Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 Sierra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT BROKE OFF. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 7 OUT OF 8 GLOW PLUGS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE GLOW PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,649. ..UPDATED 12/05/12 *BF UPDATED 12/06/2012 *JS
THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER IT WARMS UP. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND ANY SPEED. AFTER WAITING APPROX. 2 MINUTES IT WILL START AGAIN AND RUN FINE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE AVAILABLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 MODELS (CAMPAIGN ID # 07V521000). THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXTENDS INTO NEWER MODEL YEARS. MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1/02
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,798. UPDATED 01/26/11*LJ UPDATED 03/31/11
OUR 2002 SIERRA 3500 GMC PICKUP TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 ENGINE AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAUSES THE TRUCK'S ENGINE TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO FAIL COMPLETELY. WHEN THE ENGINE OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY, THE MESSAGE LIGHT ILLUMINATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND ULTIMATELY STALLS. THE ENGINE MAY RE-START IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. BECAUSE THIS SENSOR HAS FAILED ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (70 MPH) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE (OR SOMEONE ELSE) WERE NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. BECAUSE NHTSA RECALLED THE 2001 GMC SUVS/TRUCKS THAT HAD THIS DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER 2002 SUVS/TRUCKS THAT ARE ALSO HAVING THEIR ENGINES FAIL DUE TO THIS SAME DEFECT, THE NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE HAVING GMC RECALL THE 2002 MODELS AS WELL. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE THAT DEAL WITH THIS SAME ISSUE (E.G., COMPLAINT NUMBERS 10038110, 10009727, 1009569, 10009556, 10001480, 10054217, 10069780, ETC.) THAT ARE IDENTIFIED UNDER VARIOUS 2002 GMC MODELS (I.E., SIERRA, GMC TRUCK, C SERIES). ADDITIONALLY, SINCE CONSUMERS FREQUENTLY PURCHASE GMC TRUCKS WITH THE 8.1L V8 ENGINE TO TOW LARGE TRAILERS, THIS SITUATION CAN CREATE A SERIOUS HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAYS THAT NHTSA MUST ADDRESS EXPEDITIOUSLY. THUS, SINCE WE ARE A CONSUMER THAT PURCHASED OUR TRUCK TO TOW A LARGE TRAILER AND OUR TRUCK HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR OUT-OF-POCKET. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 GMC SIERRA AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. WHEN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER IT ALSO LOSES STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO THE CONTACT 20 OR MORE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. THE STALLING HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5-65 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP FOUR TIMES AND REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. THE CONTACT RECENTLY HAD VEHICLE AT THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY CAN'T PINPOINT THE FAILURE. ON 03/01/07 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED BETWEEN (50-65 MPH). THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAIT TEN MINUTE AND TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE LOOKED UP THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALSO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE INVOICE REPAIRS IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71715.
DT VEHICLE STALLS AND DOES NOT RESTART, IT COULD BE SITTING AN HOUR OR DAY AND IT WILL NOT RESTART. DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE, AND THEY COULD NOT PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE DID NOT CAPTURE ANY CODES, AND IT STALLED WHILE ACTUALLY DRIVING . USED TO BE SEVERAL MILES BETWEEN STALLS IT HAD LONGER INTERVALS BETWEEN STALLS NOW ITS DOWN TO LESS THAN 100 MILES BETWEEN ENGINE STALLING. *AK.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FROM THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
HARD KNOCK OF ENGINE ON STARTUP,WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER, LASTING A COUPLE OF MINUTES. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP WHOM BOTH STATE THIS KNOCK IS NORMAL AND WOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE LONGEVITY OR DURABILITY OF THE MOTOR. FIRST NOTICED KNOCK AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3600 MILES AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AT 36,000MILES. *JB
THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD, THEY SAY THAT THE KNOCKING AT TICKING IS OK, GM HAS PUT OUT A NOTICE INDICATING THAT THIS IS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. IF YOU HEARD MY TRUCK RUN YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS ABOUT TO FAIL!
THE VEHICLE MAKE A VERY LOUD TAP/KNOCK UPON START UP. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WOULD STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
THE VEHICLES MUFFLER WAS COVERED WITH METAL THAT IMPACTED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND CAUSED IT TO WEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER BUMPS. *NLM *CB *NLM
INTERMITTENT SURGES, LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN MOTION, TRANSMISSION, LACK OF ACCELERATION. *MR AT PURCHASE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THREE TIMES BEFORE LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP LOT. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE DEALER INSTALLED REMOTE STARTER OR ALARM SYSTEM WAS INTERFERING WITH FAULT SENSOR AND WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, INTERMITTENT SURGES AND STALL OUTS AT FREEWAY SPEED/85 MPH STILL EXISTED. ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CLANGED BETWEEN GEARS AND THERE WAS POOR ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR MANUALLY DOWNSHIFT, OR TURN THE ENGINE OFF THEN ON AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED PCM MODULE, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND GASKETS, FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. DEALERSHIP AGREED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE WIRES FROM THE DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORIES SUCH AS THE ALARM SYSTEM AND REMOTE STARTER OR ANTI-THIEF SYSTEM, AND FACTORY WIRE FROM PCM/VCM TO THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED ALL IGNITION WIRING, WIRING FROM THE PCM/VCM TO THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE CONTROL VALVE BODY THAT REGULATES THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WITHOUT VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 21 DAYS AND WILL SEEK A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE IF WIRING REPAIRS DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM(S). *TT *NLM
EVERY 2000 MILES THE VEHICLE BURNED A QUART OF OIL, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. *JB
THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.*JB
THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED HESITATION WHEN IDLING AND DRIVING ANY SPEED. *JB
GMC SERRIA 2002. OUR TRUCK HAS RUST ON THE BUMPER BEHIND THE PAINTED COVER. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THIS IS NORMAL AND POLISHED IT, WITHIN ONE WEEK THE BUMPER SHOWED RUST AGAIN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS NOT LINED UP CORRECTLY, THE DEALER TRIED TO ADJUST IT, THE RESULT IS THE DOOR MUST BE SLAMMED TO CLOSE IT. THE MOTOR MAKES KNOCKING SOUNDS AT THE START AS IF IT HAS NO OIL. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES. THE KNOCK STARTED AFTER THE TRUCK TURNED FOUR THOUSAND MILES. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT GM REPORTS THE KNOCK IS NORMAL. IT IS THE FIRST TIME I''VE HEARD OF A GAS MOTOR HAVING AN INTENTIONAL KNOCK. WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK THIS SINCE IT WAS NEW AND HAVE HAD THE DEALER DO ALL THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING TIRE ROTATIONS AND OIL CHANGES.
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF PREMATURE STALLING AT IDLE. THE VEHICLE LACKS SUFFICIENT POWER, IT SURGES AND AT TIMES REFUSES TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT DOWN PROPERLY OUT OF 4TH GEAR AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY AND MAKES WHISTLING NOISES. *JG *JB
ON COLD STARTS THE ENGINE PRODUCES LOUD RAPPING SOUND AS IF RUNNING ON NO OIL. GMC HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT IT IS DEEMED A NORMAL OPERATING SOUND, AND WILL NOT SHORTEN THE ENGINE LIFE. THEY NEVER MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM, JUST OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON CERTAIN PARTS. IT REALLY MAKES ME WONDER HOW THEY KNOW WHAT PARTS TO COVER ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE? DT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER 2500 MILES. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CONSUMED OVER 2 QUARTS OF OIL AND EMITTED BLUE SMOKE WHEN STARTED COLD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PCV VALVE AS A CAUSE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED SMOKING AND CONSUMING MORE OIL, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT EVENTUALLY THEY WOULD HAVE A REDESIGNED VALVE COVER TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEY COULD DO NO MORE AT THIS TIME. *YH
CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE KNOCK WAS NOT AFFECTING THE DURABILITY OF VEHICLE. NLM *YD
VEHICLE STALLS ON TAKE OFF, DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE STALLING WAS SOLVED BY USING HIGH OCTANE GASOLINE. THE CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, ALSO SOMETIMES SOUNDS SO LOOSE. *YH
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
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