2002 GMC Envoy Problems, Recalls & Reliability
740 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 GMC Envoy, alongside 14 recall campaigns and 12 defect investigations. It scores 83/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 77,750 miles.
Below average
Where 2002 sits among all Envoy years
What owners report
“Head lights will all at once go off while driving at night. I've replaced the hdm relay and it worked fine for a few months and then it done it again.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Envoy
“Engine failure due to manufacturers factory defect to one or two pistons in the engine. Engine was replaced by leith gmc service center on 05/10/02 with a new engine.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Envoy
“Transmission sun gear failure on my 2002 gmc envoy at 56,000 k. Gm is only picking up 50% of the $1747.00 bill.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Envoy
“Smell gas in and out side of vehicle. Fuel leaking from the gas tank due to rusted lines.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Envoy
“I recently purchased my envoy and the wipers worked most of the way home, the passenger side stopped working . Then the driver side would not go down when shut off. Now when i turn them on they hop up and go right back down and do not work.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Envoy
“While driving in inclement weather the drivers vehicle hit a patch of black ice sending the vehicle off the road hitting a stone retaining wall head on, neither passenger nor drivers side air bags deployed. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Envoy
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 443 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 65,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 115,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (14)
CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NO 335-1120L-AS, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE LAMP HOUSING SHAPE DEFORMED DISTORTING THE ASSEMBLY ANGLE OF THE REFLECTOR AND…
Fix: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.
SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AIR SUSPENSION (ECAS) HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ECAS MAY PRODUCE A BRIEF ELECTRICAL SPIKE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING. THIS ELECTRICAL SPIKE CAN DISRUPT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 19, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." ONE OF THE TWO SENSORS IN THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTORS COULD BE INOPERATIVE.…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS, AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL NOT TURN ON, CEASE OPERATION WHILE IN USE, FAIL TO TURN OFF/ON BY THEMSELVES (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM), OR HAVE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP OPERATION BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF…
Fix: DEALERS WILL COVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE VENT HOLE WITH A PATCH. ALSO, THE WIPER MOTOR, CIRCUIT BOARD, AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WILL BE INSPECTED TO SIGNS OF WATER INTRUSION AND/OR CORROSION…
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION" AND NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INTERMITTENT…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT…
Fix: DEALERS WILL ELIMINATE THESE CONDITIONS BY DISABLING THE OVERRIDES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE MISSING WELDS ON THE REAR FLOOR PLAN.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR MISSING WELDS. IF MISSING WELDS ARE FOUND, GM WILL EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE FOR AN EQUIVALENT VEHICLE OR PROVIDE A REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION…
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A FUEL FILTER FITTING CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, A NO-START CONDITION WOULD RESULT AND FUEL WOULD BE PUMPED OUT THE FUEL FILTER ONTO THE GROUND.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER QUICK CONNECT RETAINERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE…
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE CALIBRATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT HIGH SPEED GEAR ENGAGEMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION TO INCREASE GEAR ENGAGEMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 6, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (4 WHEEL-DRIVE). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A RANGE SHIFT COLLAR IN THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE THAT CONTAINS CRACKS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASES AND UPDATE THE CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 6, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONSOLE COVER/ARMREST LID LATCH THAT COULD RELEASE AT LESS THAN THE 10G VERTICAL LOAD…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE LATCH MECHANISM AND INSTALL A STRIKER PLATE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS MAY FRACTURE. THIS FRACTURE COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN BY TELEPHONE ON APRIL 4, 2001. THE FOLLOWUP LETTER TO CONSUMERS WAS MAILED MAY 3, 2001. OWNERS…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 08V231000.
Led to recall campaign 04V527000.
Led to recall campaign 04V046000.
Led to recall campaign 04V289000.
Technical service bulletins
658 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2002 GMC Envoy. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 GMC Envoy reliable?
The 2002 GMC Envoy drew 740 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 83/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2002 GMC Envoy problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 GMC Envoy are electrical (128 complaints), engine (111), and transmission & drivetrain (100).
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Envoy problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 GMC Envoy problems around 65,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 115,000 miles.
Does the 2002 GMC Envoy have recalls?
14 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 GMC Envoy. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.