"How reliable is the 2002 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"Based on 192 NHTSA complaints, the 2002 Gmc Sierra 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 76741 miles. The most common issue is SERVICE BRAKES."

"What are common problems with the 2002 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Gmc Sierra 1500 is SERVICE BRAKES, accounting for a significant portion of the 192 total complaints filed."

2002 Gmc Sierra 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 192 complaints

192

Total Complaints

76,741mi

Median Mileage

SERVICE BRAKES

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

52,375 25th Percentile

76,741 Median Mileage

119,887 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

PARKING BRAKE

AIR BAGS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

STEERING

SUSPENSION

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEELS

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"REAR BRAKE FULID AND EMERGENCY LINE IS EXPOSED AND EASILY DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND/OR RUBBLE. 2WD C1500 TRUCKS HAVE BRAKE LINES AND CABLES DROOPING DOWN BEYOND BELOW REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND ARE EASILY SNAGGED BY ROAD TRASH.*JB CAUSING LOSS OF FULID AND BRAKING ABILITY."

"ON DEC 8, 2003 I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECOUNDS IT SHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR, ALL ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS A CAR TRAVELING BEHIND THAT ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I PULLED OVER AND PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK ..."

"I SAT ON MY TAIL GATE AND THE TAIL GATE FELL DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED I HAD ONE BROKE CABLE AND THE OTHER SIDE THE BOLT WAS MISSING. I BOUGHT TWO CABLES FROM ADVANCE AUTO REPLACED ONE SIDE BUT I COULD NOT GET THE BOLT BACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING WE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28