Model year
2002 GMC Sierra
NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 249 complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 4 recalls and 342 complaints under SIERRA 1500, SIERRA 1500 HD, SIERRA 2500, SIERRA 2500 HD, SIERRA 3500, and SIERRA DENALI. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP (45), SERVICE BRAKES (31), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (26). NHTSA lists 8 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 12–16 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $4,200–$5,600, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 443 complaints
- 2001 264 complaints
- 2002 249 complaints
- 2003 206 complaints
- 2004 188 complaints
- 2005 117 complaints
- 2006 53 complaints
- 2007 59 complaints
- 2008 68 complaints
- 2009 37 complaints
- 2010 34 complaints
- 2011 43 complaints
- 2012 29 complaints
- 2013 39 complaints
- 2014 101 complaints
- 2015 53 complaints
- 2016 6 complaints
- 2017 61 complaints
- 2018 371 complaints
- 2019 729 complaints
- 2020 622 complaints
- 2021 668 complaints
- 2022 673 complaints
- 2023 555 complaints
- 2024 534 complaints
- 2025 177 complaints
- 2026 167 complaints
Recalls
05V379000 · Aug 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS,…
05V161000 · Apr 22, 2005
PARKING BRAKE
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.
04V129000 · Mar 17, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE…
03V435000 · Nov 3, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
SOME 2WD AND 4WD PICKUP TRUCKS, CONVERTED TO EITHER DEDICATED OR BI-FUEL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUEL USAGE, WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A THROTTLE CABLE THAT CAN CONTACT AND RUB THROUGH THE FLEXIBLE PRESSURIZED FUEL LINE CREATING A PINHOLE LEAK OF NATURAL GAS TO THE ATMOSPHERE.
Complaints
249 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 23, fire flag on 2, injury field 6, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| SIERRA 1500 | 1 | 166 |
| SIERRA 1500 HD | 0 | 9 |
| SIERRA 2500 | 1 | 134 |
| SIERRA 2500 HD | 0 | 0 |
| SIERRA 3500 | 2 | 20 |
| SIERRA DENALI | 0 | 13 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA02015 | THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | Aug 1, 2002 | Jan 12, 2004 |
| PE03057 | PARKING BRAKE FAILURE · PARKING BRAKE | Dec 8, 2003 | Apr 9, 2004 |
| EA04005 | TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH; STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE; STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | Feb 19, 2004 | Sep 28, 2004 |
| EA04011 | PARKING BRAKE FAILURE · PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL; PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL; PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND… | Apr 9, 2004 | May 10, 2005 |
| PE05020 | UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE; SERVICE BRAKES,… | Apr 28, 2005 | Sep 13, 2005 |
| DP05009 | PARKING BRAKE FAILURE · PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL; PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL; PARKING BRAKE | Dec 20, 2005 | May 31, 2006 |
2 more actions are in the file and are not listed in this table.
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra 1500 2WD · 4.3L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 15 | 19 | 16 | — | — | $4,200 |
| Sierra 1500 2WD · 5.3L · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 17 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
| Sierra 1500 2WD · 4.3L · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 | 18 | 16 | — | — | $4,200 |
| Sierra 1500 2WD · 4.8L · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 | 18 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
| Sierra 1500 2WD · 4.8L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 | 19 | 16 | — | — | $4,200 |
| Sierra 1500 4WD · 5.3L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 12 | 16 | 14 | — | — | $4,800 |
| Sierra 1500 4WD · 4.3L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 17 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
| Sierra 1500 4WD · 4.3L · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 16 | 14 | — | — | $4,800 |
| Sierra 1500 4WD · 4.8L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 16 | 14 | — | — | $4,800 |
| Sierra 1500 4WD · 4.8L · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 12 | 16 | 14 | — | — | $4,800 |
| Sierra 1500 4WD · 5.3L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 16 | 14 | — | — | $4,800 |
| Sierra Denali 1500 AWD · 6L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 11 | 14 | 12 | — | — | $5,600 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2002 GMC Sierra at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.