RoadVitals

2002 GMC S Series Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
12
Latest Mar 24, 2006
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.
23%
of 52 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 GMC S Series submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 engine

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

EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 24, 2006

LOW COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON - REPLACED FIRST TIME LOW COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON - REPLACED SECOND TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153631
Incident
Aug 12, 2005
Mileage
50,508 mi
ElectricalEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 3, 2006

FIRST OF ALL MY ODOMETER GAUGE STOPPED OPERATING. IT REMAINED ON ZERO MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE NOVEMBER 2005. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD CLUSTER HAD TO BE REINSTALLED. SECONDLY; THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT BEGAN POPPING ON AND THE ENVOY WAS DRIVING ROUGH. I FOUND OUT FROM A GM DEALER THAT THE CLUTCH FAN FROZE WHICH CAUSED THE WATER PUMP TO BREAK AND THE RADIATOR TO OVER HEAT BURST THE RADIATOR HOSE AND SPEW OUT AND LEAK ALL OF THE WATER AND RADIATOR FLUID FROM THE RADIATOR. THE ENVOY IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS 2004 ENVOY SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2003. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151678
Incident
Mar 2, 2006
Mileage
54,480 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 14, 2006

ABOUT APRIL OF 2005 MY TRUCK STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AT THIS TIME IT WOULD RESTART AUTOMATICALLY WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS MISSING A STALL CODE AND THAT THEY HAD UPDATED IT. IN SEPTEMBER IT STARTED TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I HAD ASKED SOME MECHANICS I KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN IGNITION PROBLEM. WE STARTED CHECKING ALL IGNITION CONNECTIONS, FUSES, GROUNDS ETC. IT STOPPED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WERE IT WILL SHUT OFF THREE AND FOUR TIMES PER TRIP. WHILE MYSELF AND TWO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE WORKING IN LUGOFF SC IT SHUT OFF ON US IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY, NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THAT IF IT DID IT AGAIN TO CALL THEM AND THEY WOULD SEND A SERVICE TECH OUT TO LOOK AT IT. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT GM NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147760
Incident
Jun 27, 2005
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 1, 2006

I FIRST PURCHASED THIS MALIBU 2002 IN FEB 2002. NOV 02 ( 9 MOS LATER) I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND THE SAME TIME MY TURN/HAZARD SIGNAL WENT OUT AND I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPLACED YET AFTER 4YRS OF HAVING THIS CAR. IF I WANT TO USE IT I HAVE TO KEEP PRESSING THE HAZARD BUTTON TO MAKE IT COME ON. NOV 2005 I TRIED TO START MY CAR, BUT IT KEPT CUTTING OFF. MY DAD STATED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP,CRANK SENSOR AND MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL DIDN'T START. FINALLY MY DAD WENT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND PRESSED THIS BLACK BUTTON (CUT OFF SWITCH) AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD START. I HAVE TO TRAVEL 25 MILES TO WORK SO I WAS TIRED OF WORRYING ABOUT THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE THEFT SYSTEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER 11/29/2005 THEY HAD THE CAR UNTIL 12/15/2005. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH, CRANK SENSOR AND MY ALARM/AUTOMATIC STARTER. I WAS OUT OF $366.73 TO THE DEALER AND TAKING A CAB TO WORK AT 5:30AM FOR X7DY COASTED$210.00. I WAS ALSO OUT OF MONEY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR THE LAST 7YS THEY HAD MY CAR PLUS GAS ON BOTH BECAUSE THEY USED ALL GAS IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD X2 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT ON MY CAR, I HAVE TO CHANGE MY TAIL/PARK/BRAKE BULB SEEMINGLY EVERY 6MOS. I AM ONLY GETTING MY HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL REPLACED WHEN NHTSA REVIEWS IT AS BEING AN DEFECT. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE SPEED OF MY CAR ALSO ON THE E WAY. I HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TAKE OFF AT 60MPH. I HAVE TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR EVERY 3DYS. I LAST CHANGED MY FUEL FILTER 1YR AGO AND AGAIN HAVING IT REPLACED 1/1/06. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 1WK AFTER I GOT MY CAR OUT OF THE SHOP ON 12/22 AND IT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. MY COOLANT LIGHT COMES AND GOES OFF EVERY NOW AND THEN. I HAVE HAD MY COOLANT/FUEL FLUSHED. I HAD IT WINTERIZED WHAT'S THE PROBLEM. IF WE HAVE 47-50 PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING WHY CANT IT GET DONE. PLEASE RESPOND AND HELP US CHEVY OWNERS ASAP/WF. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146663
Incident
Nov 26, 2005
Mileage
62,492 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2005

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WAS TOLD AIR INJECTOR VALVE OPER/SOLENOID REPLACE. DROVE 800 MILES, TOOK EMISSIONS TEST FAILED. SHOWED NO CODES. WAS TOLD BY TECH TO TRY DRIVING 100 MILES. OR TAKE TO DEALER, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP CHARGED DIAGNOSTIC FEE. WAS TOLD BY THEM TO DRIVE 100 MILES. DROVE 150 RETURNED NEXT DAY. STILL THE CODES ARE NOT SHOWING. WANT ME TO DRIVE ANOTHER 150 MILES. TWO CODES ARE NOT SHOWING. TOOK BACK TO EMISSIONS PROVIDER, THEY SHOWED ME IT WAS THE 02 SENSOR AND LAST TEST ON THE OBD COMPUTER. I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME. ALSO PLEASE NOTE MY RADIO FROZE AGAIN PLAYING ON 1 STATION AND SHOWING ANOTHER. SHOWED IT TO TECH TODAY. AND ALSO MY BRAKES STILL GIVING SAME PROBLEM. ABS BRAKES STILL PULLING VEHICLE. BOUGHT NEW TIRES TO HELP WITH THE TRACTION. BUT PROBLEM STILL SAME. FUEL WAS ABOUT 12 MILES PER GAL. HOW MANY MILES DO I HAVE TO DRIVE IN ORDER FOR THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. I'VE DRIVEN OVER 1000 (ONE THOUSAND) SINCE FRIDAY 10-21-05. WHAT A LEMON! I WILL BE RETURNING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (CHEV) TOMORROW AFTER DRIVING 150 MILES. MY DAYTIME LIGHT STILL GOES OUT WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10140886
Incident
Oct 24, 2005
Mileage
49,300 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Aug 1, 2005

1. RUNS HOT WAS TOLD BY DEALER ITS "NORMAL" TO RUN IT AT 230 20,000 MILES. 2. REPLACE BRAKES AT 40,000 MILES. 500.00 REPAIR 3. RECALLED FOR WIPER/SIGNAL SWITCH 45,000, 4. CUTS OUT OR RPMS MOVE THE CAR DOESN'T, DEALER CANT FIND A PROBLEM 46,000 MILES. 5. "DRINKS OIL NO SIGNS OF LEAKS! 60,000 MILES DEALER HAS NO CLUE! 6. TOTAL OVER HEATING AT 70,000. REPLACE THERMOSTAT. 300.00 REPAIR 7. BATTERY WENT DEAD 71,000 MILES 90.00 REPAIR 8. TURN SIGNALS "STICK" WILL NOT TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES NOT BLINK 72,000 MILES 9. REPLACE ALTERNATOR AT 73,000 MILES, 400.00 REPAIR. IM THE SECOND OWNER...THIS CAR IS A TOTAL PIECE OF '!@#$%! NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE FOR SURE!!! *NM

NHTSA ID
10130911
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
20,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Dec 29, 2004

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2002 VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO ALREADY PUT A NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW TIRES (ACCEPTABLE) TWO SETS OF BRAKES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL IS ON AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHY SO THEREFORE I CAN'T GET AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT IS OFF. HELP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10104712
Incident
Dec 12, 2004
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 13, 2004

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING AT 38,000 MILES. REPLACE BY GM UNDER WARRANTY. INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING AGAIN AT 70,000 MILES. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE THEY ALREADY PAID FOR IT ONCE. THIS PROBLEM IS IN ADDITION TO BRAKE CYLINDER PROBLEMS AND OTHER COOLANT SYSTEM PROBLEMS. I ALSO HAVE CONSIDERABLE LEAKS IN THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10053033
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 16, 2003

97 BLAZER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TROUBLE. THE RADIATOR HAD A LEAK ( 34391 MILES), THE COOLING SYSTEM CLOGGED UP AND THE HEATER CORE LEAKED FROM DEX-COOL GELLING UP ( 65265 MILES ), AGAIN HEATER CORE LEAKING FROM BAD DEX-COOL ( 104044 MILES ), HEATER CORE LEAKING (114387 MILES). EACH TIME THE HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE ACID FLUSHED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DEX-COOL GELLED UP. ALL THESE REPAIRS WHERE DONE BY GM DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT TELL ME WHY THE DEX-COOL WAS GELLING UP OR THE HEATER CORE KEPT LEAKING. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GMC (COMPLAINT # 1-152407734) GMC COULD NOT HELP ME. I FOUND OUT FROM A RADIATOR REPAIR SHOP THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY GM COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES DU TO THE DEX-COOL CAUSING ELECTROLYSIS. THIS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM AND GM AND THE DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. THE RADIATOR SHOP SAID THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO FLUSH OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM FOR 36 HOURS THE REFILL IT WITH ANTIFREEZE, NOT DEX-COOL. ALSO ADD AN ANTI-ELECTROLYSIS SOLUTION TO IT AND A RADIATOR CAP WITH AN ANODE ROD ON IT. THEY HAVE HAD VERY GOOD RESULTS WITH THIS REPAIR. THERE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE ABOUT THIS AND ALSO MANY ON OTHER AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES. ALL I WANT IS TO BE REFUNDED THE MONEY I SPENT ON REPAIRS FROM DAY ONE AND HAVE GM PAY FOR THE RADIATOR SHOP TO DO THE FLUSHING AND REPAIRS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047001
Incident
Oct 17, 2003
Mileage
114,387 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 12, 2003

SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. A CHECK UNDER THE HOOD SHOW DROPS OF GASOLINE COMING FROM AROUND A SMALL CLIP IN FUEL LINE (TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL). THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR ME! LAST TIME THE FUEL WAS COMING OUT OF THE CLIP AT A FASTER RATE. LAST TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIP WITHOUT BUYING AN UNRELATED REPAIR KIT (DISCARDING OTHER PARTS) . I CONSIDER THE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAK BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AND DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, AS VERY SERIOUS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10046827
Incident
Nov 11, 2003
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 26, 2003

I HAVE A 1997 GMC SONOMA S.N. [XXX]. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WENT OUT, THE MOTOR MOUND BROKE, THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, THE BRAKES FAIL, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING, MAIN FRONT BEARING SEAL IS LEAKING, BLINKERS ARE NOT WORKING,OIL IS LEAKING ON TOP OF ENGINE BY A/C, WATER IS LEAKING FROM HEATING COIL, WATER PUMP IS OUT NOW,GOD THAT IS ONLY SOME OF THE THINGS. I HAVE HAD IT 1YR. 7 MON. WHAT CAN I DO? I GOT THE WARRANTY. AND THANK GOD I DID. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10043608
Incident
Oct 26, 2003
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 27, 2003

MAY 02 MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR BRAKES AND FRONT END NOISE, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CORRECT THE FRONT END PROBLEM (WHICH THEY NOTED WAS COVERED BY MY WARRANTY) AND TO RESCHEDULE FOR THAT PROBLEM. I DID SO IN JULY 02 AND AT THAT TIME, THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE WORK AND TRIED TO BLAME ME FOR THE PROBLEM SO I PAID $281.75 FOR THIS WORK WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTED THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. MY BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING SEVERAL TIMES: IN OCTOBER 3, 2002, OCTOBER 29, 2002, AND IN DECEMBER 2002. I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR AT A COST OF $280.52 FOR THE DEC. 2002 PROBLEM. IN MARCH 2003 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A RIGHT UPPER STRUT MOUNT HAD CALLAPSED. IN MAY 2003 THE VEHICLE HAS AGAIN OVERHEATED AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE YOUNG MAN THAT I SPOKE WITH WHEN I ARRIVED INDICATED THAT THEY (THE DEALERSHIP) WAS UNSURE AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND TO JUST DRIVE IT BECAUSE HIS TRUCK DOES IT ALL THE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE BATTERIES THAT THEY WERE REPLACING KEPT CRACKING AND LEAKING. WHEN I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND MY SAFETY CONCERNS, HE JUST BLEW ME OFF AS IF I WAS JUST COMPLAINING. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS NOW JULY 2003 AND FOR THE 4TH TIME, MY VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AND OVERHEATING. IN ADDITION ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS I ALSO INDICATED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THAT THERE WAS A VIBRATING AND SHIMBLING WHEN MY BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND IT MAKES IT HARD TO CONTROLL THE VEHICLE, NOT ONCE WOULD THEY ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH ME NOR HAVE I BEEN NOTIFIED OR ANY DEFECTS OR RECALLS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THE 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY. IN ADDITION, MY TIRES CONTINUOUSLY LOOSE AIR AND THE TREAD IS SEPARATION FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10029308
Incident
Jul 27, 2003
Mileage
32,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .