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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train97
- Engine and engine cooling92
- Electrical system86
- Visibility56
- Air bags46
- Fuel system, gasoline44
- Suspension40
- Exterior lighting36
- Service brakes, hydraulic27
- Structure25
- Fuel/propulsion system23
- Steering23
- Seat belts21
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
37
62
80
60
63
40
30
34
15
23
13
11
9
22
18
18
10
6
5
7
0
2
1
0
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 37 |
| 2002 | 62 |
| 2003 | 80 |
| 2004 | 60 |
| 2005 | 63 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 30 |
| 2008 | 34 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
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.”
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”
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!!!!!”
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?”
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”
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.”
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.