Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 GMC Envoy owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was on my way home on hwy/us 151 going approx. 55-60 MPH (65 MPH zone) when I hit a deer which caused my vehicle to lose control and slammed into the start of a guardrail at no less than 45 MPH bringing my 2002 GMC Envoy to a complete stop, at most 2-3 feet from initial impact to be exact. The airbags did not deploy. Front dash nor side impact bags, nothing. N I hit hard. Luckily I wasn't seriously injured only minor bruising and quite sore from whiplash and being thrown into the door an a bit shaken n luckily had no passengers. As for my Envoy, it is a total loss and unfortunately I only had liability insurance so now I'm screwed without a vehicle and after all other problems I've faced with my GMC Envoy I will never own a GM again. Take GM products to the dump.
I and my passenger were in an accident about a year ago, a very hard front end impact, and none of the air bags deployed. We were both transported to the er by ambulance, I hit the steering wheel hard so hard that it bent inwards and broke my nose also had a concussion. He was in the front passenger seat and hit the front dash, where the air bag should have deployed, he broke his front teeth and also had a concussion. I've also had many of the same issues that every other 02 or 03 Envoy has yet my VIN pulls no recalls. This needs to be investigated!!! Thanks.
I was in an accident and hit on broadside on the passenger side and driver front corner. The air bags did not go off. They say service soon. The seat belt hurt me as well. It did not lock. I was injured with a torn labrum, back and neck injuries. Head too. I was moving and I was hit on the drivers side and then pushed into another car. I was on a city street. 14 mile near mount 7-22
I was involved in an accident May 28, 2002 in which both vehicles made contact at their left front corners. Total vehicle speed was at least 40 MPH at contact and maybe higher. The other vehicle's airbags both deployed while neither one of mine in a 2002 Envoy did. This was not a direct head on crash, but the angle of impact was such that both vehicles stopped immediately. The only movement after impact was a pivoting around with the rear of both vehicles. In other words, we stopped upon contact. Both vehicles were a total loss and there were injuries in my vehicle. They were not severe, but happened nonetheless. My 8 year old son had severe seat and shoulder belt markings as well as bruises from his leg hitting a phone holder. I received some neck injuries that are still being treated and at this date we do not know how long treatment will take. …
My wife and I were headed southbound on 685 in round rock, tx in our 2002 GMC Envoy at approx. 9:35 pm when a driver in a Mini van ran a red light at the intersection of 685 and gattis school rd. Our vehicle struck them in the rear passenger quadrant. The speed limit is 60 MPH at this intersection and we did not have time to brake. Even though the front of our vehicle was crushed into the engine compartment, no airbags deployed. My wife, who is in the habit of wearing her seatbelt (although we still cannot confirm one way or the other) struck the rear view mirror with her head with enough force to break a hole in the windshield where it was attached and break the windshield around it. She was transported to the hospital with a concussion and had for a time gone incoherent and unresponsive with short term memory loss. She has had daily headaches since with some extremely severe. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, a tire was on the road and the contact swerved to the left to avoid the object however, the power steering assist failed and the brakes failed to respond. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and flipped approximately ten times and crashed into a guard rail. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was taken to a hospital where there were injuries reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 09/05/14 the consumer stated the ignition switch May be the cause of the failure. Updated 12/16/2014
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. While driving 20 MPH uphill in icy weather, the vehicle slid off the road. None of the air bags deployed and the vehicle was completely destroyed. The passenger was severely injured. The contact filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. He has a copy of the police report. The current and failure mileages were 115,000. Updated 01/07/08 updated
Rear end collision sent 2002 GMC Envoy into freeway center median, vehicle then rolled over onto passenger side. Front/side driver and passenger air bags failed to deploy. Approximate speed of vehicle at impact, 40-45 MPH. Driver suffered minor injuries, passenger (14-yr old) rendered unconscious and suffered concussion and other minor injuries.
While driving 30 MPH the vehicle was impacted on it's passenger side. The vehicle flipped over three times before coming to a stop. The consumer was wearing a seat belt at the time, but none of the six air bags deployed. The consumer suffered cuts, bruises and blood loss. The manufacturer and the dealer have not been informed of the failure.
Road under construction hole in road overcorrected and went into air SUV rolled several times. Damage to front and rear. Drivers side of car damaged from front to rear. Air bags frontal or side did not deploy. GMC 2002 Envoy one owner with less than 46,000 miles. Car was totaled by insurance company.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
Airbag complaints in other Envoy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 GMC Envoy?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 GMC Envoy, 8% of the model year's 487 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 GMC Envoy airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-222 (frontal, Aug 9, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Envoy airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 29 crashes, 0 fires and 33 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.