IllustrationTL* 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.
2002 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 GMC Sonoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
1325–50K
1150–75K
375–100K
2100–150K
2150K+
39 reports with mileage · 18 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Tires complaints
2 reportsMY SPARE TIRE ON MY 2002 GMC SONOMA PICKUP FELL OUT OF ITS CARRIER. IT ROLLED ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND NO ONE WAS STRUCK BY THE RUN AWAY WHEEL. I APPEARS THE CABLE THAT SECURES THE SPARE ON THE TRUCK PARTED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE SPARE HAS BEEN OFF THE TRUCK. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.