Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 166 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 166 · page 1 of 7
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR COMING DOWN AN OVERPASS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH. I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I AM NOT GETTING THIS FIXED AS IT IS AN OLDER TRUCK BUT I DO THINK THAT SOMEONE COULD DIE FROM THIS DEFECT.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. METAL SUPPORT BAR IN THE BACK UPPER PORTION OF DRIVER SEAT BROKE. SEAT WAS BEING USED AS ORDINARY AND SNAPPED WHEN I WENT TO RETRIEVE ITEM FROM BACK SEAT BY REACH OVER CENTER CONSOLE AND TO BACK SEAT TO GRAB PURSE. I WEIGHT 135 POUNDS AND AM SMALL PERSON. NO EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE OR WEIGHT SHIFT. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE SEEKING SOLUTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AS TO LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THESE SEATS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS .REFUSE TO DRIVE TRUCK AS NOT CERTAIN THAT SAFETY BELT WILL BE OF ANY USE IN AN ACCIDENT AS SEAT FLOPS AROUND NOW AND HAS AWKWARD TILT BACK TO ONE SIDE ON THE CONSOLE SIDE AND LAYS BACK TO FAR TO CLEARLY SEE OVER DASH EVEN WHEN FULLY POSTURING ERECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *BF BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED TWICE SAME LOCATION ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKE LIGHTING ON DASH ( WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ON FRONT TONE RINGS).*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WOBBLED SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT LEFT THE CONTACT DISORIENTED. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PULL OVER FOR A WHILE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETUNED TO THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 30-45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSTALLED NEW BEARINGS, WHICH MADE THE FAILURE WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS, BUT EACH REPAIR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
161131 MILES FRAME RUSTED REAL BAD BODY LOOKS GREAT FOR THE YEAR I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK LOOKED REAL CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT FROM ORIGANAL OWNER PUT IT ON A LIFT AND THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED OUT DID SOME GOOGLEING AND FOUND THAT MOST ALL THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT TO ROT OUT IN 3 YEARS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOWSER AUTOMOTIVE (132-168 NORTH LEWIS RUN ROAD, WEST MIFFLIN, PA 15236, (412) 469-2100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOST AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESNT WORK...MY HEAD LIGHTS ALWAYS BURN OUT...MY BED LINER IS WHARPED...
SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM THE CABLE, UNKNOWN, I ALSO HAD A 2001 GMC YUKON AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THIS IS UNSAFE AS IT COULD BECOME DETACHED WHILE MOVING AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED
2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AMONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING GEAR BEGAN LEAKING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 3-8 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED, INCREASING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS RUST BETWEEN AN ABS SENSOR AND THE HUB IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS. THE HUB AND SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE GMC DEALER (JEFF WYLER FLORENCE BUICK GMC, 1154 BURLINGTON PIKE, FLORENCE, KY 41042 (859) 279-4590) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.
BROKEN WELD HOLDING RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER TO REAR AXLE. GM IS DENYING THAT THIS WELD WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER BROKE LOOSE FROM THE REAR AXLE WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 101.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE BOWSER DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT A DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ZINC ALUMINUM ALLOY ON THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WHEN APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ *CN
ABS SYSTEM IS KICKING IN AT SLOW SPEEDS, AS IN A CRAWL LIKE YOU WERE DRIVING NEXT TO A WALKING PERSON. LIKE I AM PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT IS PUSHING BACK AND NOT ALLOWING ME TO STOP TRUCK. VERY SCARY
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH PREMATURELY AND WITHOUT WARNING PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING POWER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S SON CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, A NECK INJURY, NOSE BRUISING, AND BACK INJURIES DUE TO THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
DRIVING 73 MPH DOWN HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING TREAD BLOWS OFF TIRE. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRES WERE PURCHASED NEW AND MAINTAINED AND HAD PLENTLY TIRE LEFT. UNIROYAL ADVISED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TIRE THAT WAS 7 YEARS OLD.
THANKFULLY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, I WAS BACKING UP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. THE BRAKE LINE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BURST. I HAVE MY TRUCK AT A LOCAL SHOP AND ITS GOING TO COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. THE COST IS MOSTLY LABOR. IF LOOSE THE FRONT BRAKES, I WOULD EXPECT THE REAR BRAKES TO WORK BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR PULLING A TRAILER. I COULD OF GOT HURT OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE. GM NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THE QUALITY OF PARTS USED IN THEIR VEHICLE ESPECIALLY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS BRAKES.
WHILE ON STATE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING THE LEGAL LIMIT, I WAS APPROACHING A GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AN AMBULANCE WITH EMERGENCY LIGHTS WAS APPROACHING FROM THE CROSS DIRECTION. I APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES PRESSURE COMPLETELY FAILED. I HAD ABSOLUTE MINIMAL BRAKES AND I WENT COMPLETELY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT APPEARS TO BE RUSTED BRAKE LINES. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTS OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE WHERE IT CROSSES OVER FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE HAD ALL MY WORK DONE AT GM DEALERS AND THEY NEVER HAVE MENTIONED THIS ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THAT GM STATES THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I AM OVER 60 AND HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT MY LANE WAS CLEAR OR THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS BEYOND RATIONAL THOUGHT AS TO HOW GM CAN SAY THIS MATERIALS DEFECT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD REEVALUATE THIS ISSUE AND FORCE GM TO RECALL THEIR PRODUCT BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E106000 (WHEELS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE ROTTED OUT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,988. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ *CN
I RECENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK OFF THE ROAD TO REPLACE THE SHOCK ABSORBERS. WHILE REPLACING THE REAR SHOCKS, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN TO LESS THAN ONE EIGHTH INCH THICK. I THEN LOOKED AT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND NOTED THAT THEY HAD HARDLY ANY WEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRONT BRAKES DO 70% OF THE BRAKING AND THE REAR BRAKES DO 30%. THAT MADE MY FINDING ABNORMAL. ALL THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. WHEN I PREPARED TO CHANGE THE FRONT SHOCKS, I NOTED THAT THE ABS DASHBOARD LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE AROUND AT THE TIME AND WHEN I APPROACHED THE GARAGE I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I FELT THE BRAKES MODULATING AND THE PEDAL WAS FORCEFULLY PUSHED BACK UP TO THE AT REST POSITION. THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT A DUAL (FRONT/REAR) BRAKING SYSTEM WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. I WAS INCREDULOUS THAT THIS WAS EVEN POSSIBLE. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ONLY NAVIGATING IN MY YARD. I PULL A 27 FOOT FIFTH WHEEL WITH THIS TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE OUTCOME IF THIS EVENT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE RV ATTACHED. I FOUND MANY ANECDOTAL STORIES THAT WERE SIMILAR TO MINE ON SEVERAL WEBSITES. AS OF NOW, THIS TRUCK IS GROUNDED UNTIL I FIND A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION FOR THIS. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY FULL OF BRAKE FLUID AND AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES REVEALED NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE. I HAVE NOT YET DELVED INTO THE TRUCKS ABS SYSTEM, BUT I HAVE STRONG REASON TO BELIEVE IT IS DEFECTIVE.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .