Most common 2002 Chevrolet Pickup problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Pickup complaints by model year
Best Pickup years: 2003, 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1995, 1997, 1996. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Chevrolet Pickup:
Hydraulic pump failres
GM is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between May 1999 and October 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early October 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes.
What 2002 Chevrolet Pickup owners say
Brakes
May of 2012 the brake line on the frame rail under the drivers seat failed, August 2013 brake line failed in two places at the same time just after a state inspection,repaired,and another brake line 1 foot from the mastercylinder along the drivers side frame rail just hours after the last repair, I have done my research this is not an isolated to just my truck failure g.m. Has known for sometime now their is a problem with low grade metal being used on their trucks but it would cost too much to address, so instead the public safety is being jeopardized over costs I am positive if someone would check brake related crashes they would be shocked at the results of the failures of these trucks.
2002 Chevrolet pick up truck. Consumer states failure of ABS system the consumer stated as his grandson turned into the driveway, the brakes failed. The pedal became extremely hard, and he was unable to slow the truck down. Even though the ABS failed, the warning light never illuminated on the dashboard. His grandson hit two vehicles parked in the driveway.
Wheels & tires
Recall campaign; tires had been checked at intervals of 3K miles, and there were many indications that there was a problem. The consumer stated that at 38000 miles he was informed that two of the vehicle tires had a split in the treads. The consumer took the tires to Goodyear an was offered $50.00 per bad tire. The remaining tires were rotated to the front but the vehicle still pulled to the right after the alignment. All four tires have now been replaced with another brand of tire.
From the date of purchase, my daughter, the primary driver, complained about the lack of traction when the road was wet. On the date of the accident, it had been drizzling. She was on the ramp connecting I-4 to I-95 north. Despite goinbg less than the posted speed limit, the truck began to fishtail and wound up doing a a 180 degree turn off of the highway. After being extricatyed from the woods by a tow truck, she was towed to sears where she replaced the original equipment passenger tires with Michelin xclt4 lt245/75r16 tires. All handling and traction problems immediately ceased with the light truck tires. The use of passenger vehicle tires on a pick-up is an engineering design difficiency!
Transmission & drivetrain
From the date of purchase, my daughter, the primary driver, complained about the lack of traction when the road was wet. On the date of the accident, it had been drizzling. She was on the ramp connecting I-4 to I-95 north. Despite goinbg less than the posted speed limit, the truck began to fishtail and wound up doing a a 180 degree turn off of the highway. After being extricatyed from the woods by a tow truck, she was towed to sears where she replaced the original equipment passenger tires with Michelin xclt4 lt245/75r16 tires. All handling and traction problems immediately ceased with the light truck tires. The use of passenger vehicle tires on a pick-up is an engineering design difficiency!
Consumer states when turning key into the ignition, the vehicle slipped out of gear without applying the brakes. Dealer notified. On every truck the consumer checked from 1998-2003 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton they experienced the same defect.
2002 Chevrolet Pickup engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Pickup a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Pickup rates better than average: 65% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Pickup at the same age. It is one of the best Pickup years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Pickup?
The brakes — 6 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › drum. Next are the wheels & tires (5) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Pickup have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Pickup. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Pickup?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1997 and 1996. See the full Chevrolet Pickup years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Pickup problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.