IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. I DROVE 20 MILES TO MY HOUSE AND HAD SOFT BRAKES UPON ARRIVAL. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS POSITION BENEATH THE CAB. THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM A BUNDLE OF BRAKE LINES NEXT TO THE FRAME. *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
Service Brakes complaints
126 reportsWAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I HAD A ANOTHER PERSON PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I HIT THE BRAKES AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATING, REPLACED THE POWER AIR BOOSTER WHICH TOOK CARE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. BUT AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY, THE TRUCK BLEW A BRAKE …
Read full complaint
WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I HAD A ANOTHER PERSON PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I HIT THE BRAKES AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATING, REPLACED THE POWER AIR BOOSTER WHICH TOOK CARE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. BUT AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY, THE TRUCK BLEW A BRAKE LINE (SITTING IN PARK) THAT WAS RUSTED SEVERELY. EITHER WAY, I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL RUST PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM BRAKES LINES RUSTING THROUGH, GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTING THROUGH. NOW WE HAVE FUEL LINE LEAK AND OUR TORSION BAR HAS CRACKED DUE TO RUSTING THROUGH AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS THE FRAME IS REPLACED WHICH IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST THROUGHOUT THE VEHIC…
Read full complaint
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL RUST PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM BRAKES LINES RUSTING THROUGH, GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTING THROUGH. NOW WE HAVE FUEL LINE LEAK AND OUR TORSION BAR HAS CRACKED DUE TO RUSTING THROUGH AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS THE FRAME IS REPLACED WHICH IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. UNLESS FRAME IS REPLACED IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
I HAVE HAD RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE RUST OUT. I HAD FRONT BRAKE LINES RUST OUT. I HAD THE BRAKE LINE TO THE ABS FROM BOOSTER RUST OUT. HAD THE FUEL LINES RUST OUT(LEAKING RAW GAS) HAD OIL LINES FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RUST OUT. EACH TIME I WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY AT LOW SPEEDS AND NOT WHILE PULLING A TRAILER.I ALS…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE RUST OUT. I HAD FRONT BRAKE LINES RUST OUT. I HAD THE BRAKE LINE TO THE ABS FROM BOOSTER RUST OUT. HAD THE FUEL LINES RUST OUT(LEAKING RAW GAS) HAD OIL LINES FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RUST OUT. EACH TIME I WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY AT LOW SPEEDS AND NOT WHILE PULLING A TRAILER.I ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ABS KICKING IN FALSELY AT SLOW SPEEDS(ALSO RUST BUILD UP AT WHEEL SENSOR MOUNTING PLACE. *TR
WHILE BRAKING HARD FOR AN ANIMAL IN THE ROADWAY, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN APPLIED SUDDENLY AND HARD, WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE ANIMAL WAS STRUCK. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BURST. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED …
Read full complaint
WHILE BRAKING HARD FOR AN ANIMAL IN THE ROADWAY, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN APPLIED SUDDENLY AND HARD, WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE ANIMAL WAS STRUCK. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BURST. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED VERY RUSTY BRAKE LINES WHICH APPEAR READY TO FAIL IN MANY LOCATIONS. *JS
MY 1999 SILVERADO HAD BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION FOUND A FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BLOWN OUT. THE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THERE ARE SEVERAL LINES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SIX GM CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY 1957 AND 1963 AND 1964 BRAKE LINES ARE IN GRE…
Read full complaint
MY 1999 SILVERADO HAD BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION FOUND A FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BLOWN OUT. THE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THERE ARE SEVERAL LINES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SIX GM CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY 1957 AND 1963 AND 1964 BRAKE LINES ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. I LIVE IN NC AND DO NOT HAVE THE BAD WINTER AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS THAT SOME MAY SAY WAS THE CAUSE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JS
MY VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE ABS KICKS IN AND EXTENDS THE STOPPING DISTANCE BY VARIOUS AMOUNTS. *JS
I HAVE A 1999 SILVERADO 1500 I HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED IN JULY 2014 BECAUSE OF CORROSION. THEN YESTERDAY NOVEMBER 4TH 2014 I HAD THE TRUCK TO A SHOP GETTING TIRES PUT ON AND WHEN THEY STARTED TO LIFT IT THE REAR END STARTED TO SAG. THEY LET IT DOWN AND NOTICED RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. THIS TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND GM …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1999 SILVERADO 1500 I HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED IN JULY 2014 BECAUSE OF CORROSION. THEN YESTERDAY NOVEMBER 4TH 2014 I HAD THE TRUCK TO A SHOP GETTING TIRES PUT ON AND WHEN THEY STARTED TO LIFT IT THE REAR END STARTED TO SAG. THEY LET IT DOWN AND NOTICED RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. THIS TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND GM NEEDS TO POST A RECALL ON THESE PROBLEMS! *TR
MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK TO WINCHESTER, VA. AND THE BRAKES WORKED OK. WHEN SHE WAS RETURNING HOME SHE NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ?SOFT? AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED TO STOP. UPON RETURNING HOME I NOTICED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL GARAGE IN CAPON BRIDGE, WV. I IN…
Read full complaint
MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK TO WINCHESTER, VA. AND THE BRAKES WORKED OK. WHEN SHE WAS RETURNING HOME SHE NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ?SOFT? AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED TO STOP. UPON RETURNING HOME I NOTICED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL GARAGE IN CAPON BRIDGE, WV. I INSPECTED THE RESERVOIR AFTER I GOT TO THE GARAGE AND IT WAS AGAIN EMPTY. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A LENGTH OF TUBING FROM BENEATH THE LEFT DRIVER'S DOOR TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT A COST OF $262.00. *TR
VEHICLE BRAKE LINES FOUND TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED. BRAKE LINE MATERIAL IS NOT SUITABLE FOR SERVICE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND IN MY CASE THE FRAME AND OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE DO NOT EXHIBIT SIMILAR CORROSION. INVESTIGATION OF THE LINES FOUND CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE ABS CONTROLLER, LOCATED AT THE …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE BRAKE LINES FOUND TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED. BRAKE LINE MATERIAL IS NOT SUITABLE FOR SERVICE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND IN MY CASE THE FRAME AND OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE DO NOT EXHIBIT SIMILAR CORROSION. INVESTIGATION OF THE LINES FOUND CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE ABS CONTROLLER, LOCATED AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE FRAME RAIL. IN TALKING WITH FRIENDS/CO-WORKERS I LEARNED OF TWO INCIDENTS, ONE WITH A 2002 SILVERADO 2500 HAVING A SIMILAR FAILURE WHERE THE LINE FAILED AT STOP WHILE THE LINE WAS UNDER PRESSURE. ANOTHER FRIEND HAD A FAILURE IN HIS 2001 SILVERADO 1500 WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP A THE BOTTOM OF A HILL. THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A RUPTURED LINE AND THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO GEAR DOWN, ROLL THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND TURN ONTO A SIDE ROAD. A HIGHER PROFILE INCIDENT INVOLVED A CO-WORKER WITH A 2001 SILVERADO 2500 PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND THE VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT. THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE TRAVEL TRAILER ELECTRIC BRAKES. I WORK AT A LARGE CHEMICAL COMPANY HEADQUARTERED IN KINGSPORT, TN. THIS INCIDENT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SAFETY NEWSLETTER THAT IS CIRCULATED AT THE KINGSPORT SITE IN 2013. SEARCHES OF INTERNET FORUMS FIND MULTIPLE SIMILAR INCIDENTS DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURE SOME INVOLVING INJURY. *TR
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.