IllustrationDuring 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.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
5 reportsMY SPARE TIRE ON MY 2002 GMC SONOMA PICKUP FELL OUT OF ITS CARRIER. IT ROLLED ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND NO ONE WAS STRUCK BY THE RUN AWAY WHEEL. I APPEARS THE CABLE THAT SECURES THE SPARE ON THE TRUCK PARTED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE SPARE HAS BEEN OFF THE TRUCK. *JB
THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE WIRE CABLE SNAPPED. *JB
CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION FOR SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. *TS *JB
I NOTICED IN A REFLECTION OFF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WHEN I TURNED MY TURN SIGNAL (DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE, RIGHT OR LEFT), THAT MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS STARTED OUT AS ONLY HAPPENING ON OCCASION AND THEN PROCEED TO GET WORSE. BY FEBRUARY 17, 2003, THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF EVERY TIME I …
Read full complaint
I NOTICED IN A REFLECTION OFF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WHEN I TURNED MY TURN SIGNAL (DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE, RIGHT OR LEFT), THAT MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS STARTED OUT AS ONLY HAPPENING ON OCCASION AND THEN PROCEED TO GET WORSE. BY FEBRUARY 17, 2003, THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF EVERY TIME I USED MY TURN SIGNAL. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON THAT DATE AND WAS INFORMED AFTER THEY HAD CONTACTED GM, THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR IT TO DO THAT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN JULY OF 2002 AND IT HAD NOT DONE IT UP UNTIL THAT POINT, I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE FOLLOWED MY HUSBAND'S VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND HE WOULD HAVE NOTICED IT. ANYWAY, THE DEALER SHOWED ME IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WHERE IT SAYS SOME VEHICLES MAY DO THIS AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT ALTHOUGH IT HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. I FIND THIS UNSAFE AS IT WOULD BE VERY DISTRACTING TO ONCOMING DRIVERS PLUS THE FACT THAT I WORRY SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
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.