Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 GMC Envoy problems

Owners filed 570 complaints about the 2002 GMC Envoy with NHTSA between Jan 2001 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is power train (97).

Complaints
570
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
44
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
48
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train97
  2. Engine and engine cooling92
  3. Electrical system86
  4. Visibility56
  5. Air bags46
  6. Fuel system, gasoline44
  7. Suspension40
  8. Exterior lighting36
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic27
  10. Structure25
  11. Fuel/propulsion system23
  12. Steering23
  13. Seat belts21
  14. Engine18

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200137
200262
200380
200460
200563
200640
200730
200834
200915
201023
201113
201211
20139
201422
201518
201618
201710
20186
20195
20207
20210
20222
20231
20240
20253
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

97 reports3 crashes2 fires3 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear subframe had fractured and detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2022Power train, StructureODI 11456854

Engine and engine cooling

92 reports2 fires1 related recall
“SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE GMC EXECUTIVE LETTER REPLY IN ENGINE STALLING/STOPPING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY OF CALIFORNIA. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, AS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STALLING. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE STALLING ISSUES, AS THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER FOUND THE REAR SPEED SENSOR CONNECTOR BROKEN AND NOT SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SENSOR. THEY REPOSITIONED THE CONNECTOR AND SECURED IT TO THE SENSOR. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL, WHICH DESCRIBED THE SAME SYMPTOMS HE EXPERIENCED. RECALL # 04V289000. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10626712

Electrical system

86 reports3 crashes8 fires1 related recall
“SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN VEHICLE,EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING ON IT!!!! VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN A MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, I REPLACED TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES AS WELL!!!!HAD NO LIGHTS,TURNING SIGNALS,NO HEAT HEAT THEN THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED COMPLETELY NOTHING JUST DEAD!!! HAD BATTERY CHECKED WASNT THAT!!!! THEY TOLD ME ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOT SURE WHAT ONLY HAD VEHICLE 3 MONTHS!!! I HAD HAD 2004 TRAILER BLAZER BEFORE THIS SAME ISSUES!!!! ONLY HAD IT 2 MONTHS AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT PD THAT THEN ONCE AGAIN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS!!!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11298334

Visibility

56 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“I TOOK MY CAR TO JAY AUTO MALL IN COLUMBUS GA. AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FLAP ON THE WASHER FLAP THAT COVERS THE HOLE THAT DELIVERS THE WINDSHEILD WIPER FLUID TO CLEAN THE WINDSHEILD. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAKDOWN THE COMPLETE DELIVERY SYSTEM OF THE WIPER FLUID TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DELIVERY SYSTEM WORKS FINE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL I NEED IS A REPAIR OF THE WIPER FLAP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. CAN YOU HELP ME?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2012VisibilityODI 10444320

Air bags

46 reports31 crashes1 related recall
“I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND HIT ON BROADSIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER FRONT CORNER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THEY SAY SERVICE SOON. THE SEAT BELT HURT ME AS WELL. IT DID NOT LOCK. I WAS INJURED WITH A TORN LABRUM, BACK AND NECK INJURIES. HEAD TOO. I WAS MOVING AND I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. I WAS ON A CITY STREET. 14 MILE NEAR MOUNT 7-22”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2020Air bags, Seat belts, StructureCrash reportedODI 11352195

Fuel system, gasoline

44 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AN ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO AT TIMES, FUEL WAS SEEN ON THE PAVEMENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTION LINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000. INVALID VIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2020Fuel system, gasolineODI 11350027
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.