Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 134 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500. 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 134 · page 1 of 6
We were in a roll over accident going under 30mph. I was a passenger in the back seat. When I woke up I saw that the driver was hanging out the door window. The air bags did not deploy. The driver who was also the owner of the truck died of multiple blunt forces. The insurance company had the truck towed to COPART in Las Vegas.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WE HIT BLACK ICE AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP WITH A FRONT IMPACT WHICH TURNED INTO A 2 TIME VEHICLE ROLLOVER. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS AND BUCKLED DURING THE ROLLOVER AND DID NOT LOCK AND NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS IN FRONT WHEN OFF AT ANY POINT DURING THE COLLISION
I PURCHASE THIS TRUCK 2/03/17 AND HAVE USED IT UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGE WHEN THE BRAKE LINES BROKE IN MY DRIVEWAY, I AM HAVING THE LINES REPLACED WITH STAINLESS LINES AT A COST OF ABOUT $1200 ( I AM NOT SURE OF THE TOTAL COST BECAUSE IT ALSO NEEDS A ANTILOCK BRAKING PUMP WHICH WAS BADLY CORRODED) THE FUEL LINGS ARE ALSO RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO BE DETERMINED LATER. I HAVE A 1953 CHEVY PICKUP THAT STILL HAS GOOD BRAKE LINES AND THE FRAME IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THE NEWER ONES, IF GM LOOKED TO THE PAST AT THE MATERIALS & METHODS THEY MIGHT BUILD A BETTER PRODUCT RATHER THAN THE GARBAGE THEY PRODUCE NOW! I AM GLAD I DIDN'T PAY $30-$60,000 FOR THIS TRUCK.
THE TUBULAR FRAME THAT SUPPORTS BOTH THE GAS TANK AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER EXTREMELY RUSTS OUT CAUSING THE FRAME TO EVENTUALLY DISCONNECT FROM ITSELF AND ALLOW THE GAS TANK TO DROP AND/OR THE SHOCK TO DISCONNECT FROM THE AXLE, BOTH IN WHICH MAY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.
WHILE DRIVING OF A CITY STREET, AT A SLOW RATE (10-15MPH) AND TAKING A SLOW, APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN, I HEARD A LOUD "POPPING/BREAKING SOUND". WHILE MAKING THE TURN, I INITIALLY HAD TURNING CAPABILITIES UNTIL I HEARD THE "POP" SOUND. UPON HEARING THE SOUND, I NO LONGER HAD THE ABILITY TO TURN THE WHEELS TO EITHER DIRECTION. UPON STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE TRUCK, I FOUND THE PITMAN ARM(CONNECTED TO STEERING BOX AND STEERING BAR) WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING BAR BUT STILL ATTACHED TO STEERING BOX. THE BOLT OF THE PITMAN ARM HAD BROKEN OFF CLEANLY FROM THE STEERING BAR, RENDERING MY STEERING CAPABILITIES INEFFECTUAL. ATTACHED IS A PICTURE OF THE PITMAN ARM SHEERED BOLT. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PIECE OF MATERIAL COULD HAVE COST DAMAGE TO LIFE, PROPERTY AND POTENTIALLY DEATH OF MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I WOULD LIKE SOME FORM OF RESTITUTION ON PART OF THE MANUFACTURE. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $225 USD. I CAN PROVIDE THE BILL FOR TOWING, MECHANICAL REPAIRS AND COST OF REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE ON DRY PAVEMENT JUST PRIOR TO COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP.
I HAVE OWNED MANY GM TRUCKS, AND NEVER HAD ONE WITH SO MANY RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE THEM WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES. THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FRONT AND BACK LINES GO AT THE SAME TIME, I WILL TELL YOU, NO BRAKES ! THIS IS THE WORST ONE WITH THE RUST THAT I HAVE HAD. 3 LINES RUST OUT ON THE GMC 2500 HD (2002) WITH MORE TO COME, I HAVE 25,000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK. THE FIRST LINE WENT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. ALSO I ONLY GOT ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON THOSE FIRESTONE TIRES, CHEAP TIRES COME WITH THIS TRUCK. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE FRAME IS RUSTING, HAD TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED THAT SHIFTS THE TRUCK INTO GEAR, IT RUSTED OUT. I GO TO THE CAR WASH AND ALWAYS WASH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK TO GET ALL THE DIRT AND SALT OFF EVERY CHANCE I GET. WHEN I GOT THE GMC I WAS TOLD BY THE GMC GARAGE NOT TO HAVE THE TRUCK UNDERCOATED BECAUSE IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON IT. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED ON THE TAIL GATE DUE TO RUST. VERY SAD ABOUT THIS GMC TRUCK. EVERYTHING IS RUSTING. I SHOULD HAVE A LOT OF MILES LEFT ON THIS TRUCK, IF IT DOESN'T RUST ITSELF TO DEATH OR GET ME KILLED BECAUSE OF RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES !
REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHILE IN PARKING LOT, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
DRIVING INTO DRIVEWAY APPLIED BRAKES , PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM GOT OUT OF TRUCK AND FOUND FLUID DRIPPING OFF FRAME BY FUEL TANK. RUPTURED LINE ABOVE TANK ON FRAME, OTHER BRAKE LINES ALSO LOOK CORRODED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON GM TRUCKS . OWNERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE LINES. *TR
DRIVING DOWN RURAL ROAD AT 55MPH, A DEER JUMPS INTO MY PATH. I QUICKLY BRAKE, ABS ACTIVATES AND PEDAL DROPS TO NEAR FLOOR. TRUCK DOES STOP, BUT BRAKING MUCH MORE DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL. DEER MOVES ON AND I START MOVING AGAIN. NEXT STOP SIGN I NOTICE THAT BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO FLOOR, STILL BRAKING, BUT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. I MADE IT HOME AND NOTICED MY BRAKE LINE DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVER POSITION WAS SPRAYING FLUID NOW. *TR
PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO THE STREET. APPLIED THE BRAKES WHEN REACHING THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE PEDAL WHEN COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. WAS ABLE TO STOP, BEING THAT I WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 2 MPH AT THE TIME. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, I SAW A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY FROM A BURST BRAKE LINE. *TR
AIR BAG SENSOR WENT OUT. 4TH ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED ON 6 JAN 14; THREE OTHERS WERE REPLACED BETWEEN 9 MAR2012 AND 6 JAN 14. RESISTOR FOR AIR CONDITIONING REPLACED ON 9 JUL 13. FRONT HUBS FAILED TWICE REQUIRING THEIR REPLACEMENT WITHIN SIX MONTHS. FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWICE IN 16 MONTHS AND 10,718 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY DURING THIS TIME, EVEN AFTER RESET ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *TR
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. IS THEIR A GALVANIC REACTION BETWEEN LINES AND TRUCK THAT IS CAUSING THIS? HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKE LINES RUST AS BADLY ON OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE OLDER THAN THIS ONE. *TR
I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 15-20 MILES BOTH ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED FINE. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND WAS COMING UP ON HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THAT WAS AT A STANDSTILL . I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND IT WENT STRAIT TO THE FLOOR, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES AT ALL AND NO EVEN A HINT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY, NARROWLY MISSING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, AND USED THE TRANSMISSION AND E BRAKE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON A GRASSY SHOULDER. HAD A VEHICLE BEEN NEXT TO ME OR A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE OUTCOME . I KNOW AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE WHO OWN SIMILAR VEHICLES AND EVERYONE HAS HAD A BRAKE LINE FAILURE AT SOME POINT. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND COVER THIS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GET HURT OR KILLED! *TR
2002 GMC SIERRA 2500HD 4X4 4DR COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHEN MOVING VEHICLE AT HUNT CAMP.BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR.RUSTED BRAKE LINES BLEW UNDER DRIVERS DOOR LOCATION.LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED LINES FROM MASTER CYL. TO ABS DEVICE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE,WITH TRUCK LOADED WITH SUPPLIES ,EQPT.,AND TOWING AN ATV ON A TRAILER,NO WAY COULD I HAVE STOPPED THAT VEHICLE! I STILL NEED TO REPLACE ALL REMAINING RUSTED LINES GOING TO WHEELS. *TR
BACKING MY TRUCK DOWN A BOAT LAUNCH TO PUT A PWC IN. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, LOSING ALL BRAKES. SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO THE WATER, BY THE TIME I GOT IT INTO FORWARD, IT WAS ALREADY OVER THE EDGE OF THE RAMP INTO THE WATER. SUBMERGED UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ROOF. A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WITH NO WARNING UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR PANEL. IT WAS THE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACTUATOR. READ DOZENS OF ONLINE POSTINGS ABOUT THIS BEING A HUGE PROBLEM AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO REPORT IT. SAFELY STOPPING THE TRUCK (EMPTY) WAS VERY HARD AND I COULDN'T IMAGING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN PULLING A TRAILER, WHICH IS VERY COMMON ON THIS TRUCK. *TR
APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OF A 55 MPH ROAD AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK FAILED TO STOP. I WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT BUT DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER CARS. *JS
BRAKES WENT OUT NO WARNING, AFTER LOOKING ON DRIVERS SIDE SEAT UNDER TRUCK WHERE FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT SAW WHERE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND IT BUSTED. SO I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES AND CALLED GMC, THEY IN TURN TOWED MY TRUCK TO AUFFENBERG OF CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS AT NO CHARGE. AT THIS TIME I STARTED RESEARCHING THE RUSTED BRAKE PROBLEM AND FOUND WHERE ALAN ADLER (MANAGER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS) FOR GM SAID ON (ABC NEWS RUSTED BRAKE LINES) WHERE THEY WERE OFFERING A (KIT) TO HAVE THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES REPAIRED FOR A COST TO US OF $500.00. SO NOW TODAY 06/05/2014 MY TRUCK IS DONE AT A COST OF $1188.05 TO ME FOR THE DEALER KNOWS NOTHING OF THIS. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT ALAN ADLER THROUGH GM AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO HE IS, I HAVE SENT MANY COMPLAINTS AND TALKED WITH MANY PEOPLE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. MY REF.# [XXX] WITH THE COMPLAINT DEPT. SO IF THIS MAN CAN SAY ON THE NEWS THAT THEY HAVE THIS KIT AND THAT ALL THE DEALERS WERE TOLD ABOUT IT HOW CAN THEY LIE AND CHARGE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT. THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WAS LEAVING MY DRIVE WAY AND WENT TO PUT ON BRAKES AND THEY MADE A HISSING SOUND AND PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE FLUID STARTED POURING OUT, SO PUSHED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED THERE WAS NO BRAKES. WITH HELP GOT TRUCK BACK IN DRIVE WAY AND GOT UNDER TRUCK WHERE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALL RUSTED INTO. THANK GOD I DIDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE THEY WENT OUT AND HIT OR KILLED SOMEONE. *TR
REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT OVER FUEL TANK WHERE LINE RUNS ON TOP OF FRAME RAIL. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED. ALSO FUEL LINES RUSTED. CAN OR WILL FAIL AT ANYTIME. MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NO BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT!!!! *TR
THREE BROKEN MANIFOLD BOLTS. FROM WHAT I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE BROKEN ONE CLOSE TO FIREWALL, WILL HAVE TO PULL ENGINE TO FIX. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE MANIFOLD BOLTS. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF REVERSE, AND WOULD NOT RETURN. NO REVERSE OR DRIVE AT ALL. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A 35-40 DEGREE SLOPED DRIVEWAY. GOT IN, STEPPED ON BRAKE,STARTED VEHICLE, RELEASED EMERGENCY BRAKE, SHIFT INTO REVERSE, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WITH TRUCK ROLLING BACKWARDS. WHEEL WAS TURNED, AND TRUCK HIT A SIDE OF RETAINING WALL. IT DID NOT ROLL BACK EXCESSIVELY FAST, BUT IT COULD NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL. FOUND BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. ONE HAD RUPTURED RIGHT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL FENDER WELL. *TR
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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