Illustration1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 2WD, I HAVE NO ABS BRAKES HAVE NOT HAD THEM FOR YEARS THE ABS MODULE WENT OUT THE TRUCK WAS BARLEY 6 YEARS OLD TO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *KB
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
What owners actually said
587 reportsALL THIS DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. ON 3/9/10 I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN A 35MPH ZONE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GIVE IT A FEW PUMPS AND I STOPPED IN TIME. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE 4 BLOCKS TO AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC FOUND A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE GOING TO THE BACK BRAKE…
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ALL THIS DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. ON 3/9/10 I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN A 35MPH ZONE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GIVE IT A FEW PUMPS AND I STOPPED IN TIME. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE 4 BLOCKS TO AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC FOUND A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE GOING TO THE BACK BRAKES DUE TO RUST. FOUR DAYS LATER I HAD TO RETURN MY TRUCK TO THE SHOP BECAUSE MY BACK BRAKES WERE STICKING. I WAS INFORMED THAT RUST AND CORROSION HAD GOTTEN INTO THE BACK HOSES AND/OR CALIPERS AND WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY. AT THAT TIME HE REPLACED THE REAR HOSES AND CALIPERS. ON 10/2/11 I HAD BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FRONT BRAKES. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BRAKE LINE COMING OFF THE ABS UNIT IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THERE ARE FIVE BRAKE LINES IN THAT AREA AND THEY WERE ALL RUSTED. HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. AT THAT TIME, THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SO RUSTED THAT HE COULD NOT BLEED THE BRAKES, AND HE SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE HOSES AND CALIPERS AND ALL FIVE BRAKE LINES, WHICH I DID. HE ALSO TOLD ME THERE IS A CROSS BRACE ON THE FRAME THAT WAS ALMOST RUSTED THRU AND NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A WELDER TO BE FIXED. *KB
BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED LEAKS IN THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY ARE GANGED TOGETHER APPROX 12"-18" BEFORE THE EBCM. THIS FAILURE CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO SLIGHTLY BUMP THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED. *TR
MY 1999 CHEVY TRUCK BRAKES FAILED AND I HAD TO PUT IT IN A DITCH TO STOP IT BEFORE I RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I GOT IT PULLED OUT OF THE DITCH BY A TOW TRUCK WE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A BUSTED BRAKE LINE BUT EVERY LINE UNDER THE TRUCK WAS RUSTED ALL MOST IN TO FOR IT TO BE NO OLDER T…
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MY 1999 CHEVY TRUCK BRAKES FAILED AND I HAD TO PUT IT IN A DITCH TO STOP IT BEFORE I RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I GOT IT PULLED OUT OF THE DITCH BY A TOW TRUCK WE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A BUSTED BRAKE LINE BUT EVERY LINE UNDER THE TRUCK WAS RUSTED ALL MOST IN TO FOR IT TO BE NO OLDER THEN IT IS, UNDER THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE IT IS 50 YEARS OLD CHEVY HAS A BAD PROBLEM ON THERE HANDS. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
RUSTED BRAKE LINE CAUSED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION. LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID WHILE PUMPING BRAKE TRYING TO STOP. USED EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. LINE WAS REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER WHILE COMING TO STOP. DIFFERENT RUSTED BRAKE LINE SPRUNG A LEAK. THIS L…
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RUSTED BRAKE LINE CAUSED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION. LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID WHILE PUMPING BRAKE TRYING TO STOP. USED EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. LINE WAS REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER WHILE COMING TO STOP. DIFFERENT RUSTED BRAKE LINE SPRUNG A LEAK. THIS LEAK APPEARS TO BE LOCATED WHERE BRAKE LINES ARE ATTACHED BY A CLAMP LOCATED ON TOP OF CHASIS FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE OF TRUCK. TRUCK IS NOW UNDRIVABLE SO IS OUT OF SERVICE WAITING DECISION OF WHO WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR
PASSLOCK II SYSTEM IF FAULTY, LEADING TO HAVING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE STRANDED FOR 10 MINUTES TO HOURS WAITING FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET ITSELF. SYSTEM MISREADS THE KEY'S RESISTANCE VALUE AND DISABLES THE FUEL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, FREQUENTLY OVER AN HOUR. MY SYSTEM FAULTS MORE FREQUENTLY IN HOT, HUMID WEATHER, LEADING ME …
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PASSLOCK II SYSTEM IF FAULTY, LEADING TO HAVING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE STRANDED FOR 10 MINUTES TO HOURS WAITING FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET ITSELF. SYSTEM MISREADS THE KEY'S RESISTANCE VALUE AND DISABLES THE FUEL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, FREQUENTLY OVER AN HOUR. MY SYSTEM FAULTS MORE FREQUENTLY IN HOT, HUMID WEATHER, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE MOISTURE FROM THE HUMIDITY IS LOWERING THE OHMS CAUSING A MISREAD OF THE FACTORY KEY. I HAVE NO AFTERMARKET WIRING, ALARMS, STEREO, REMOTE STARTS ETC. I ALSO USE THE SINGLE KEY WITH NOTHING ATTACHED TO THE RING THAT WOULD BEAR ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TO THE KEY IN THE CYLINDER. *TR
BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. ACCIDENT AVOIDED ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN ONCOMING LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID STOPPING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 137,000 MILES. SIMPLE ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 1999 THROUGH 2003 CHEVY TRUCKS. THERE IS OBVIOUSL…
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BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. ACCIDENT AVOIDED ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN ONCOMING LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID STOPPING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 137,000 MILES. SIMPLE ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 1999 THROUGH 2003 CHEVY TRUCKS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS GM CHOSE FOR THESE BRAKE LINES AND A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED IN ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS. *TR
RUSTED OUT ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE INCLUDING BRAKE LINES OF OUR 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO. *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.