Illustration2002 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
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →57Owner complaints
Model-year median: 57
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2002 GMC Sonoma
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 57 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 14 reports
- Structure: 13 reports
- Electrical System: 8 reports
- Latches/locks/linkages: 5 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 5 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonoma years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
80–25K
1325–50K
1150–75K
375–100K
2100–150K
2150K+
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.
2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Latches/locks/linkages complaints
5 reportsDOOR 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
THIRD DOOR LATCH BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE. TOLD NO RECALLS ON LATCH. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED LATCH TO BREAK IF PART DEFECTIVE GMC WOULD PAY FOR FIX BUT NOT FOR DEALERS LABOR FOR DIAGNOSING PROBLEM. DEALER SAID IT WOULD TAKE 30 MINUTES MINIMUM TO 1 HOUR AND HALF AT 75 DOLLARS A …
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THIRD DOOR LATCH BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE. TOLD NO RECALLS ON LATCH. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED LATCH TO BREAK IF PART DEFECTIVE GMC WOULD PAY FOR FIX BUT NOT FOR DEALERS LABOR FOR DIAGNOSING PROBLEM. DEALER SAID IT WOULD TAKE 30 MINUTES MINIMUM TO 1 HOUR AND HALF AT 75 DOLLARS A HOUR. TALKED TO ANOTHER DEALER SERVICE MANAGER,TOLD "REPAIR THEM ALL THE TIME".TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL BODY SHOP WHO ALSO SAID"REPAIR THEM ALL THE TIME".READ ON INTERNET AUTO BULLETIN BOARDS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
(1) LOADING PARCELS INTO BED OF TRUCK. (2) TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BROKE, CAUSING TAILGATE TO FALL ON REAR BUMPER FOR SUPPORT, THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO TAILGATE AND PARCELS TO FALL ON GROUND.*AK PERSON LOADING PARCELS RECEIVED MINOR BRUISES AND CUTS. (2A) TAILGATE LATCH HANDLE BROKE AND FELL ON GROUND, TAILGATE…
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(1) LOADING PARCELS INTO BED OF TRUCK. (2) TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BROKE, CAUSING TAILGATE TO FALL ON REAR BUMPER FOR SUPPORT, THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO TAILGATE AND PARCELS TO FALL ON GROUND.*AK PERSON LOADING PARCELS RECEIVED MINOR BRUISES AND CUTS. (2A) TAILGATE LATCH HANDLE BROKE AND FELL ON GROUND, TAILGATE CAN NOT BE OPENED. (3) TAILGATE CLOSED WAITING RESEARCH ON HOW TO REPAIR LATCH AND REPLACE CABLES.
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.