Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 GMC Sierra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 GMC Sierra has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 252 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V379000 UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V161000 PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04E022000 DURAKON/BEDLINER DETACHES FROM THE TRUCK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V129000 GM/TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V435000 GM/CNG FUEL LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 96 complaints
- Service Brakes 31 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 22 complaints
- Power Train 18 complaints
- Structure 18 complaints
- Parking Brake 17 complaints
Of the 252 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 252 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 GMC Sierra shows below-average reliability with 252 complaints and 7 recalls. The high number of service brakes complaints suggests potential safety issues. Limited data on other complaints renders a comprehensive assessment challenging. However, key areas of concern remain brakes, engine cooling, and structure, indicating frequent repairs may be needed.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 40,000–80,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | very common |
| engine cooling | 50,000–90,000 miles | $200–$750 | occasional |
| parking brake | 50,000–100,000 miles | $150–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and pads
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotations and alignment
- Inspect and replace belts
- Replace air and cabin filters
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unresponsive brakes
- Engine overheating
- Parking brake failure
- Rust under body
- Loose steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 GMC Sierra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.