2002 GMC Sierra Body & Structure Problems

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM THE CABLE, UNKNOWN, I ALSO HAD A 2001 GMC YUKON AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THIS IS UNSAFE AS IT COULD BECOME DETACHED WHILE MOVING AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED

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. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 103000 MILES ON IT AND IT APPEARS THAT THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. *TR

DESCRIPTION: 2002 GMC SIERRA?82,XXX.00 MILES. WHILE DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF AT SCHOOL, I STOPPED AT A LIGHT, ACCELERATED TO MAKE IT UP THE HILL, AND AS I CAME OVER THE HORIZON I PROCEEDED TO STOP, WHEN I DEPRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD I NOT THROWN THE CAR INTO LOW GEAR, AND DEPRESSED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE, I AM CERTAIN THAT WE WOULD HAVE SMASHED INTO THE SCHOOL BUS IN FRONT OF US. MY WIFE CALLED AAA, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALER. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM IS RUSTED OUT, AND THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST LINE TO BLOW. THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL MY WIFE THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD START AT $3,300.00 AND WOULD NOT GUARANTY THAT IT COULD NOT BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THAT!. WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE TRUCK, LAST YEAR WE HAD ALL THE BRAKES DONE, NEW TIRES, AND RECENTLY HAD A NEW HEAD GASKET INSTALLED, AND THE OIL CHANGED, SO IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT EVER DO A THOROUGH VEHICLE INSPECTION. WE CANNOT AFFORD THE SHELL OUT THE MONEY FOR THESE REPAIRS, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME KIND OF A RECALL FOR THIS, SINCE I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT? PLEASE HELP! *TR

FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED & ANY SERVICE STATION I TAKE MY TRUCK TO FOR SERVICE OR INSPECTION REFUSES TO WORK ON MY TRUCK DUE TO SAFETY FROM ACCELERATED FRAME RUST & ROT. I FOUND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THAT GM REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT ROAD WORTHY & UNSAFE EVEN THOU IT HAS LOW MILES & IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, I AM UNABLE TO GET A STATE INSPECTION ON THIS VEHICLE & I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN MY STATE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *KB

DEAR SIR, I HAVE A 2002 GMC PICKUP THAT HAS HAD THE SPARE TIRE FALL OUT OF ITS MOUNT DUE TO SEVERE RUST OF THE FRAME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION MY FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST IN SEVERAL OTHER AREAS. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO HAVE A NICE DAY! I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAS 57,000 MILES TOTAL. MY BODY SHOP TELLS ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THIS FRAME IS TO REPLACE IT! I FIND IT APPALLING THAT GMC SELLS A $40,000.00 VEHICLE THAT HAS A LIFE CYCLE OF 8 YEARS. I CANNOT SELL THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE AND TRADEIN WOULD BE A JOKE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD MAKE GMC FACE THIS PROBLEM AND RESOLVE IT? EITHER REPLACE THE PICKUP OR FRAME? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A 2002 GMC SIERRA Z71 4X4 TRUCK, REGULAR CAB WITH AN 8 FOOT BED. IT HAS 75000 MILES. THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS BOTH OF THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK OPEN A LITTLE AFTER YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND GET IN. NOW WHEN YOU PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR, OR START MOVING THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. WHEN YOU STOP AND PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. NOW SINCE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS STUCK SLIGHTLY OPEN THE DOOR WON'T UNLOCK OR OPEN WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE, YOU HAVE TO REACH OUTSIDE PUSH THE HANDLE IN THEN YOU CAN UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE ELECTRIC WINDOWS, AND HAVE TO PUT THEM DOWN TO RESET THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. MY CONCERN IS, IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND MY WINDOWS WERE UP, AND MY BATTERY WAS DAMAGED, AND THE TRUCK LOST ELECTRICAL POWER I CAN'T OPEN THE WINDOWS TO RESET THE HANDLE, SO THAT I CAN GET OUT? NOW I'M TRAPPED IN THE TRUCK!! *TR

UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS THE BODY HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS THE ONLY SPOT ON THE ENTIRE TRUCK THAT HAS RUST. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THAT I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IT FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT HAD 103,000 MILES IN IT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP. *TR

2002 GMC SIERRA THE GALVANIZED STEEL SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE OPEN POSITION CORRODE THROUGH AND BREAK WHERE CARGO OR PEOPLE ON THE TAILGATE MAY FALL. CARGO FALLING OF THE TAILGATE VERY NEARLY STRUCK A NEARBY PERSON AND INJURY WAS LUCKILY AVOIDED. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST TIME GMC REPLACED THE CABLES UNDER WARRANTY AND SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A RANDOM FAILURE. MOST RECENTLY THEY HAVE REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GMC WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS AND REFUSED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

I SAT ON MY TAIL GATE AND THE TAIL GATE FELL DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED I HAD ONE BROKE CABLE AND THE OTHER SIDE THE BOLT WAS MISSING. I BOUGHT TWO CABLES FROM ADVANCE AUTO REPLACED ONE SIDE BUT I COULD NOT GET THE BOLT BACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND FOR THE RECALL BUT THE GATE FELL OFF THE TRUCK AND I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD FELL OFF AND I DRAGGED IT DOWN A DIRT ROAD FOR ABOUT HALF MILE OR MORE. I TRIED TO GET GMC TO REPLACE THE TAIL GATE BUT THEY JUST WANTED TO REPLACE THE CABLE SAYING THAT THE CABLE DID NOT CAUSE THE TAIL GATE TO FALL OFF AND THE DAMAGE WAS NOT DUE TO THE CABLES. I FEEL THAT THE CABLE PROBLEM CAUSED THE TAIL GATE TO FALL OFF. *JB

(1) DEFECTIVE CATCH ON TAILGATE WOULD NOT ALWAYS KEEP GATE CLOSED (2) GATE UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED TRAVELING 35MPH, LOOSING SEVERAL PIECES OF FURNITURE. ALSO, TAILGATE DROPPED ONTO HIGHWAY DAMAGING IT BADLY. DISCOVERED BOTH CABLES RUSTED THRU ALSO. COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT OR WORSE. (3) WILL BRING INTO GMC DLR ON FIRST CHANCE, 10/25/04.*AK

THE TAILGATE STRAPS ON MY 2002 GMC SEIRRA BOTH BROKE AT THE SAME TIME AND THE TAILGATE FELL DOWN TO THE BUMPER. MY LOCAL GM DEALER KNEW OF A PROBLEM BUT STATED THAT NO NEW ITEM HAD BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE STRAP PROBLEM, SO THEY JUST PUT NEW STRAPS BACK ON MY TRUCK, JUST LIKE THE ONES THAT BROKE. *AK

WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE, THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE OWNER WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND. THE OWNER SUSTAINED HAND INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

MY 2002 GMC 2500HD TRUCK THIS PAST WEEKEND HAD A FAILURE IN THE TAILGATE CABLE SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING MY ATV INTO THE BED WHEN THE LEFT CABLE BROKE AND THE TAILGATE SUDDENLY LOWERED A FEW INCHES. FORTUNATELY, THE RIGHT CABLE DIDN'T BREAK OR SERIOUS INJURY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE BROKEN CABLE, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF RUST INSIDE THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE WIRE STRANDS THAT MAKE UP THE CABLE. THERE IS NO WAY TO INSPECT THE CABLES FOR A POTENTIAL HAZARD PRIOR TO A CATASTROPHIC OCCURRENCE. I WILL BE REPLACING MINE WITH A STAINLESS STRAP SYSTEM SO THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE VEHICLE STANDING AT A STOP TAILGATE STEEL STRAPS BROKE, CAUSING TAILGATE TO DROP.*AK *MR

WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE TWO SUPPORT BRACKETS BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TAILGATE FELL TO THE GROUND. *AK BOTH SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE BROKEN CABLES. *SC

A NEIGHBOR AND I WERE TRYING TO OFF LOAD A LARGE ROCK 500 (LBS) FROM MY TRUCK WHEN WE GOT IT TO THE TAILGATE THE TAILGATE BENT, THEN THE SUPPORT STRAP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE SENDING MY NEIGHBOR AND I AND THE ROCK TO THE GROUND. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO. THANKS [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE TAIL GATE CABLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHEN THE PASSENGER WAS EXITING THE BACK OF THE PICK UP. THE PASSENGER HIT HIS/HER HEAD ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE CABLE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *JB CONSUMER NOTED BOTH CABLES SNAPPED SENDING HIS ASSISTANT FACE FIRST TO THE GROUND. HIS KNEES WERE FIRST TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE AND HE LAID THERE SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO MOVE. *PH *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE DOUBLE CABIN MADE RATTLING NOISES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM *TS

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ROUGH VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 20 MPH AND 40 MPH. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 40-60MPH. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT A DEFECTIVE FRAME FLEX WAS CAUSING VIBRATION AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY.*JB