Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 HD with NHTSA between 2010 and 2015.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 36
Against the median year of the GMC Sierra 1500 HD. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 51
30% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2002 compares with every other GMC Sierra 1500 HD
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 HD
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
660.0%
Median failure at 109,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
330.0%
Median failure at 64,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Median failure at 29,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
110.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
220.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
220.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
440.0%
150,000+ miles
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2010peak 2Aug 2015
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 29,000 milesBurbank, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS MOVING MY 1500HD GMC SIERRA WHICH HAS 29K MILE & THE FRONT BRAKE LINE UNDER THE RADIATOR, BLEW OUT DUE TO RUST THIS IS A NIGHTMARE FOR ANY GMC OWNER , UPON AN INSPECTION OF ALL BRAKE LINES I FIND THEY ARE JUST STEEL WITH NO ANTI CORROSION ON ANY OF THEM. I ALSO OWN A 2002 YUKON & NOW IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL LINES ARE BADLY RUSTED & JUST RECENTLY THE LINES ON THE REAR AXLE BURST. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION THE VERY THIS YOU RELY ON THE MOST IS BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10758497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,000 milesBurbank, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS MOVING MY 1500HD GMC SIERRA WHICH HAS 29K MILE & THE FRONT BRAKE LINE UNDER THE RADIATOR, BLEW OUT DUE TO RUST THIS IS A NIGHTMARE FOR ANY GMC OWNER , UPON AN INSPECTION OF ALL BRAKE LINES I FIND THEY ARE JUST STEEL WITH NO ANTI CORROSION ON ANY OF THEM. I ALSO OWN A 2002 YUKON & NOW IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL LINES ARE BADLY RUSTED & JUST RECENTLY THE LINES ON THE REAR AXLE BURST. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION THE VERY THIS YOU RELY ON THE MOST IS BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10758497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesMentor, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A BRAKE LINE HAS BURST ON THIS TRUCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAD THE TRUCK TAKEN TO LOCAL SHOP AND WAS TOLD ALL BRAKE LINES ARE IN DANGER OF RUPTURE. HOW CAN GMC PUT THIS JUNK STEEL IN THEIR BRAKE LINES? WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED IF THEY HAVENT ALREADY MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. I SMELL SOME LAWYER GETTING RICH HERE.
NHTSA complaint #10626240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesBossier City, LA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE 2 OF THESE VEHICLES AND KNOW A FEW FRIENDS WITH THE SAME. THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE IN THESE VEHICLES ARE FACTORY DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE VERY, VERY INACCURATE IN TELLING YOU HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE. I HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL MANY, MANY TIMES WITH 1/2 TANK, 3/4 TANK FULL OF FUEL. THIS IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU HAVE NO WARNING AND LOSE ALL STEERING AND BRAKES WITH NO ENGINE POWER. A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VERY SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10575971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 182,000 milesGalloway, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
PUTTING TRUCK UP ONTO RAMPS TO CHANGE THE OIL, APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10558475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesHotchakiss, CO
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LEAKING FLUID. ALSO, THE BRAKE LINES WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
NHTSA complaint #10552701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesBossier City, LA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT DEPENDABLE. SOMETIMES ACCURATE, BUT MORE OFTEN, NOT ACCURATE. IT IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. YOU MAY RUN OUT OF GAS AT ANY MOMENT, IN TRAFFIC, ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEEDS, THEN YOU HAVE NO STEERING OR BRAKES, ENGINE IS DEAD. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, ONCE WHEN IT SHOWED 3/4 TANK FULL. I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY REGULAR CAB PICKUP TRUCK THAT DOES THE SAME THING. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10552220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,623 milesPalmyra, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
TODAY IS 9/24/12. FIRST LET ME START BY SAYING I HAVE OWNED MY TRUCK SINCE 2004, AND TAKE PRIDE IN TAKING CARE OF MY VEHICLES. MY VEHICLES ARE ALWAYS DEALER MAINTAINED AT A GM DEALER. I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLES WITH MY TRUCK UNTIL NOW, AND THIS BRAKE FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY FAMILY. MY TRUCK WAS INSPECTED APRIL 13TH 2012 LAST AND HAD NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF UNSAFE BRAKE LINES. I HAD ONLY PUT 326 MILES ON MY TRUCK SINCE SAID LAST INSPECTION. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES. MY BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AS I HELD THE HORN AND DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT. I WAS ALSO LUCKY THAT OTHERS DRIVERS IN THE INTERSECTION HAD NOT STARTED DRIVING. MY EMERGENCY BRAKE THEN FAILED FROM THE HIGH SPEED I WAS TRAVELING, BUT DID HELP MINIMALLY IN THE SLOWING OF MY TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY DOWNSHIFTING AND DRIVING UP AN EMBANKMENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS MY TRUCK TRAVELED UPHILL AND CAME TO A SLOWER SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHICH THEN GOT ME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER LEARNING THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME TRUCK AS ME HAVE HAD THIS EXACT ISSUE. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD HAS BREAK LINE FAILURE. IT IS UNHEARD OF AND MUST BE DIRECTLY CAUSED FROM GM USING INFERIOR METAL FOR THESE VEHICLES BRAKE LINES, THEREFORE MAKING THEM RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND STAND BY THE VEHICLES THEY HAVE MADE! NOT ONLY COULD I HAVE DIED FROM GMS FAULTY MANUFACTURING, BUT I COULD HAVE INJURED OTHERS. GM NEEDS TO STAND UP AND DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND HELP OWNERS WITH THESE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I WAS QUOTED OVER 2000 DOLLARS FROM MY DEALERSHIP TO FIX MY BRAKE LINE FAILURE. WE NEED HELP GM!
NHTSA complaint #10476934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesBossier City, LA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET TRUCK WITH A 4.3 LITER V6 ENGINE AND A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 HD WITH A 6.0 LITER V8 ENGINE AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS. THE FUEL GAUGE IS VERY ERRATIC AND HARDLY EVER ACCURATE. I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND SHOWED 1/2 TANK OF GAS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN RAN OUT OF GAS IN THE 2002 MODEL. THE 2001 MODEL IS NEVER ACCURATE. I HAVE TO CARRY SPARE GAS WITH ME EVERYWHERE. ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE THOUSAND AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS IN NUMEROUS CHAT LOGS. GM SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MAJOR DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10378880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,883 milesChesapeake Beach, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
RUPTURED CORRODED BRAKE LINES, ON MY 2002 GMC 1500 HD 4X4 PICK-UP. THE CONDITION CAUSED ME TO LOSE COMPLETE BRAKING POWER TO MY TRUCK, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10347921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.