During an oil change I noticed unusual wear on the front passenger side tire. Upon investigation my mechanic found that the chassis was cracked which pushed the tire causing it to rub. Very concerned this could have caused a very bad accident.
2002 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 GMC Sonoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
39 reports with mileage · 18 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
57 reportsTHE 3RD DOOR ON EXT CAB. THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THIS IS MAJOR COMPLAINTS FOR THESE 3RD MODELS. HAVE TO REPLACE PINS OR SOMETHING, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. THIS A A LIFE & DEATH HAZARD & DEFECT. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? IN AN ACCIDENT, (REAR ENDED) THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE WIRE CABLE HOIST ASSEMBLY FRAY SNAPPED AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY DISENGAGED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN IN THE ON POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE REMAINED POWERED ON. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY DISENGAGED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN IN THE ON POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE REMAINED POWERED ON. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 6/22/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR EXTENDED CAB DOOR HANDLE BECAME FRACTURED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT STATED THE SAME DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED A SECOND TIME. THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR EXTENDED CAB DOOR HANDLE BECAME FRACTURED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT STATED THE SAME DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
WHILE BRAKING FOR A YIELD INTERSECTION ON 3/30/2012, APPROX. 10AM, IN DRY AND CLEAR CONDITIONS, BRAKES ON 2002 GMC SONOMA FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE HARD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RAN THROUGH INTERSECTION ALMOST COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE STOPPED AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, BOTH…
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WHILE BRAKING FOR A YIELD INTERSECTION ON 3/30/2012, APPROX. 10AM, IN DRY AND CLEAR CONDITIONS, BRAKES ON 2002 GMC SONOMA FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE HARD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RAN THROUGH INTERSECTION ALMOST COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE STOPPED AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING, BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS CLEARED AND WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO BOTH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND GM DEALERSHIP MECHANIC AND BOTH CONFIRMED AN ODB II TROUBLE CODE OF C0265 HAD BEEN GENERATED. THIS CODE, I WAS TOLD, INDICATES FAILURE OF THE EBCM (ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE) OF THE ABS SYSTEM. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN TO GM AND IT HAS ISSUED SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALLS. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD NOT REPLACE THE EBCM AS LACKED THE PROPRIETARY GM SOFTWARE NEEDED TO PROGRAM IT. GM DEALERSHIP MECHANIC--WHILE CONFIRMING GENERATION OF THE C0265 TROUBLE CODE--REFUSED TO REPLACE THE EBCM INSTEAD SAYING I SHOULD "JUST DRIVE IT AROUND AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN." THIS SEEMED A VERY DISMISSIVE APPROACH BY GM TO A KNOWN PROBLEM ON CERTAIN OF THEIR ABS VEHICLES AS THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE ON 3/20/2012 ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. NOT ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE SECOND FAILURE THE GM DEALER WANTS ME TO "WAIT FOR" WOULD RESULT IN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE, BUT WAS CONCERNED IT COULD SUDDENLY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE, BUT WAS CONCERNED IT COULD SUDDENLY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
2002 GMC SONOMA ZR-2 EXTENDED CAB DOOR ENTRY HANDLE HAS FAILED 5 TIMES OVER PAST 6 YEARS. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
DOOR LATCH FOR MY EXTENDED CAB DOOR HAS BROKEN FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE I'VE OWNED IT, WHICH IS 2004 AND THE LASY ONE LASTED ONLY 2 YEARS. *TR
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, TODAY IT BROKE AGAIN. IF SOMEONE WERE IN THE BACK OF THE CAB AND HAD TO GET OUT, THEY COULD NOT. THIS HANDLE IS PLASTIC AND BREAKS CONTINUOUSLY. THE CHEVY HOUSE INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE THIS PART IN STOCK ALL THE TIM…
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I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, TODAY IT BROKE AGAIN. IF SOMEONE WERE IN THE BACK OF THE CAB AND HAD TO GET OUT, THEY COULD NOT. THIS HANDLE IS PLASTIC AND BREAKS CONTINUOUSLY. THE CHEVY HOUSE INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE THIS PART IN STOCK ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. THEY REPLACED IT 4 TIMES WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY NOW, SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND MADE INTO A HEAVIER MATERIAL AND MADE A RECALL. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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