The frame and suspension has overly corroded. The frame is falling apart so bad that when I shut the driver's door chunks of metal fall to the ground. I've had it assessed and they say it should not be this bad. Even in Michigan
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
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.
Suspension complaints
29 reportsFRAME FAILED. CRACKED AT TORSION BAR CROSS SUPPORT BOTH SIDES. IN THAT SECTION CAN PUSH SCREWDRIVER THRU FRAME. ENTIRE FRAME FLAKING LARGE CHUNKS, SPARE TIRE FALLING OFF. HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED GAS TANK STRAPS, NEW SS BRAKE LINES. FUEL LINES NOW RUSTING THROUGH. SANDWICH PLATED WITH STEEL/BOLTS. FRAME REPAIR MORE THAN VALUE O…
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FRAME FAILED. CRACKED AT TORSION BAR CROSS SUPPORT BOTH SIDES. IN THAT SECTION CAN PUSH SCREWDRIVER THRU FRAME. ENTIRE FRAME FLAKING LARGE CHUNKS, SPARE TIRE FALLING OFF. HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED GAS TANK STRAPS, NEW SS BRAKE LINES. FUEL LINES NOW RUSTING THROUGH. SANDWICH PLATED WITH STEEL/BOLTS. FRAME REPAIR MORE THAN VALUE OF TRUCK. HAS 108,000 MILES, ABOUT 1/2 OF MILES I EXPECTED TO GET OUT OF IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE FRAME WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE FRAME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
I HAVE A 1999 SILVERADO 1500, IN THE PAST FEW DAY I'VE BEEN HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS REAR WHEEL AREA. TODAY I PUT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK ON JACK STANDS IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE NOISE, AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL AND TIRE I NOTICED THE FRAME BEHIND THE TIRE HAS HOLES RUSTED THROUGH AND IS PAPER THIN. THEN I NOTICED A PLA…
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I HAVE A 1999 SILVERADO 1500, IN THE PAST FEW DAY I'VE BEEN HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS REAR WHEEL AREA. TODAY I PUT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK ON JACK STANDS IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE NOISE, AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL AND TIRE I NOTICED THE FRAME BEHIND THE TIRE HAS HOLES RUSTED THROUGH AND IS PAPER THIN. THEN I NOTICED A PLATE WELDED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME APPARENTLY BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER BEHIND THE PLATE THE FRAME HAS BEEN BROKE . I THEN CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS A PLATE BUT DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD. NOW, GROWING MORE INTERESTED I BEGAN POKING AT THE FRAME WALLS AND IN MANY PLACES ITS CHIPPING AND GOING THROUGH LIKE ICE. I AM NOT A RICH MAN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD LAST LIKE YOU WOULD THINK A FRAME SHOULD. A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD A 1979 CHEVY TRUCK AND SOLD IT, EVEN NOW THE FRAME IS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN A TRUCK THAT IS 20 YEARS NEWER. GM NEEDS TO BE THE HONORABLE COMPANY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT AND WHEN I TURNED AND WENT INTO LOT (THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE) AND THEN FLAT PARKING LOT. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BED OF THE TRUCK PUSHED INTO THE CAB AS THE FRAME SNAPPED. THERE ARE 12 OTHER KNOWN INSTANCES THAT HAVE NOTIFIED GM AND THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ACTION TO CORRECT. MY 3 YR SON WAS IN TH…
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DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT AND WHEN I TURNED AND WENT INTO LOT (THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE) AND THEN FLAT PARKING LOT. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BED OF THE TRUCK PUSHED INTO THE CAB AS THE FRAME SNAPPED. THERE ARE 12 OTHER KNOWN INSTANCES THAT HAVE NOTIFIED GM AND THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ACTION TO CORRECT. MY 3 YR SON WAS IN THE TRUCK WHEN THIS OCCURRED AS WELL AS MY WIFE AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT INJURED. *TR
THE FRAME CRACKED ON BOTH REAR FRAME RAILS BETWEEN THE LEAF SPRINGS. *TR
I TOOK MY 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHO, UPON ATTEMPTING TO LIFT THE VEHICLE ON A HOIST, INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY LOWERED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT ONTO ANOTHER SERVICE AREA WITH A PIT A…
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I TOOK MY 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHO, UPON ATTEMPTING TO LIFT THE VEHICLE ON A HOIST, INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY LOWERED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT ONTO ANOTHER SERVICE AREA WITH A PIT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED FROM UNDERNEATH WITHOUT THE USE OF A HOIST. THE SERVICE REPAIR TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THE SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRAME AND ADVISED ME NOT TO SINK ANY MONEY INTO REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME DUE TO FRAME BREAKAGE. I WAS TOLD BY A FORMER ENGINEER AT GM THAT THE FRAMES WERE SOURCED TO MAGNA CORPORATION AND THAT BRAND NEW VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING FRAME BENDING WHEN BEING LOADED AND CLAMPED DOWN ON DELIVERY TRUCK TRAILERS. THE SUPPLIER MUST HAVE COMPROMISED THE MATERIALS AND PROCESSING OF THE TRUCK FRAMES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE CONTRACT FROM GM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF BOTH GM AND THE SUPPLIER OF THE TRUCK FRAMES. I ALSO HAD EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN 2011 DUE TO THE BRAKE LINES RUSTING FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHICH WOULD ALSO INDICATE COMPROMISED MATERIALS AND PROCESSING. I NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON THIS SITE ABOUT BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXTERNAL RUST FOR 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCKS JUST LIKE MINE. I AM AFRAID THAT MANY OF THOSE VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE NOT YET NOTICED THAT THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TRUCK FRAME FAILURE DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT RUST PROBLEM EXHIBITED BY THESE VEHICLES. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE STRUCTURAL COMPONENT AND BRAKE LINE FAILURES WILL RESULT IN MANY VEHICLE CRASHES AND THE UNSUSPECTING VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS WILL INEVITABLY HAPPEN UNLESS THE NHTSA STEPS IN AND FORCES AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF 1999 THROUGH 2006 CHEVY SILVERADO VEHICLES. *TR
1999 SILVERADO EXCESSIVE ROT ON FRAME JUST ASIDE OF FUEL TANK, LOWER CHANNEL OF FRAME GONE STARTING TO CRACK GOING VERTICAL. ALSO REAR SPRING PERCHES ROTTED TO POINT OF NO REPAIR.. TRUCK IS STREET DRIVEN NEVER OFF ROAD AM SECOND OWNER OF TRUCK. HAVE HAD OLDER CHEVYS WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS AS THIS. GOOGLE FRAME ROT 99 SILVERADO…
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1999 SILVERADO EXCESSIVE ROT ON FRAME JUST ASIDE OF FUEL TANK, LOWER CHANNEL OF FRAME GONE STARTING TO CRACK GOING VERTICAL. ALSO REAR SPRING PERCHES ROTTED TO POINT OF NO REPAIR.. TRUCK IS STREET DRIVEN NEVER OFF ROAD AM SECOND OWNER OF TRUCK. HAVE HAD OLDER CHEVYS WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS AS THIS. GOOGLE FRAME ROT 99 SILVERADO ITS NOT JUST MINE CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE..."WE HAVEN HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THAT ON THAT VEHICLE" SHOULDN'T FRAMES LAST LONGER? *TR *KB
BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT DUE TO CORROSION WHEN PULLING TO A STOP LIGHT, WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK W/O INCIDENT. THIS WAS 8AUG09. REPAIRED ON 12AUG09. ON 5AUG11 WENT TO REPLACE SHOCKS THINKING THEY WERE SHOT, PROBLEM DISCOVERED, ENTIRE SHOCK MOUNT RAIL ASSEMBLY HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND IS HANGING IN THE AIR. MILEAGE: 1488…
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BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT DUE TO CORROSION WHEN PULLING TO A STOP LIGHT, WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK W/O INCIDENT. THIS WAS 8AUG09. REPAIRED ON 12AUG09. ON 5AUG11 WENT TO REPLACE SHOCKS THINKING THEY WERE SHOT, PROBLEM DISCOVERED, ENTIRE SHOCK MOUNT RAIL ASSEMBLY HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND IS HANGING IN THE AIR. MILEAGE: 148876. ON 30SEP11 GAS TANK DROPPED TO THE GROUND DUE TO CORROSION OF FRAME, AND ALSO EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE ROTTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND NOW HANGING, THERE ARE ALSO SOME CRACKS IN THE FRAME, MILEAGE 149476. THERE IS NO RUST OR DAMAGE TO THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK AT ALL. IT STILL LOOKS LIKE A NEW TRUCK. THE FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A FORD. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. FROM WHAT I SEE, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM KNOWS ALL ABOUT AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ALL THESE TRUCKS. GM SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE EVERYONE'S FRAMES ON TRUCKS LIKE MINE THAT HAVE PERFECT BODIES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *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.
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