Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Pulling into my driveway truck started to slow then the pedal went to the floor. Tried pumping the brakes but did not stop untill I hit two garbage cans and pushed them into my garage door. I now have a truck I cant drive and a garage door that will have to be replaced. There was no warning I am just fortinate that no one was infront of this truck. One of the lines to the rear of the truck blew out and lost its fluid all over my driveway. I thought if you lost 1 line the truck could still stop with the front brakes but I had nothing. Please warn people before this problem kills people.
ABS system is kicking in at slow speeds, as in a crawl like you were driving next to a walking person. Like I am pushing on the brake pedal and it is pushing back and not allowing me to stop truck. Very scary
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500. While making a right turn at 5 MPH on a dry limestone, the contact heard a noise coming from the vehicle. The noise sounded as if the ABS pump was activated. When he depressed the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond. The failure caused the vehicle to crash into a work trailer. The vehicle sustained front end damage. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but they could not find any failures. The manufacturer sent an engineer to take pictures of the vehicle and to run a diagnostic report. The manufacturer called the contact and stated that they were unable to find any failures as well. The contact was issued case number 71-534915559. The current and failure mileages were 87,000. The consumer stated that an representative came to investigate and took pictures that were in turn downloaded to his laptop. …
* 3-May-06: vehicle taken in to dealer at 29 k mi for recall to inspect both front wheel ABS speed sensors. Total inspection time approx 10 min, no repairs made. One possible braking incident occurred 3.5 yrs earlier. * 24-sep-08, 38 k mi: front brake pads replaced, normal wear patterns. Both rear inner disk brake pads worn to metal and jammed, both rear outer pads little wear, both rear disks heavily scored and replaced. Vehicle has been used little for towing. Rear caliper nuts required an estimated 350+ lbs torque to loosen. * 31-jul-09, 39 k mi: near accident on hwy at low speed after very long stop at slow speed, then 3 mi later crash into concrete abutment occurred while parking at idle speed. Loud groaning heard fr engine compartment. Scan tool info by GM dealer indicated both front ABS speed sensors were not sending a signal. …
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3 std cab slt while braking at low speeds the anti lock bracket system triggers causing unsafe stopping distances. Luckily, I've not crash into another car or person, but curbs, shopping carts and ditches have been run into due to the truck not stopping. This happens while braking under 10mph and it is rarely possible to get the truck to normally brake, often I have to kick the emergency brake to try and slow the truck. When braking the trucks ABS system kicks in the brake pedal goes from soft and mushy to extremely hard and you can't press the brake pedal. I weigh 220plus and when this happens there is really nothing you can do besides steer out of harms way and keep taping the brake pedal waiting for the ABS to stop. This happens everyday I've already had changed out the hubs before knowing of this issue and now I have to replace them again . …
On the morning of Friday August 21, 2015, my wife went to move my 2002 GMC Sierra. She pulled out of our driveway and proceeded up-hill about 300-400 feet, and then turned around in a neighbor's driveway, when coming back down the hill she tried to brake to stop in front of our house, but the brakes totally failed without any warning. She then went up a slight hill on the other side of our house, but still couldn't stop, and didn't think to put the truck in park as she slowed. She rolled backwards down the hill and was able to steer into a neighbor's yard where the truck came to rest on a berm. At the time she said there were cars parked on both sides of the street and had a car been coming the opposite direction she would have crashed into it. Had there been pedestrians they could have been hit as well. …
I have a 2002 GMC Sierra sle 1500 extended cab pick up. I had the truck on ramps. When I backed off of the ramps, I had total brake failure. Service and parking brakes. I could not stop or even slow down. The truck proceeded down a hill backwards and into a ditch. The brake pedal went straight to the floor. I immediately pushed the parking brake to the floor. No brakes at all. After farther investigation, found the hydraulic brake line that runs along the frame rail to the back brakes completely corroded and all fluid leaking out. Brake line almost corroded into two pieces. The parking brake shoes have worn down to metal on the back of the shoe. This is the second set of parking brake shoes I have replaced in 70,000 miles. The vehicle has been well maintained and these two issues should not be happening. …
While on state highway and driving the legal limit, I was approaching a green traffic signal. An ambulance with emergency lights was approaching from the cross direction. I applied brakes and without warning brakes pressure completely failed. I had absolute minimal brakes and I went completely through the intersection. It appears to be rusted brake lines. When I apply the brakes, brake fluid squirts out of the front passenger side brake line where it crosses over from the driver's side. I have had all my work done at GM dealers and they never have mentioned this issue. I searched the internet and see multiple reports on this issue and that GM states this is a maintenance issue. I am over 60 and have never had a vehicle where the brake lines needed to be replaced. I was fortunate that my lane was clear or this would have resulted in an accident. …
I approached a busy intersection and because traffic signal was turning amber, I applied my brakes and there were no brakes. The brake lines had corroded and broke. Although I filed a complaint last year, GM has decided that even though there are numerous incidents regarding the cheap parts they used in these vehicles, they would not issue a recall. In fact, there was a newspaper article 2 weeks ago that stated there would be no recall because most of these accidents were in northern states where salt is used on the roads in winter. However, now they have issued a very limited recall for Cadillac ctss for the exact years that our GMC suffered same kind of brake failure. The cost to replace these faulty parts is estimated at $2000 per vehicle. But the danger to life and property is much greater. …
General motors is aware of an issue with the parking brakes in some model years of their vehicles and have even issued a recall for them to be fixed. They only recalled vehicles with manual transmissions even though vehicles with automatic transmissions have the same brake parts and suffer from the same issue. The parking brakes engage on their own while the vehicle is in motion which causes damage to the pads and drums to the point where they cease to work. This is an unsafe condition especially when towing a vehicle and having to park on an incline. I have contacted them and they just keep telling me that my specific vehicle was not recalled. My vehicle has the same brakes as those that were recalled and have the same issue. 2002 GMC Sierra 1500. If you look on the recall website you will see the same make and model year recalled with manual transmissions. …
NHTSA investigations
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake…
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated April 20, 2005, GM notified NHTSA that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to GM, some of these vehicles May have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an…
Brake complaints in other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 127 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500, 77% of the model year's 166 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes 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.