SENT OUT ONE NOTICE -NOT TO THE NEXT OWNERS (MOST MANUFS SEND NOTICES FOR NEW OWNERS)! OWNER OF MY CAR WHO MAYBE SAW THE NOTICE DIED, SO WE HAD NO WARNING TO CHECK FOR "SIGNS". EVERY GM REP SAYS THAT'S THEIR "REGRETTABLE POLICY". GM AND LOCAL FULLER GM HAVE WASTED MANY HOURS/WEEKS OF TIME, DIRECTING RESPONSE. TO ALL OTHERS, SAYING WILL HELP AND CALL BACK, NOT ONE HAS. GM SAYS "THERE'S NO RECALL BECAUSE IT WASN'T A POPULAR VEHICLE"*! I OFFERED TO PAY FOR PART, OR WORK, MEET HALFWAY, THEY DID NOT EVEN CONSIDER. I WANT MINE REPAIRED +GM TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE HELP, THANKS! *ALL QUOTES ACTUALLY SAID BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10648505
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
102,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jun 26, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-WAY RESIDENTIAL STREET, JUST PICKED UP OUR TWO YOUNGEST GRANDSON'S FROM SCHOOL, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE JAMMED, VERY UNEXPECTEDLY, UP IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FRAME OF THE TRACKER. THE TRACKER WENT MID AIR, AND THEN ROLLED. CONSUMER HANDWRITING IS ILLEGIBLE. .UPDATED 07/02/14 *BF

NHTSA ID
10607325
Incident
May 8, 2014
Mileage
144,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Nov 23, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY TIME I PRESSED THE BRAKES MY TRACKER VEERED TO THE RIGHT INTO THE OTHER LAND AND STARTED TO SHAKE TREMENDOUSLY. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH OUT IT CONSTANTLY SHAKING. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER BAR HAD ROTTED OUT AND WAS COMPLETELY FULL OF RUST. AFTER A FULL INSPECTION I WAS TOLD FROM THE MECHANIC THAT MY CAR IS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT A RECALL WITH THIS PART. MY 2002 CHEVY TRACKER HAS JUST OVER 85000 MILES . I CONTACTED THE GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2012 THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WELL UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMITS. I RECENTLY INHERITED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY MOTHER IN-LAW WHO WAS VERY SICK WITH CANCER. SHE DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE JANUARY OF 2012 DUE TO HER BEING EXTREMELY SICK. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS OF HER VEHICLE AND ALL HER PAPERWORK. SHE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS PART. I DON'T WANT GM. TO FIX THIS SINCE I HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC BUT FEEL THEY SHOULD WARRANTY THE PART. WHEN I CONTACTED THEM THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE PART JUST A EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY WERE OFFERING. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE I SEE THAT THERE MOST DEFIANTLY WAS A RECALL AND THIS VEHICLE NEVER GOT FIXED . I CANT SAY WHETHER THE RECALL LETTER GOT LOST IN THE MAIL OR WAS NEVER SENT. THEY SAID THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION DOES RECALL NOT THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WAS NO RECALL THEY WERE JUST OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I JUST WANT CHEVROLET TO STEP UP TO THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10553516
Incident
Oct 30, 2013
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 30, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME BRACKET WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10550255
Incident
Oct 27, 2013
Mileage
88,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Oct 22, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE CROSS MEMBERS WERE CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS, AND THE FRONT AND CENTER CROSS MEMBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, WHO STATED THAT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY PROGRAM MENTIONED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06018 (SUSPENSION) HAD PASSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,849. UPDATED 12/23/13*LJ

NHTSA ID
10548889
Incident
Oct 21, 2013
Mileage
84,849 mi
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed May 28, 2013

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE NIGHT WHEN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELT LIKE ITS WAS GOING TO FALL OFF I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD COULD NOT FIND OUT WHY IT WAS DOING THIS WHEN THE TIRE WAS FINE. SO I DROVE VERY SLOWLY WITH MY CAUTION LIGHTS ON TO AND FROM WORK BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU DID UNDER 40 IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT UNTIL HE DROVE THE CAR AND IT GOT UP TO ABOUT 50MPH THEN HE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS THAT THE CROSSMEMBER AND LCA ATTACHMENT BRACKET HAD RUSTED SO BAD IT BROKE FREE AND THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING THE LOWER ARM AND TIRE IN PLACE THIS MADE ME UPSET BECAUSE I JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED FOUR MONTHS EARLIER.AND THEY DID NOT CATCH THIS, SO WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED IT AND HE BOUGHT A NEW PART FOR IT AND IT WAS GOOD BUT IT WAS STARTING TO RUSTING OUT ON BOTTOM PART BELOW THE DOORS AND AROUND THE TIRES THEN JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS AND AS OF DATE 5/28/13 I ONLY HAVE 137,003 MILEAGE ON MY TRACKER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513739
Incident
Jun 27, 2012
Mileage
112,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 8, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION, WHO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. ...UPDATED 05/29/13 *BF UPDATED 06/12/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10507471
Incident
Mar 29, 2013
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 18, 2011

2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A RECALL FOR RUSTED SUB FRAME *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE RSUTED FRAME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10401886
Incident
May 2, 2011
Body & structure
Filed Jan 16, 2010

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY TRACKER THAT HAS DISPLAYED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER. THIS IS AS DESCRIBED IN THE CLOSED INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06018. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN BRAKING AND I WAS VERY LUCKY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10299949
Incident
Jan 15, 2010
Mileage
91,353 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 18, 2009

RIGHT FRONT IDLER ARM HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM FRONT CROSS MEMBER AND WAS JUST HANGING LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10292751
Incident
Nov 18, 2009
Mileage
32,400 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 11, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER DISENGAGED AND WAS RUSTED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2007, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA ID
10202545
Incident
Aug 5, 2007
Mileage
58,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE ON THE REAR DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAVE FRACTURED AND FALLEN OFF. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLIES. *AK UPDATED 05/30/06 THE HANDLES WERE BOTH PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. *TT

NHTSA ID
10155388
Incident
Apr 14, 2006
Mileage
12,856 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .