IllustrationEXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING OFF. *TR
1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
3725–50K
6150–75K
6275–100K
141100–150K
104150K+
418 reports with mileage · 169 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 126 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
10 reports1999-20?? GM 5.3 LITER ENGINE. LEFT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, LAST BOLT BACK HEAD HAS POPPED OFF. I HAVE SEEN FOUR OTHER MOTORS LIKE THIS AND HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL MORE. THIS ALLOWS EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE CABIN AREA POSING A RISK OF CO POISONING. *TR
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO WHICH RECENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE 20 MINUTES AFTER I GOT TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK WITH THE 5.3 LITER V8. THERE HAS BEEN AN ON GOING GRADUAL LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO APPARENT LEAK TO BE FOUND. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CAUSE IS DUE TO THE POOR CASTING OF THE CYLINDER HEADS CAUSING PRESSURIZED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE CASTECH (MF…
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I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK WITH THE 5.3 LITER V8. THERE HAS BEEN AN ON GOING GRADUAL LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO APPARENT LEAK TO BE FOUND. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CAUSE IS DUE TO THE POOR CASTING OF THE CYLINDER HEADS CAUSING PRESSURIZED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE CASTECH (MFG) HEADS WITH NEW HEADS $1,100 EACH). CHEVROLET IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED I BELIEVE SERVICE DOCUMENT 1986750. IF GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MIS-MANUFACTURING OF THE PART A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR
1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500. HAVE SMELLED COOLANT LEAK FOR SOME TIME. RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS NOT HOLDING FLUID. WENT TO LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR LEAK. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LEAK BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE COOLANT INTAKE LINE. THE SAID THAT THIS IS A DEALER SERVICE I…
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1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500. HAVE SMELLED COOLANT LEAK FOR SOME TIME. RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS NOT HOLDING FLUID. WENT TO LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR LEAK. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LEAK BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE COOLANT INTAKE LINE. THE SAID THAT THIS IS A DEALER SERVICE ITEM, AND PROBABLY QUITE EXPENSIVE, BECAUSE ENGINE MUST BE TORN DOWN. REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBURBAN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF DISPARATE METAL USAGE BETWEEN COOLANT SYSTEM AND ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE THE SOUND OF HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. SECOND, A PIECE OF PLASTIC FELL OFF THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CAUSING THE DRIVE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE THE SOUND OF HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. SECOND, A PIECE OF PLASTIC FELL OFF THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CAUSING THE DRIVER SEAT TO SLIDE FREELY ON THE ADJUSTER TRACK WHEN THE CONTACT SAT IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THIRD, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TWICE. THE LIGHTS ONLY WORKED FOR 3 TO 6 MONTHS AT A TIME BEFORE HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ADDRESSED BY A DEALER OR A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP. FOURTH, THE HEADLAMP SWITCH CONSTANTLY BECAME EXCESSIVELY HOT DURING OPERATION OF THE HEADLAMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION OF THE SWITCH. FIFTH, WHEN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE MODE WAS ENGAGED, THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING INCREASED EFFORT IN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT INSPECTED. SIXTH, THE STARTER FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE STARTER, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE HOUSING WAS CRACKED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. FINALLY, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT FEED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR PASSENGER COMFORT WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO BE ABRAISED BY THE BELT. THE INERTIAL CONTROL SEEMED TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT INSPECTED BY EITHER A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP OR A SERVICE DEALER.
ANTILOCK BRAKE ILLUMINATION ON PANEL GOES ON AND OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BRAKES, ROTORS AND DRUMS WERE CHECKED, VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE,WATER PUMP REPLACED, STARTER REPLACED, RADIATOR REPLACED, HEATER CORE PROBLEMS,ALTERNATOR REPLACED, CERTAIN ILLUMINATION LIGHTS ON RADIO COME ON. *NM
I AM WRITING TO CONVEY MY EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE QUALITY OF CHEVROLET VEHICLES. WE OWN A 1999 CHEVROLET, TAHOE WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. ON DECEMBER 24, 2002, OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 103000 MILES. AS A RESULT, WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT A COST OF $2,646.72 PLUS THE COST OF RENTING A VEHICLE. WE DRIVE A…
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I AM WRITING TO CONVEY MY EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE QUALITY OF CHEVROLET VEHICLES. WE OWN A 1999 CHEVROLET, TAHOE WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. ON DECEMBER 24, 2002, OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 103000 MILES. AS A RESULT, WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT A COST OF $2,646.72 PLUS THE COST OF RENTING A VEHICLE. WE DRIVE ABOUT 25,000 MILES PER YEAR. WE DO NOT DO ANY TOWING, WE DO NOT USE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE EXCEPT IN THE WINTER, AND WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLE. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THIS TRANSMISSION WE HAD REPLACED HAS FAILED AGAIN, FORTUNATELY ABOUT 2000 PRIOR TO ITS 50000 MILE WARRANTY. I AM STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS HAPPENING. WE DO NOT ABUSE OUR VEHICLE AND WE DRIVE LIKE ANY REGULAR PERSON DOES. OH YES, POOR ENGINEERING. FURTHERMORE, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON OUR ENGINE WHICH COST US $700. NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN WE TOOK THE TAHOE TO HAVE THE 2ND TRANSMISSION FIXED, I ASKED IF OUR CRACKED DOOR HANDLE WAS THE RESULT OF A BREAK-IN. THE TECHNICIAN CHUCKLED AND SAID THAT WAS COMMON. HE EVEN HAD THE AUDACITY TO BLAME IT ON THE CONSUMER FOR NOT USING THE DOOR HANDLE PROPERLY ACTUALLY SHOWING US HOW YOU HAD TO LIFT AND. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS POOR ENGINEERING. I EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO CONTACT SEVERAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS WHO UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT A TRANSMISSION ON THESE VEHICLES SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 200,000 IF NOT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I?M NOT SURE WHAT ANYONE ELSE EXPECTS FROM THEIR VEHICLES, BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT A MAJOR COMPONENT, LIKE PART OF THE ENGINE, TO BLOW AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I DID MAKE MY VOICE HEARD BY WRITING A LETTER FOR THE 1ST TRANSMISSION THEY PUT IN, BUT ALL THEY COULD OFFER ME WAS $1000 LOYALTY VOUCHER TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW GMC PRODUCT. IF THEY CAN'T MAKE GOOD ON MY FIRST GMC VEHICLE, THEN WHY WOULD I BUY ANOTHER? IN CLOSING, I NEED TO MAKE MY VOICE HEARD SO PEOPLE DON'T BUY GM PRODUCTS.*AK
I HAVE BEEN A LIFE-LONG GM OWNER. IN 1991 I OWNED A BUICK REGAL AND IN 1992 I OWNED A GMC JIMMY. BY THE LATE 1990'S I HAD OWNED A '93 BLAZER AND A ?94 C-1500. NEVER HAVE I HAD AS MUCH TROUBLE COLLECTIVELY WITH THESE FOUR VEHICLES AS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1999 SILVERADO K-1500. IT BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2003 WHEN AFTER ONLY 46,584 M…
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I HAVE BEEN A LIFE-LONG GM OWNER. IN 1991 I OWNED A BUICK REGAL AND IN 1992 I OWNED A GMC JIMMY. BY THE LATE 1990'S I HAD OWNED A '93 BLAZER AND A ?94 C-1500. NEVER HAVE I HAD AS MUCH TROUBLE COLLECTIVELY WITH THESE FOUR VEHICLES AS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1999 SILVERADO K-1500. IT BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2003 WHEN AFTER ONLY 46,584 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEAD GASKETS REPLACED DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE GASKETS, WHICH TOTALED $989.47. THE LIFE-LONG MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKET BELIEVES THAT THE GM/100,000 MILE ANTIFREEZE DETERIORATED THE GASKETS AND THEREFORE REPLACED IT WITH THE TIME-TESTED STANDARD GREEN ANTIFREEZE. I WAS WILLING TO OVERLOOK THIS PROBLEM BUT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF ?04 I HAD TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER COMPLETELY REBUILT DUE TO THE LOSS OF SECOND GEAR, FOURTH GEAR, AND REVERSE FOR THE TOTAL COST OF $1234.00. THE OWNER OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM INITIALLY OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS OTHER GMC OR CHEVROLET TRANSMISSIONS HE HAS HAD TO OVERHAUL. I HAVE THE WORK -ORDER/RECEIPTS FOR BOTH JOBS COMPLETED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CONSUNER ALSO STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA04011 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Apr 9, 2004 · Closed May 10, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Parking Brake:conventional
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Parking Brake
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE03057 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Dec 8, 2003 · Closed Apr 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING BRAKE IS INTENDED TO OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO IMMOBILZE PARKED VEHICLES, AND THAT IN MANY CASES, ACCELERATED PARKING BRAKE LINING WEAR IS CAUSED BY ROUGH USE, VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, AND DRIVING WITH THE PARKING ENGAGED. ODI HAS UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO GATHER FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE USAGE FACTORS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SEVENTEEN REPORTED VEHICLE CRASHES.