2002 Chevrolet SONOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
37,031 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 33.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10093904 · 2004-10-10 (October 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 MPH & 50 MPH I HAD TO BRAKE HARD THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOT BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STARTED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEALER IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT TRUCK FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,061 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093904 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1991 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 813615THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION FOR THREE HOURS WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR. *AK THE ABS ON THE REAR LOCKS UP WHEN WET. *YH | 457.1% | 250.0%ODI 532928VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO BRAKES EXPERIENCING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 10125335 · 7,000 miDT: FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN READJUSTED SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE IS INSPECTED EACH YEAR, AND OWNER HAS TO REPAIR THE BRAKE SO IT CAN PASS INSPECTION. THIS COST LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, AND GM WON'T COOPERATE WITH HIM.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 876353WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IF CONSUMER JIGGLES CIRCUIT BOARD THEY WILL COME BACK ON. BUT, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. JIGGLING THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS THE ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR. ALSO BACK UP LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES BUT GOES OUT WITHINTWO WEEKS EACH TIME. *YH | 125.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 8007019THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, HOWEVER RECALL DID NOT INVOLVE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK *YH | 133.3%ODI 10108827 · 75,000 miTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THEM ON A FASTER SPEED THEY WILL COME ON. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT HANDLES WERE BROKEN, THEY DID NOT RECLINE AND METAL WAS WHITE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES, AND THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE BROKEN AND RUSTED. *JB.. VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A LARGE VAN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALMOST ALWAYS WORKED WHEN IT WAS DRY OUTSIDE. CONSUMER TOOK OUT THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND THE SOLDER JOINT TO THE RELAY CRAC… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10055658 · 46,000 miWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 8017110CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A BOULDER HEAD ON AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10103121WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10050376DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE RUBBED A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10093904 · 32,061 miWHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 MPH & 50 MPH I HAD TO BRAKE HARD THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOT BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STARTED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEALER IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT TRUCK FOR REPAIRS. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10108827 · 75,000 miTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THEM ON A FASTER SPEED THEY WILL COME ON. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT HANDLES WERE BROKEN, THEY DID NOT RECLINE AND METAL WAS WHITE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES, AND THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE BROKEN AND RUSTED. *JB.. VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A LARGE VAN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALMOST ALWAYS WORKED WHEN IT WAS DRY OUTSIDE. CONSUMER TOOK OUT THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND THE SOLDER JOINT TO THE RELAY CRAC… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10064630 · 28,000 miTHE TAILGATE CABLE SNAPPED AND BROKE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE CARRYING A LOAD WITH THE TAILGATE IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE TAILGATE FELL ONTO THE BUMPER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TAILGATE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE CABLE WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED. *AK THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE WATER RUNNING DOWN INSIDE THE PLASTIC COATED CABLE FROM THE TOP WHEN THE TAIL GATE WAS UP, TRAPPING THE MOISTURE, THEN RUSTING THE IRON CABLE. *SC *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 813615THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION FOR THREE HOURS WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR. *AK THE ABS ON THE REAR LOCKS UP WHEN WET. *YH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Too few reports for a range | 42,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10225885 · 42,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE HANDLE CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Too few reports for a range | 32,061 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10093904 · 32,061 miWHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 MPH & 50 MPH I HAD TO BRAKE HARD THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOT BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STARTED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEALER IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT TRUCK FOR REPAIRS. *NM |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 2 complaints · 2003: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags:Frontal | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | — | 0 | 0 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 0 | — | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.