10 of the 29 complaints about the 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 are about the braking system — 34% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS TRUCK HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2007 MODEL. THE IGNITION SWITCH, PARKING BRAKE, AND FUEL LINES ALL HAVE ISSUES AS SIMILARLY DESCRIBED FOR THE 2007 MODEL. THE FUEL LINES ACTUALLY BROKE THROUGH CAUSING A LEAK OF THE DIESEL FUEL. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE OF 15 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10787186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
SLOWING DOWN TO A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL TO GET MORE PRESSURE BUT DID NOT WORK. DROVE OFF ONTO SHOULDER AND GOT IT SLOWED DOWN . DRIVE VERY SLOW WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO GET IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. I WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE AWAY. GOT HOME AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO FIND BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER LEFT REAR WHEELS, FUEL TANK, LEFT REAR SHOCK AND DRIVE AXLE. CONTINUED TO LOOK AT ALL BRAKE LINES AND ALL OF THEM WERE CORRODED BAD. GETTING PRICES ON HAVING ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10526003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING AT SLOW SPEEDS ( 5-10 MPH ) UNDER DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS WAS PRIOR TO BRAKE LINE INCIDENT ON 4-14-2012 BUT I AM NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE. I RESEARCHED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND FOUND NHTSA ID CAMPAIGN #05V379000 ACTION # PE05020 BUT THIS DID NOT INCLUDE MY HOME STATE OF KENTUCKY. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN OHIO SINCE THE PURCHASE OF SAID VEHICLE 10-17-2001 TO CURRENT DATE 2-11-2013. ON 4-14-2012 I WAS PREPARING TO TAKE MY BOAT TO FUEL IT . WHILE CHECKING THE TRAILER LIGHTS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR WHEELS HAD BURST IN HALF AND WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE CORROISION. ON 2-8-2013 I DISCOVERED THAT DIESEL FUEL WAS LEAKING NEAR THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL COOLER. IT WAS FOUND TO BE A CORRODED RETURN FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE COOLER AND THE FUEL TANK .AGAIN UPON CLOSER INSPECTION ALL FUEL LINES SHOW MODERATE TO SEVERE CORROISION.
NHTSA complaint #10497825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING AT SLOW SPEEDS ( 5-10 MPH ) UNDER DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS WAS PRIOR TO BRAKE LINE INCIDENT ON 4-14-2012 BUT I AM NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE. I RESEARCHED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND FOUND NHTSA ID CAMPAIGN #05V379000 ACTION # PE05020 BUT THIS DID NOT INCLUDE MY HOME STATE OF KENTUCKY. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN OHIO SINCE THE PURCHASE OF SAID VEHICLE 10-17-2001 TO CURRENT DATE 2-11-2013. ON 4-14-2012 I WAS PREPARING TO TAKE MY BOAT TO FUEL IT . WHILE CHECKING THE TRAILER LIGHTS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR WHEELS HAD BURST IN HALF AND WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE CORROISION. ON 2-8-2013 I DISCOVERED THAT DIESEL FUEL WAS LEAKING NEAR THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL COOLER. IT WAS FOUND TO BE A CORRODED RETURN FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE COOLER AND THE FUEL TANK .AGAIN UPON CLOSER INSPECTION ALL FUEL LINES SHOW MODERATE TO SEVERE CORROISION.
NHTSA complaint #10497825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS MORNING I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING DOWN FURTHER THAN NORMAL AND LITTLE TO NO STOPPING POWER. ONCE ARRIVING AT WORK I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT KEPT GOING TO THE FLOOR. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK I DISCOVERED A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND ONE OF BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BLOWN OUT IN FRONT OF THE ABS MODULE. THE GENERAL CONDITION OF ALL THE BRAKE LINES IN THIS AREA IS VERY RUSTY. I WILL LIKELY HAVE TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10465361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BEGAN TO ACTIVATE IN NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO TREMBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION OF THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, WHICH CAUSED THE ABS TO ACTIVATE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND NO REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,289.
NHTSA complaint #10256455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY ABS BRAKES PREVENT MY TRUCK FROM STOPPING AT SLOW SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10232803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING NHTSA ID # 05V161000 AND GM RECALL # 05042. THE ABOVE IS FOR A DEFECT IN THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO MY VEHICLE SINCE A PARKING BRAKE IS ALSO INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE AND IT IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. IF A PARKING BRAKE IS NOT NEEDED ON MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY THAN WHY IS ONE INSTALLED?
NHTSA complaint #10168645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE STREET AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE PARKING BRAKES DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10115704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WORE OUT. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK/FORWARD ON A INCLINE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK RETAINER ON EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10065141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.