2002 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra 2500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500. That ranks 3rd out of 30 Sierra 2500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (44 complaints, 33%), typically at around 67,500 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 134owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 33% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 32 | 24% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 10% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 8% | 53,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 9 | 7% | 47,150 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 4% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 4% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 4% | 89,501 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 4% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3% | 187,409 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 3% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 3 | 2% | 97,018 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 190 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | 91,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 1% | 87,991 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | 113,234 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | 247,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 1% | 125,226 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 1% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 37,300 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 2,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Interior lighting
Problem: Vehicle description: certain pickup trucks equipped with 6.6l diesel engines fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." these vehicles have a brake system warning light in the instrument cluster that may not illuminate when the brake fluid is low. In addition, when the brake fluid is low, the vehicle may not meet the partial system requirements of fmvss no. 105.
Risk: These conditions could result in reduced braking capability, which could lead to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will change the location of a wire connection in the underhood bussed electrical center. Owner notification began july 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Trailer hitch receiver failure (EA07013) — opened Sep 14, 2007, closed Sep 12, 2008.
- Trailer hitch receiver failure (PE07025) — opened May 14, 2007, closed Sep 14, 2007.
- Hydraulic pump shaft failures (PE04004) — opened Jan 8, 2004, closed Apr 30, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
Other GMC Sierra 2500 years
← 2001 Sierra 2500 · 2003 Sierra 2500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 Sierra 2500 | 28 | 1 |
| 2024 Sierra 2500 | 106 | 4 |
| 2023 Sierra 2500 | 33 | 1 |
| 2022 Sierra 2500 | 43 | 3 |
| 2021 Sierra 2500 | 52 | 6 |
| 2020 Sierra 2500 | 78 | 9 |
| 2019 Sierra 2500 | 32 | 7 |
| 2018 Sierra 2500 | 35 | 5 |
| 2017 Sierra 2500 | 37 | 6 |
| 2016 Sierra 2500 | 59 | 6 |
| 2015 Sierra 2500 | 89 | 6 |
| 2014 Sierra 2500 | 30 | 2 |
| 2013 Sierra 2500 | 46 | 3 |
| 2012 Sierra 2500 | 31 | 3 |
| 2011 Sierra 2500 | 63 | 4 |
| 2010 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 5 |
| 2009 Sierra 2500 | 31 | 5 |
| 2008 Sierra 2500 | 63 | 3 |
| 2007 Sierra 2500 | 83 | 3 |
| 2006 Sierra 2500 | 66 | 1 |
| 2005 Sierra 2500 | 115 | 1 |
| 2004 Sierra 2500 | 143 | 1 |
| 2003 Sierra 2500 | 160 | 0 |
| 2002 | 134 | 1 |
| 2001 Sierra 2500 | 134 | 2 |
| 2000 Sierra 2500 | 48 | 1 |
| 1999 Sierra 2500 | 36 | 0 |
| 1998 Sierra 2500 | 15 | 1 |
| 1997 Sierra 2500 | 14 | 2 |
See all GMC Sierra 2500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, service brakes, power train problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 44 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 2500 model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.