The Lemon IndexAll cars · GMC · GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD problems, engines and recalls.
Owners filed 154 complaints with the government about the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD, most often about brakes (54%).
Which engine is in it
131 of the 154 complaints have a VIN we could decode, which tells us the engine.
| Engine | Share | Complaints | What they name most |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 V8 gas | 46% | 60 | too few to split |
| 6.6 Duramax LB7 diesel | 33% | 43 | brakes 47%, fuel system 23%, transmission & drivetrain 9% |
| 8.1 V8 gas | 19% | 25 | too few to split |
| 6.5 diesel | 2% | 3 | too few to split |
Each diesel's page: Duramax LB7.
Nearby model years
What owners complain about
Share of this year's complaints that name each area.
When problems show up
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 50,000 and 119,618 miles; the middle report was at 85,000 miles (128 complaints with a mileage).
How serious
| Crashes | Fires | Injury reports | Death reports | Towed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA, not verified.
In owners' words
Consumer states the power steering pump shaft twisted off causing loss of power steering and brakes while driving. ts
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD owner · NHTSA complaint 8024059
While driving automatic transmission will down shift abruptly and vehicle may lunge forward when sitting at light. driver must keep foot pressed hard against brake pedal to keep from moving when sitting still. please describe details.
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD owner · NHTSA complaint 8016388
A fuel leak underneath vehicle. vehicle has not been inspected by dealership. please provide additional information.
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD owner · NHTSA complaint 8016113
Recalls 2
04V562000 Nov 2004 Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at 1-800-769-8267.
01V220000 Jun 2001 Interior Lighting Names the Duramax L5P / Duramax LB7 / Duramax LBZ / Duramax LLY / Duramax LML / Duramax LMM
Vehicle description: certain pickup trucks equipped with 6.6l diesel engines fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." these vehicles have a brake system warning light in the instrument cluster that may not illuminate when the brake fluid is low. In addition, when the brake fluid is low, the vehicle may not meet the partial system requirements of fmvss no. 105.
Fix. Dealers will change the location of a wire connection in the underhood bussed electrical center. Owner notification began july 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
NHTSA recalls for this model year under every name these trucks are filed under. A recall that names an engine applies only to trucks with it. Free at any dealer: check the VIN.
Quick answers
Is the 2002 Sierra HD reliable?
We can't score it per truck (heavy-duty sales aren't reported apart from the half-ton). Owners filed 154 complaints about it, most often about brakes (54% of them). Compare the diesel generations on their engine pages.
What engine does the 2002 Sierra HD have?
By the VINs in owner complaints: 6.0 V8 gas (46%), 6.6 Duramax LB7 diesel (33%), 8.1 V8 gas (19%), 6.5 diesel (2%).
How many recalls does the 2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD have?
2. Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check the truck's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The whole-line score for 2002, mostly half-tons: 2002 GMC Sierra.
No Lemon Index score: automakers report heavy-duty pickup sales together with the half-ton (one F-Series, Ram or Silverado number), so there is no honest per-truck denominator. These are counts and shares of owner complaints, not failure rates. Complaints: NHTSA owner complaints filed under the truck's 2500/3500 (F-250/F-350) names, all years filed, one per complaint number. Engine: decoded from the complaint's VIN (position 8 is the engine code) with NHTSA's vPIC decoder. Complaints filed as just “Silverado” or “Sierra” are left out (they mix 1500s and HDs). Older trucks have had more years to collect complaints, and popular years draw more because more were sold.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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