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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.

About this comparison →

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
33,000 miles · Jan 19, 2006
Structure

ON 30 OCT. 05, I WAS PREPARING TO LOAD A MOTORCYCLE ON THE BACK OF MY GMC SONOMA. AFTER OPENING-UP THE TAILGATE ON MY GMC SONOMA, I PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE TAILGATE. BOTH TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO SLAM DOWN ON THE BUMPER CAUSING ME TO FALL TO THE GROUND. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT WAS THANKFUL THAT IT BROKE …

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ON 30 OCT. 05, I WAS PREPARING TO LOAD A MOTORCYCLE ON THE BACK OF MY GMC SONOMA. AFTER OPENING-UP THE TAILGATE ON MY GMC SONOMA, I PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE TAILGATE. BOTH TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO SLAM DOWN ON THE BUMPER CAUSING ME TO FALL TO THE GROUND. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT WAS THANKFUL THAT IT BROKE BEFORE AND NOT DURING THE LOADING OF THE TRUCK. BOTH CABLES SNAPPED EXACTLY IN THE SAME SPOT. CABLES SHOWED SIGNS OF CORROSION INSIDE THE CABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10148129

49,500 miles · Jan 12, 2006
TiresUnknown Or Other

MY 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

NHTSA ODI #10147636

36,800 miles · Dec 12, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

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

NHTSA ODI #10144978

127 miles · Nov 18, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

PLEASE SEE MY NUMEROUS ENTRIES- TOOK VEHICLE IN AGAIN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. PICKED UP 11/17/05. ABS BRAKES. SUPPOSEDLY THEY HAVE FINALLY DIAGNOSED THEM.!REPLACED BAD WHEEL SENSOR. H0161.9. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T CHECK THEM PREVIOUSLY. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND I HAVE BROUGHT THEM IN. . T…

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PLEASE SEE MY NUMEROUS ENTRIES- TOOK VEHICLE IN AGAIN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. PICKED UP 11/17/05. ABS BRAKES. SUPPOSEDLY THEY HAVE FINALLY DIAGNOSED THEM.!REPLACED BAD WHEEL SENSOR. H0161.9. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T CHECK THEM PREVIOUSLY. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND I HAVE BROUGHT THEM IN. . THEIR RECORDS ONLY SHOW TWICE. RADIO-REPLACED 8 TIMES ALREADY DUPLICATED FREEZING, PLAYING 1 STATION AND SHOWING ANOTHER AT OTH DEALER AND DOC, THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THIS TIME HOWEVER THEY INSTALLED UPDATED SOFTWARE. "WHY WASN'T THIS DONE BEFORE" AND THEY ADVISED A CD WAS STUFF IN THE PLAYER. IT WAS NOT, MY DAU WAS PLAYING A JANIS JOPLIN CD AND TOOK IT WITH HER WHEN WE LEFT THE VEHICLE. WHEN TURN SIGNAL USED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT GOES OUT. THEY SAY THIS HAPPENS ON SOME CARS BUT NOT ALL. THEY CANNOT TELL YOU WHICH CARS IT HAPPENS TO. ONCE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY FIXED IT. THEN IT STARTED GOING OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SHOWED ME A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAID "SOME VEHICLES" HAS THIS BUT THEY DO NOT DESIGNATE WHICH VEHICLES, I STILL DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, ELECTRICAL ISSUE OR BOTH. EMISSIONS, I'VE DRIVEN OVER 2500 MILES AND IT FINALLY PASSED THE READINESS TEST. I TOOK THIS IN 4 TIMES BEFORE DRIVING 1000, THEY ON THE FIFTH TIME I TOOK IT IN IT PASSED WHY DID I HAVE TO DRIVE SO MANY MILES IN ORDER FOR MY VEHICLE TO PASS THE EMISSIONS. MY LEMON TAINTED 2002 SONOMA TRUCK GM REP SYS HIS RECORD SYS I WAS NEVER TOWED. AS YOU KNOW I WAS TOWED TWICE. ONCE WHEN ENGINE JUST STOPPED AND SECOND WHEN MY BATTERY JUST DIED. GENERAL MANAGER AT DEALER SYS MY COMPLAINT SHOWS ONLY TWICE. THEY STILL TELL ME I DO NOT HAVE ANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I SAY I DO. ARE MY BRAKES FIXED? I WILL NEED TO DRIVE IT AND WILL LET YOU KNOW! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143123

49,300 miles · Oct 26, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WAS TOLD AIR INJECTOR VALVE OPER/SOLENOID REPLACE. DROVE 800 MILES, TOOK EMISSIONS TEST FAILED. SHOWED NO CODES. WAS TOLD BY TECH TO TRY DRIVING 100 MILES. OR TAKE TO DEALER, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP CHARGED DIAGNOSTIC FEE. WAS TOLD BY THEM TO DRIVE 100 MILES. DROVE 150 RETURNED NEXT DAY. STILL THE CODES ARE NOT …

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WAS TOLD AIR INJECTOR VALVE OPER/SOLENOID REPLACE. DROVE 800 MILES, TOOK EMISSIONS TEST FAILED. SHOWED NO CODES. WAS TOLD BY TECH TO TRY DRIVING 100 MILES. OR TAKE TO DEALER, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP CHARGED DIAGNOSTIC FEE. WAS TOLD BY THEM TO DRIVE 100 MILES. DROVE 150 RETURNED NEXT DAY. STILL THE CODES ARE NOT SHOWING. WANT ME TO DRIVE ANOTHER 150 MILES. TWO CODES ARE NOT SHOWING. TOOK BACK TO EMISSIONS PROVIDER, THEY SHOWED ME IT WAS THE 02 SENSOR AND LAST TEST ON THE OBD COMPUTER. I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME. ALSO PLEASE NOTE MY RADIO FROZE AGAIN PLAYING ON 1 STATION AND SHOWING ANOTHER. SHOWED IT TO TECH TODAY. AND ALSO MY BRAKES STILL GIVING SAME PROBLEM. ABS BRAKES STILL PULLING VEHICLE. BOUGHT NEW TIRES TO HELP WITH THE TRACTION. BUT PROBLEM STILL SAME. FUEL WAS ABOUT 12 MILES PER GAL. HOW MANY MILES DO I HAVE TO DRIVE IN ORDER FOR THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. I'VE DRIVEN OVER 1000 (ONE THOUSAND) SINCE FRIDAY 10-21-05. WHAT A LEMON! I WILL BE RETURNING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (CHEV) TOMORROW AFTER DRIVING 150 MILES. MY DAYTIME LIGHT STILL GOES OUT WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140886

59,350 miles · Sep 6, 2005
Unknown Or Other

THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE WIRE CABLE SNAPPED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135427

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…

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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 · Aug 5, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. LAST WEEK THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN THE CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AS HE WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. HE WENT TO A SERVICE STATION THAT WAS ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THEY INDICATED IT WAS A SENSOR FOR THE ABS BRAKES. HE WENT TO HIS DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM HIS STORY A…

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DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. LAST WEEK THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN THE CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AS HE WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. HE WENT TO A SERVICE STATION THAT WAS ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THEY INDICATED IT WAS A SENSOR FOR THE ABS BRAKES. HE WENT TO HIS DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM HIS STORY AND THEY SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT IF THE ABS FAILED THERE WOULD BE NORMAL BRAKING CAPABILITIES, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE IT. *AK *JB UPDATED 01/10/06.

NHTSA ODI #10127787

52,000 miles · Jul 26, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: 2002 GMC SONOMA. CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ABS BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON SILVER SPRING DRIVE IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SLID DUE TO THE WHEELS LOCKING UP. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND IT WAS DAY TIME. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 12, 2005. CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT SPEED OF …

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DT: 2002 GMC SONOMA. CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ABS BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON SILVER SPRING DRIVE IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SLID DUE TO THE WHEELS LOCKING UP. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND IT WAS DAY TIME. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 12, 2005. CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT SPEED OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SLOW OR FAST FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED ABS FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10130089

28,000 miles · May 15, 2005
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE NOISE RUST ON REAR EMEGANCY BRAKE POSIBLE FAILUR OF EMEGANCY BRAKE AND REAR BRAKS?

NHTSA ODI #10120937

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.