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KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Gmc Sierra

The Verdict

20 Check Engine

The 2002 Gmc Sierra has 594 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are brakes (361 complaints) and body (110 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 20/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Gmc Sierra, consider the 2006 model year which has 53% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2006 has 53% fewer complaints

View the 2006 Gmc Sierra dashboard →

20

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000186389437235
20011023262811320
2002110361276729
20031002541185942
2004942061786935
2005811341466621
200662121412827
200766481803810
200810911309285

By Category

Brakes
361
Body
110
Engine
67
Transmission
29
Electrical
27

By Severity

1
283
2
251
3
2
4
57
5
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 5

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 towed to COPART in Las Vegas.

42mo ago
Brakes 1

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR COMING DOWN AN OVERPASS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH. I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I AM NOT GETTING THIS FIXED AS IT IS AN OLDER TRUCK BUT I DO THINK THAT SOMEONE COULD DIE FROM THIS DEFECT.

68mo ago
Body 1

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. METAL SUPPORT BAR IN THE BACK UPPER PORTION OF DRIVER SEAT BROKE. SEAT WAS BEING USED AS ORDINARY AND SNAPPED WHEN I WENT TO RETRIEVE ITEM FROM BACK SEAT BY REACH OVER CENTER CONSOLE AND TO BACK SEAT TO GRAB PURSE. I WEIGHT 135 POUNDS AND AM SMALL PERSON. NO EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE OR WEIGHT SHIFT. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE SEEKING SOLUTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AS TO LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THESE SEATS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS .REFUSE TO DRIVE TRUCK AS NOT CERTAIN THAT SAFETY BELT WILL BE OF ANY USE IN AN ACCIDENT AS SEAT FLOPS AROUND NOW AND HAS AWKWARD TILT BACK TO ONE SIDE ON THE CONSOLE SIDE AND LAYS BACK TO FAR TO CLEARLY SEE OVER DASH EVEN WHEN FULLY POSTURING ERECT.

77mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *BF BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED TWICE SAME LOCATION ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKE LIGHTING ON DASH ( WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ON FRONT TONE RINGS).*JB

83mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WOBBLED SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT LEFT THE CONTACT DISORIENTED. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PULL OVER FOR A WHILE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETUNED TO THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 30-45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSTALLED NEW BEARINGS, WHICH MADE THE FAILURE WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS, BUT EACH REPAIR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

85mo ago
Body 1

161131 MILES FRAME RUSTED REAL BAD BODY LOOKS GREAT FOR THE YEAR I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK LOOKED REAL CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT FROM ORIGANAL OWNER PUT IT ON A LIFT AND THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED OUT DID SOME GOOGLEING AND FOUND THAT MOST ALL THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT TO ROT OUT IN 3 YEARS

88mo ago
Electrical 4

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

89mo ago
Brakes 2

THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED BADLY AND NOW FAILED. VERY UNSAFE, CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN.

91mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOWSER AUTOMOTIVE (132-168 NORTH LEWIS RUN ROAD, WEST MIFFLIN, PA 15236, (412) 469-2100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

95mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOST AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

97mo ago
Brakes 1

MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESNT WORK...MY HEAD LIGHTS ALWAYS BURN OUT...MY BED LINER IS WHARPED...

99mo ago
Body 2

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM THE CABLE, UNKNOWN, I ALSO HAD A 2001 GMC YUKON AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THIS IS UNSAFE AS IT COULD BECOME DETACHED WHILE MOVING AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED

100mo ago
Body 2

2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AMONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING GEAR BEGAN LEAKING. *JS

101mo ago
Engine 2

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 LINGS ARE ALSO RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO BE DETERMINED LATER. I HAVE A 1953 CHEVY PICKUP THAT STILL HAS GOOD BRAKE LINES AND THE FRAME IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THE NEWER ONES, IF GM LOOKED TO THE PAST AT THE MATERIALS & METHODS THEY MIGHT BUILD A BETTER PRODUCT RATHER THAN THE GARBAGE THEY PRODUCE NOW! I AM GLAD I DIDN'T PAY $30-$60,000 FOR THIS TRUCK.

104mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 3-8 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED, INCREASING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS RUST BETWEEN AN ABS SENSOR AND THE HUB IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS. THE HUB AND SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE GMC DEALER (JEFF WYLER FLORENCE BUICK GMC, 1154 BURLINGTON PIKE, FLORENCE, KY 41042 (859) 279-4590) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

106mo ago
Body 1

BROKEN WELD HOLDING RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER TO REAR AXLE. GM IS DENYING THAT THIS WELD WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER BROKE LOOSE FROM THE REAR AXLE WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 101.

106mo ago
Brakes 4

I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE AND THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN OCT 2014. I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE WITH 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND I WAS GOING 40 MPH. I STARTED TO BRAKE AS THIS WAS DOWNHILL AND A VERY LARGE TRUCK AND I DID NOT WISH TO INCREASE SPEED AS I FOLLOWED THE CURVE. MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND SANK TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. I HAD NO STEERING ABILITY EITHER. I ENDED UP IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A VERY LARGE TREE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED. I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN ON THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE BLOCKING MY FACE WITH MY FOREARMS CROSSED; A DE-GLOVING 10-12 INCH LACERATION DOWN TO THE SKULL THAT WRAPS FROM MY NOSE BRIDGE AROUND TO MY RIGHT EAR IN THE CIRCULAR SHAPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT LEG WAS PINNED INTO THE CENTER DASH AREA AS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND STEERING COLUMN WERE SHOVED INTO THE CAB. I HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. MY QUADRASTEER WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY USAA INSURANCE AND DESTROYED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I CALLED USAA 3 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AFTER FINDING SO MANY BRAKE FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE/YEAR MODEL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ALREADY DESTROYED, SO DOING AN INVESTIGATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE LIVED IN PAIN AND ALSO PARALYZING FEAR OF DRIVING SINCE THEN; 3 YEARS. I AM A DISABLED MILITARY VETERAN WITH PTSD AND PRIOR BRAIN SURGERY AND THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED TO ME ISOLATE SO SEVERELY I COULD NOT EVEN ATTEND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DUE TO MY NEW FEARS OF DRIVING & RIDING IN VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS NOW RUINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. DECREASING VA DISABILITY DUE TO INABILITY TO ATTEND APPOINTMENTS CAUSED A $1000.00 PER MONTH LOSS OF BENEFITS. I CAN'T AFFORD MY BILLS AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE VA TO GAIN ACCESS TO MEDICAL EVALUATIONS SINCE THEY ARE NOW STRIVING TO CUT BENEFITS FROM ANYONE THEY CAN. PLEASE RECALL NOW!!!!! WHO ELSE HAS TO BE HURT OR KILLED?????

107mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE BOWSER DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT A DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

110mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ZINC ALUMINUM ALLOY ON THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN

111mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WHEN APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ *CN

112mo ago

594 total

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