Most common 2002 GMC Sonoma problems
Share of the 57 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sonoma complaints by model year
Best Sonoma years: 2003, 1999, 2002. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1998. Compare all years →
What 2002 GMC Sonoma owners say
Brakes
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Sonoma. While driving approximately 15 MPH and approaching a stop light, the vehicle did not stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The brake pedal extended to the floor and the contact rear ended another vehicle. There were no injuries. The contact's son diagnosed the vehicle as having brake line failure. The air bags did not deploy at the time of impact. The current and failure mileages were 30,000.
Complaint covers sat oct 9th thru 10-14 2004 radio malfunctioning-1)took vehicle to jonesboro rd GMC dealer and complaint about radio first. Digital display showing one station and playing another. The panel gets very hot . Radio was showing issue at the time. Mark service advisor reached inside vehicle and began to press the buttons. They refused to document my radio problem at the jonesboro dealership. I called back and spoke to mark about documentation. He said he couldn't because the tech didn't see it. I advised him that he did and I asked him why did he push any buttons. At marietta, my truck had radio replaced twice during this week due to malfunction. 2) ABS braking failure, normal soft braking, truck will swerve to side and then correct itself, roll forward and then stop. Was told this is normal braking for ABS. …
Body & structure
The 3rd door on ext cab. The door does not open. Was told by dealer this is major complaints for these 3rd models. Have to replace pins or something, but it keeps happening. This a a life & death hazard & defect. Why hasn't this been recalled? In an accident, (rear ended) the door could not be opened.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 GMC Sonoma. While driving at approximately 25 MPH, the spare tire wire cable hoist assembly fray snapped and the spare tire fell onto the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Electrical system
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Sonoma. The contact stated that the ignition key disengaged from the ignition switch when in the on position. In addition, the contact stated that when the key was in the off position, the vehicle remained powered on. As a result, the battery became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000. Updated 03/30/15 updated 6/22/2015
Complaint covers sat oct 9th thru 10-14 2004 radio malfunctioning-1)took vehicle to jonesboro rd GMC dealer and complaint about radio first. Digital display showing one station and playing another. The panel gets very hot . Radio was showing issue at the time. Mark service advisor reached inside vehicle and began to press the buttons. They refused to document my radio problem at the jonesboro dealership. I called back and spoke to mark about documentation. He said he couldn't because the tech didn't see it. I advised him that he did and I asked him why did he push any buttons. At marietta, my truck had radio replaced twice during this week due to malfunction. 2) ABS braking failure, normal soft braking, truck will swerve to side and then correct itself, roll forward and then stop. Was told this is normal braking for ABS. …
2002 GMC Sonoma 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 GMC Sonoma a good car?
Based on 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Sonoma rates better than average: 55% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sonoma at the same age. It is one of the best Sonoma 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 GMC Sonoma?
The brakes — 16 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the body & structure (13) and electrical system (8).
How many recalls does the 2002 GMC Sonoma have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 GMC Sonoma. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sonoma?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 1999 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996 and 1998. See the full GMC Sonoma years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Sonoma problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 54% 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.