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 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The accident happened in a parking lot. As I was turning at the end of row of parked vehicles ,a pick-up truck was backing out of a parking place. I applied the brakes but there was no response only a ratcheting noise coming from the front end of my pick-up. I put the truck in neutral but it continued to go forward until my truck ran into the other one. This happened at a very low speed but there was still quite a bit of damage to the trucks. It almost felt like the truck was being pulled forward on its own. I got my truck in to a mechanic and he replaced the left front wheel speed sensor. This accident was small but I could just as easily run into someone in a wheelchair or someone that could not get out of the way. I found out later that the truck was recalled before I owned it (at 43000 miles) for the same problem. …
While driving in the city while it was raining at 10 MPH, the vehicle in front of the consumer stopped and the consumers brakes failed and hit the vehicle in front. (4/24/05) while in the rain the consumer had come off of the interstate going 20 MPH and the brakes failed again. The vehicle was regularly serviced by the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on 4/28/05. The dealer reported that the vehicle needed front and rear pads, the front rotors need machining, the rear rotors needed replacing , and four wheel calipers needed to be serviced. The dealer stated that the pads were 70% worn. The consumer stated that the rear brakes have pad squeakers but they could not be heard. The consumer had taken the rear wheel off and saw the rear pad was completely metal to, and rear. The consumer made the repairs as well serviced the calipers.
Dt*: the contact stated while entering a driveway at 3 MPH, the brakes did not stop the vehicle from hitting a light pole. This incident occurred after repairs indicated in recall # 05V379000 regarding service brakes, hydraulic:antilock were performed at the dealership. The absence of braking action at low speed happened due to malfunctioning of the speed sensors. The manufacturer was contacted and the outcome was a referral to customer service where a representative was supposed to be called back in 48 hours however no return call was received. The contact expressed dissatisfaction with the recall performed in the vehicle because the dealership indicated in the job order inspection or replacement of the affected sensors but no replacement were performed.
Left house and ABS brake light came on, shut the truck off and ABS brake pump under truck would not stop running even with key off. So had to take fuse out. At that time I drove back home, but if you push down on brake it will go to the floor. June 2014 had truck in shop to have all brake lines replaced and fixed at auffenberg in carbondale illinois due to brakes all of a sudden going out and all lines rusted and now 2,500 miles later this happens also the emgerency brake is not working either. So was there more damage done from all this that should be on recall and us not paying the bill for these defects.
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and entering a car port at her residence when the brakes failed and she crashed into the front corner of her house. No one was injured. The contact stated that no warning lights illuminated on the instrumental panel prior or after the failure. The police were not called to the scene. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Applied brakes at 35mph and pedal went to floor, causing vehicle to rear end another vehicle stopped at traffic light. Drivers side rear break line had ruptured due to rust. No warning light or backup system activated. Further inspection shows all break lines are severely rusted and require replacement. On line search indicates this is a common safety problem with this vehicle. It is miraculous that there are not deaths associated with this manufacturers defect.
Driving 30 MPH in traffic. Light turns red . Cars in front of me apply brakes .I applied my brakes. Brakes instantly felt spongy and abnormal. Applied more pressure with 2 feet and brake pedal went to the floor with no warning at all. No brake light on dash came on just went to floor. Was determined by my mechanic that the brake lines had rotted and I had a catastrophic brake failure loosing major brake fluid at the accident site.
When is there going to be a recall on the rusted brake lines, I already crashed in 2006 with the ABS system which failed and was a failure to start with and when they fixed, the fix only lasted for 14 months and since then I have be driving with conventional brakes,so are they waiting for me and others to crash again with these rusty brake lines. P.s. Going on 3rd. Set of rotors in the rear, only 65,000 mi.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 GMC Sierra. While driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact veered into a ditch to avoid a collision. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake lines were corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Dt: 2002 GMC Sierra. The consumer states the ABS brakes started pulsating, and consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle. This caused the brakes to go out. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, they told him the ABS sensors failed. They were cleaned and now they seem to be okay. This problem has not happened since. There was no warning light on when this happened.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles May experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas.
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
Parking brake
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings May wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable…
NHTSA investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Defect Petition DP10-003 on March 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (MY) 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.DP10-003 was granted and on March 30, 2010, Preliminary Evaluation PE10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility…
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
In a letter dated August 29, 2005, GM notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that May result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).GM's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently…
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…
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
Brake complaints in other Sierra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2002 GMC Sierra?
NHTSA has 155 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 GMC Sierra, 59% of the model year's 262 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (47 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 GMC Sierra brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-379 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Aug 29, 2005); NHTSA recall 05V-161 (parking brake, Apr 22, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Sierra brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 0 fires and 5 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.