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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

57 reports
30,000 miles · Aug 5, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S SON DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING BRAKE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S SON DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10236973

54,386 miles · Mar 10, 2008
Steering

ON 1/25/06 I TOOK MY 2002 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK TO ALLEN GMC IN LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT A CLICKING NOISE I WAS HEARING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (GMC P/N 26056116) NEEDED TO …

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ON 1/25/06 I TOOK MY 2002 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK TO ALLEN GMC IN LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT A CLICKING NOISE I WAS HEARING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (GMC P/N 26056116) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 244.90 PLUS 188.00 FOR LABOR. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED FOR A WHILE BUT IN DECEMBER 2007 I NOTICED THAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS (CLICKING NOISE AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL) WERE BACK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO ALLEN GMC WITH A COPY OF THE INVOICE (INV # GCCS358357)FOR THE ORIGINAL REPAIR. THE SERVICE WRITER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD RETURNED BUT SAID THAT THE REPAIR AND PARTS WERE OUT OF THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. I TOLD HIM I WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR INABILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST AND WAS GIVEN THE PHONE NUMBER TO THEIR NATIONAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LINE (800 GMC-TRUC). I CALLED THIS NUMBER ON 2/15/08 AND TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (TERRI AT EXT 21714) ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD FIXED AND THAT IT HAD RETURNED LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER. SHE GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER OF 71-607365535 AND TOLD ME I WOULD HEAR BACK FROM HER IN A FEW DAYS. ON 2/18/08, TERRI CALLED BACK TO INFORM ME THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT ELAPSED SINCE THE REPAIR THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT GMC WOULD DO FOR ME. I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT A CUSTOMER TO PAY NUMEROUS TIMES FOR A GMC PART THAT CLEARLY WAS POORLY DESIGNED. I TOLD HER THAT I FOUND SEVERAL INCIDENCES ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART AND THAT GMC NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PART THEY NEED TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. SINCE THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM, I THINK IT IS IS IMPERATIVE THAT GMC FIX IT AND NOT CAUSE THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220734

23,000 miles · Nov 19, 2007
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE HANDLE ON THE THIRD DOOR FAILED AFTER BEING REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. THE HANDLE IS PLASTIC AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ONCE IT FAILS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE HANDLE ON THE THIRD DOOR FAILED AFTER BEING REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. THE HANDLE IS PLASTIC AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ONCE IT FAILS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209316

30,000 miles · Jan 5, 2007
Power Train

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN HIS CLUTCH FAILED ON HIS 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE CLUTCH STOPPED ENGAGING, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT NONE OF THE GEARS WOULD ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE TOW DRIVER SAID HE COULD SMELL THE CLUTC…

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TL* - THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN HIS CLUTCH FAILED ON HIS 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE CLUTCH STOPPED ENGAGING, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT NONE OF THE GEARS WOULD ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE TOW DRIVER SAID HE COULD SMELL THE CLUTCH BURNING. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE CLUTCH FLUID THE NEXT MORNING AND 3/4 OF IT WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A CLUTCH REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS SHOWN THE FLYHEEL THAT MELTED. THE FORD DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THE CLUTCH BURNED OUT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10177862

111,111 miles · Nov 30, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TONIGHT, A RAINY NIGHT IN TEXAS I HAD TO BRAKES SUDDENLY. FINALLY MY ABS BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY .THERE WAS NO HEAVY PULL TO THE LEFT SWERVING INTO THE NEXT LANE, AS IT DID FROM 2003-2005. THERE WAS PULSATION FROM THE BRAKING MECHANISM THAT I NEVER FELT BEFORE LIKE I TOLD IT SHOULD WORK. I DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE WHEEL…

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TONIGHT, A RAINY NIGHT IN TEXAS I HAD TO BRAKES SUDDENLY. FINALLY MY ABS BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY .THERE WAS NO HEAVY PULL TO THE LEFT SWERVING INTO THE NEXT LANE, AS IT DID FROM 2003-2005. THERE WAS PULSATION FROM THE BRAKING MECHANISM THAT I NEVER FELT BEFORE LIKE I TOLD IT SHOULD WORK. I DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE WHEEL TO KEEP CONTROL. IT NEVER SWERVED LIKE NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE OUT OF THE OVER 100 TIMES MY ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED , THIS TIME FINALLY IT WORKED THE WAY ABS SHOULD WORK DURING A WET BUMPY ROAD. LAST YEAR AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS ABOUT MY MANY ISSUES,GM CORP AND THE DEALER FINALLY WAS WILLING TO CHECK OUT MY VEHICLE AGAIN WITH ABS BRAKES AND OTHER ISSUES. I DROVE MY VEHICLE AT MY COST FROM TEXAS TO GEORGIA. THE DEALER REPORTED MY VEHICLE'S ISSUES WERE REPAIRED. THE DRL ISSUE (TURNS OFF WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNAL, STUPID DEFECT THAT THEY HAVE IN THE MANUAL. AS IF IT NORMAL. I STILL DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER CAR THAT DOES THIS ) THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE BUT THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE IS GONE. WHEN I HAD THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IT AFFECTED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE OVER THE TIME I HAD THE TRUCK. I EVEN HAD MY RADIO REPLACED OVER NINE TIMES. MY LAST ISSUE WAS THE SYSTEM NOT RECOGNIZING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON AND DRIVING FROM GA TO TX AND BACK BEFORE IT WOULD GO OUT. I DROVE 2000 MILES. ....ABS BRAKES." WHAT EVER THE DEALER DID TO MY CAR TO REPAIR THE SWERVING ISSUES. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MALFUNCTIONING ABS BRAKES ON THE SONOMA VEHICLE. THERE IS A DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED. MINE WAS FIXED AFTER 3 YEARS. THESE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS UNTIL REPAIRED. I HAVE AVOIDED MANY ACCIDENTS BY BEING VERY CAREFUL ; OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE DRIVING. HAVE GM FIX THOSE FAULTY ABS BRAKES. PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN FIND MY MANY COMPLAINTS UNDER GMC SONOMA 2002. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174751

58,000 miles · Aug 8, 2006
Structure

I OWN A 2002 GMC SONOMA PICK-UP. I HAD THE CABLES ON THE TAILGATE BREAK WHEN CLIMBING INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE FOUND ARTICLES ON THIS SUBJECT ON THE INTERNET FROM NEWS AGENCIES THAT SAY GMC WOULD BE SENDING OUT A LETTER TO OWNERS OF THE GMC SONOMA'S AND S10 THAT WOULD WARN OF THE PROBLEM AND OFFER AN INSPECTION OF THE …

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I OWN A 2002 GMC SONOMA PICK-UP. I HAD THE CABLES ON THE TAILGATE BREAK WHEN CLIMBING INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE FOUND ARTICLES ON THIS SUBJECT ON THE INTERNET FROM NEWS AGENCIES THAT SAY GMC WOULD BE SENDING OUT A LETTER TO OWNERS OF THE GMC SONOMA'S AND S10 THAT WOULD WARN OF THE PROBLEM AND OFFER AN INSPECTION OF THE CABLES AND REPLACEMENT OF THE CABLES. I NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER AND THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164921

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON MY 2002 GMC SONOMA TRUCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN OFF AND THE ROTOR SEVERELY SCORED AND RUINED BY 14,000 MILES, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GMC DEALER DECLARED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MEAN WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS LARGELY INTACT AND THE ROTOR PERFECT. ALSO THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP TRUCK PROMPT…

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ON MY 2002 GMC SONOMA TRUCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN OFF AND THE ROTOR SEVERELY SCORED AND RUINED BY 14,000 MILES, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GMC DEALER DECLARED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MEAN WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS LARGELY INTACT AND THE ROTOR PERFECT. ALSO THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP TRUCK PROMPTLY OR SMOOTHLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161955

63,710 miles · Jun 26, 2006
Structure

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKEN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160747

60,000 miles · May 4, 2006
Exterior Lighting

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V139000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH; HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECAL…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V139000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH; HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 6/23/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156786

60,000 miles · May 3, 2006
Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE, BOTH CABLES FRACTURED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE CABLE; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10156700

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.