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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 campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View 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

    Other model years Selected year
    57
    1999    136
    2000    89
    2001    57
    2002    39
    2003    0
    2004    1
    2005
    Compare all Sonoma years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    14    Structure
    13    Electrical System
    8    Latches/locks/linkages
    5    Unknown Or Other
    5
    All reported categories
    Engine And Engine Cooling
    4    Exterior Lighting
    4    Power Train
    4    Fuel System, Gasoline
    3    Parking Brake
    2    Service Brakes, Air
    2    Steering
    2    Tires
    2    Equipment
    1    Seats
    1    Visibility
    1

    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.

    2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

    Structure complaints

    13 reports
    Clear category filter
    41,000 miles · Aug 5, 2005
    Structure

    DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAPS. HE OWNED A GMC SONOMA 2002. ON AUGUST 4, 2005 CONSUMER LET TAILGATE DOWN AND DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF SUPPORT STRAPS BROKE , AND THE OTHER ONE RUSTED AND WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WAY THE STRAPS WERE BENDING WHEN TAILGATE WAS LOCKED IN THE UP POSIT…

    Read full complaint

    DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAPS. HE OWNED A GMC SONOMA 2002. ON AUGUST 4, 2005 CONSUMER LET TAILGATE DOWN AND DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF SUPPORT STRAPS BROKE , AND THE OTHER ONE RUSTED AND WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. HE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WAY THE STRAPS WERE BENDING WHEN TAILGATE WAS LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE COATING TO COLLAPSE, ALLOWING THE CABLES TO RUST. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10131695

    Mileage unknown · May 9, 2005
    Structure

    BOTH TAILGATE CABLES ROTTED AND BROKE IN HALF ON MY 2002 GMC SONOMA, ON 05/09/2005. THERE WAS NO LOAD ON THE TAILGATE AT THE TIME, BUT BOTH BROKAT AT THE SAME TIME (SIMPLY LOWERING THE TAILGATE).

    NHTSA ODI #10120485

    86,421 miles · Mar 28, 2005
    Structure

    SUPPORT CABLES BROKEN ON TAILGATE. BOTH HAVE RUSTED AWAY ON 2002 GMC SONOMA TRUCK. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10114852

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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

    0

    No 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.