10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 41,329 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I have a 2002 GMC Envoy which has a destroyed transmission due to the well known (but unbeknownst to me) failure of the transmission cooling lines. This is a clear design flaw, as the routing is close to the catalyst. Besides the obvious safety concerns of an on the road transmission failure, the location makes a fire likely. The design flaw is documented in tsb pt-4722. I believe these vehicles should be recalled.
- Dryden, NY, USA
I was driving home from the beach (sandy hook national park, NJ) when my service engine soon light came on. I used on star to remote diagnose the code, and was told it was an error in my transmission control module. I immediately called my nearest service center who inspected my truck and informed me that it was my transmission lines that had just simply 'corroded' and that my transmission has almost been running on no fluid. This was shocking considering I maintain good care of my 2002 Envoy and had seen no sign of leaking transmission fluid but was informed it was somehow all over the bottom of my truck. They were able to fix the lines for a cost of 690 dollars, but I still feel that something is not quite right with this situation and have talked to others with similar issues.
- Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA
Transmission cooler line leak from corrosion on 2002 GMC Envoy. Had to do splice of corroded section and replaced with copper coupling.
- Saugus, MA, USA
Vehicle will not move when put in drive or reverse from park position. After switching from 4WD to 2hi etc. It sometimes will engage and move. If in fact the vehicle moves it hesitates when making deep turns. For the most part it is stuck in drive and reverse. Transfer case control module was a diagnosed problem by dealership in 2006. New part bought and installed by dealership.
- Chicago, IL, USA
After pulling away from a stop light at a normal pace and reaching a speed of almost 50mph there was a loud clunk and a rrrrr sound coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle began to slow as the RPM's went up, all forward drive was gone. We almost got rearended... there was no warning at all that there was a problem or was going to be a problem, it just broke..dealer says need new transmission.. apparently GM has a sun gear issue with this type of transmission..
- Mansfield, OH, USA
My wife was driving our 2002 GMC Envoy onto a local expressway when she tried to accelerate, she heard a loud noise from the engine/tranny area, then noticed high rpms and the transmission not shifting, she immediately pulled over. I came to her location and noticed loss of reverse and a "whine" coming from the transmission, the vehicle was towed to the local GMC dealer, that same day it was diagnosed as the sun shell. It appears that this is a common failure, I will be pursing this further with GM.
- Newburgh, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle it will randomly jump from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive without warning causing the car to become idle and you must turn the car off completely. She took the vehicle into a local mechanic where he replaced the brakes and checked the wheels and stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. She is also experiencing problems with the front passenger seat belt it locks when fastened. She took the car to the dealer and they informed her that it was no longer covered under warranty and any repairs made would be at the owner's expense. The vehicle is also experiencing exterior light failure, both headlights burned out within weeks apart and they were replaced at owner's expense. The failure mileage was 38,000. The current mileage was 86,000 (SC) updated 06/25/08. The consumer also stated when driving past 70 mph, the vehicle would shake. The windshield wipers were replaced. The consumer stated the motor failed. Updated 06/25/08
- Bloomfield, NJ, USA
56,779 mile and transmission failed on my 2002 Envoy. Dealer told me they had never saw this happen. We had just made a 2300 mile trip to the 'no man land' of Colorado. The next day my wife came to a stop sign, said the car made a weird noise and would not go. No reverse or drive but crippled it home in low. Was very surprised that the GM dealer would not back the transmission. $2,903.94 to replace with a 1 year guarantee which is about up and I refuse to drive on a long trip again in this auto.
- Saginaw, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Envoy. While making a left hand turn at 5 mph, the vehicle made a whining noise and catapulted forward. The vehicle shifted gears and the speed decreased. The gears returned to normal and the contact was finally able to pull over. The vehicle was towed. The contact stated that the reverse gear failed and the first and second gears were barely functioning. The dealer stated that the sunshell in the transmission needed to be replaced in the transfer case. The previous damages led to the entire transmission needing to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id numbers 03V075000, 01V283000, and 01V334000. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 63,000.
- Morgan Hill, CA, USA
Normal driving conditions. Exiting from parking lot, heard loud bang, car jerked, came to a complete stop. Limped car home(1/2 mile). Upon further inspection 2002 GMC Envoy had no reverse gear. Researching online shows 4L60E transmission, reaction sunshell & reaction sungears prematurely fail due to substandard parts.
- Shorewood, IL, USA
2002 GMC Envoy slt 60K...went outside to start car and had a loud swishing sound...tried to put in reverse...would not go...had to push out to get to work...extremely high rpms (3500-4500) to get through first...it also is jumping gears...if you try to go over 50 mph the car will redline...was told reverse reaction shell/sun shell gear...they had a bunch of names for it...was defective and failed...we never towed w/ this vehicle, never got stuck (the GM service pro stated that this was possibly the reason for failure)...the vehicle is maybe driven 10K miles a year...we have had nothing but problems w/ this thing...we already have replaced the clutch fan last year...and had numerous little problems since...all the posts I have read clearly shows there needs to be a recall...the prices I have seen on posts is ridiculous to repair the transmission...$2K to $3K...so for now it is sitting in my driveway...I will get the quote this week from my mechanic and am not looking forward to it.
- South Dartmouth, MA, USA
Transmission failure at 60,000 miles due to defective parts installed during the original manufacturing process.
- Canon City, CO, USA
Manufacture knew of inferior components within my vehicles transmission and did not issue a recall. Existing service bulletin #00-07-30-022C dated Dec 10, 2004 (within my warranty period) indicates same issue I experienced in my vehicle on 10/23/2007. Bulletin title states replace reaction sun shell with more robust heat treated parts". this was known while my vehicle was still under warranty. Failure happened after standard warranty expired.
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Transmission sun gear failure on my 2002 GMC Envoy at 56,000 K. GM is only picking up 50% of the $1747 bill.
- Peoria, IL, USA
My Envoy was put into park when I went to lock the front door. When I got out of the car and took two steps, it slipped out of gear and went rolling down (very slight grade) the driveway in reverse. I jumped in to try and stop it before hitting neighbors cars. I grabbed the steering wheel to pull myself in, which made the Envoy turn to miss on car, then it threw me out, almost running over both of my legs with the front wheel. It then proceeded to hit a satellite dish, and air conditioning unit (which all but ripped the door off the hinges.) it then finally stopped after running through a fence and it rested with one wheel in the air on a mound of dirt.
- Mount Airy, MD, USA
: the contact stated while traveling 25 mph, the vehicle lunged, a whirring noise occurred, and the vehicle would not accelerate. It was driven home with high RPM's and low acceleration. At the contact's residence, it was noticed that reverse did not operate. The vehicle was driven to the dealership, but would not operate above first or second gear. The dealership determined the sun shell inside the transmission failed and the transmission needed to be rebuilt.
- Mechanicsville, MD, USA
I own a 2002 GMC Envoy with 49,000 miles. The transmission failed, did not want to shift from first, then no reverse when I left the destination. Had towed to dealer. Service manager stated she had a hunch what it was but had to get it in the shop first. Sure enough, the sun shell failed and the transmission has to be replaced. Called GM customer service in an attempt to get them to fix it at there expense since this is an regular occurrence with there trucks. Have not heard back as of yet. Seen many many many posts around the internet about this very problem. This should be looked into.
- Monroe, MI, USA
Have a 2002 GMC Envoy, bought new. 8 recalls, ball joint and speaker failures. At 32000. Miles, the transmission failed. Dealer diagnosed with sun-shell gear problem, that was addressed by a GM repair bulletin. At 37000. Transmission failed again. Dealer advised the entire transmission needed replacement, but it was not related to his Oct. 05 repair. Contacted GM customer service, have a file number, but have not heard from anyone in 2 weeks. They advise that the GM area representative has not called anyone back, either the dealer or GM cs. "? asked to contact him myself and was told I could not do that. Asked where I could contact CEO rick wagoner and was told that no one can give out that info. A bunker in colarado maybe"
- Berlin, CT, USA
: the contact stated while driving 10 mph, the sun shell gear fractured inside the transmission suddenly, causing the transmission to lose reverse, second and fourth gears. The vehicle was able to be driven to the dealership. Repairs have been made to the vehicle.
- Chance, MD, USA
- Lake Worth, FL, USA