Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear subframe had fractured and detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
While driving the Envoy at about 45 MPH, a warning light saying "reduced engine power" came on suddenly, the car dropped down to about 20 MPH, and that continues to occur. I can turn off and restart the car, but the problem returns within a minute after driving it again. I started investigating what that means online, and, as with anything else on the internet, I see many opinions, guesses, and possibilities. Could be a bad sensor, bad throttle control, bad wire connections, etc. But this much appears clear: (1) it is a GM problem, and a very, very common one. (2) it is a dangerous problem. This seems pretty obvious - the car suddenly loses speed and evidently sometimes stalls out altogether. But hearing about so many other people's scary experiences just confirms this. (3) it can be difficult and expensive to diagnose and fix. …
My Envoy was put into park when I went to lock the front door. When I got out of the car and took two steps, it slipped out of gear and went rolling down (very slight grade) the driveway in reverse. I jumped in to try and stop it before hitting neighbors cars. I grabbed the steering wheel to pull myself in, which made the Envoy turn to miss on car, then it threw me out, almost running over both of my legs with the front wheel. It then proceeded to hit a satellite dish, and air conditioning unit (which all but ripped the door off the hinges.) it then finally stopped after running through a fence and it rested with one wheel in the air on a mound of dirt.
I have a 2002 GMC Envoy which has a destroyed transmission due to the well known (but unbeknownst to me) failure of the transmission cooling lines. This is a clear design flaw, as the routing is close to the catalyst. Besides the obvious safety concerns of an on the road transmission failure, the location makes a fire likely. The design flaw is documented in TSB pt-4722. I believe these vehicles should be recalled.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact sated that the vehicle failed to shift out of drive into the park position. The parking brake was engaged to secure the vehicle from moving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the shifter linkage bushing. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000.
My vehicle rolled backwards down a hill and crashed into a waterfountain and a tree in my front yard. Backing out of my garage I stopped quickly after just exiting my garage on a slope of about 6% grade. I had spilled coffee, I put the vehicle into park and stepped out when the car abruptly rolled backward. Both of my children were strapped in their seats and I tried to leap back across the drivers seat with my legs hanging out the door. We traveled 50 feet before hitting the waterfountain and tree. The rushing water from the fountain sounded like fule ready to explode. I was taken to the hospital with an injury to my right leg. I informed GMC the following day, feb 1st. On feb 7th I received a response to my complaint from roger lewis, customer relationship managert informing me that "his investigation" revealed no evidence of a product defect. …
While cruising at highway speed (65 MPH) my 2002 GMC Envoy suddenly made a loud crunching noise and lost forward motion. The engine revved up, then down, then turned off (while multiple dash warning lights came on simultaneously). I managed to get the vehicle off the road without the help of power steering or brakes, and after a few minutes I started it back up and found I could drive off only at low speed on the shoulder, though there was continued noise from the underside of the car and it was erratically performing. I immediately brought the car to a mechanic who discovered that internal parts in the transmission had failed. The mechanic also informed me that there is a GMC technical service bulletin about this and it is a common/frequent problem. The TSB recommends replacing the internal transmission parts. …
We own a 2002 GMC Envoy sle, which was purchased new December 2001 by us. In September 2004 at approximately 65,000 miles the transmission went out. My wife was driving the vehicle at the time. The Envoy has a automatic transmission and 2nd gear and reverse went out. My wife was able to pull over and we took it to the GM dealership where we purchased it. They would only pay 50% for the repair to the transmission and we had to pay the other 50%. Less than 25,000 the transmission has went out again, having the exact same problem 2nd gear and reverse went out. Again, my wife was on her way to work and was able to control the vehicle and safely get it stopped. We took the vehicle back to the GM dealership and they are now willing to replace the transmission, however we have to pay 50% of that amount. My question is why was it not replaced the first time? …
I was driving along interstate 75 at night with my 3 year old, 16 year old, and 18 year old nephew returning to college after winter break on jan. 2,003. We were left stranded on the side of the highway, after we almost wrecked. The gears were jumping back and forth from 2 wheel to wheel drive. I took to a local GM dealer and they told me that it would costs me 2500 to repair-the problem the front differential. I contacted the 1800 GM service line and they said that they would not be assisting with repairs due to mileage. I asked around at different auto repair and transmission shops and they said that GM knows they have a problem with the differential in envoys, trailblazers, and isuzus. Even if the problem gets fixed, im told there is no guarantee that the problem will not happen again until GM addresses the actual problem with the differentials. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle it will randomly jump from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive without warning causing the car to become idle and you must turn the car off completely. She took the vehicle into a local mechanic where he replaced the brakes and checked the wheels and stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. She is also experiencing problems with the front passenger seat belt it locks when fastened. She took the car to the dealer and they informed her that it was no longer covered under warranty and any repairs made would be at the owner's expense. The vehicle is also experiencing exterior light failure, both headlights burned out within weeks apart and they were replaced at owner's expense. The failure mileage was 38,000. The current mileage was 86,000 (sc) updated 06/25/08. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park.
Remedy: Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on May 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive. The calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high speed gear engagement.
Remedy: Dealers will update the transfer case control module calibration to increase gear engagement. Owner notification began November 6, 2001.
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles (4 wheel-drive). Some of these vehicles were built with a range shift collar in the transmission transfer case that contains cracks.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transfer cases and update the control module calibration. Owner notification began September 6, 2001.
Transmission complaints in other Envoy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2002 GMC Envoy?
NHTSA has 83 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2002 GMC Envoy, 17% of the model year's 487 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (49 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 GMC Envoy transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-075 (automatic transmission, Mar 6, 2003); NHTSA recall 01V-334 (transfer case (4-wheel drive), Oct 17, 2001); NHTSA recall 01V-283 (transfer case (4-wheel drive), Sep 5, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Envoy transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 2 fires and 4 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.