VehicleVerdict

2002 GMC Sierra brakes problems

The 2002 GMC Sierra has 152 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 52% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

152

Brakes complaints

52%

Share of year

17

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Related recalls

05V379000BrakesAugust 29, 2005 · 1,353,718 units

Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.

Consequence

THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

05V161000BrakesApril 22, 2005 · 90,242 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

Consequence

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

What owners report

LOW SPEED APPLICATION OF BRAKES ON MIXED TRACTION SURFACE ( BARE ROAD ON LEFT SIDE ICE AND SNOW ON RIGHT SIDE). LEAD TO UNWANTED ACTIVATION OF ANTI-LOCKS. RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH WITH PERSONAL INJURY AND SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. POLICE WERE NOTIFIED BUT NO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 5, 2003 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2002 GMC Sierra have?

NHTSA has 152 complaints about the 2002 GMC Sierra brakes — 52% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 GMC Sierra brakes?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the brakes: 05V161000, 05V379000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.