NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
11 reportsClear category filter210,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
HAD TO DISCONNECT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SO I COULD STOP. WHEN DRIVING SLOW AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL IS SOLID AND DOES NOT MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS. CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE AT ALL. BRAKE LINES ROTTED OUT. HAS TO REPLACE. TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED OUT. HAD TO REPLACE. TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER ROTTED OUT. HAD TO RE…
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HAD TO DISCONNECT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SO I COULD STOP. WHEN DRIVING SLOW AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL IS SOLID AND DOES NOT MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS. CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE AT ALL. BRAKE LINES ROTTED OUT. HAS TO REPLACE. TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED OUT. HAD TO REPLACE. TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER ROTTED OUT. HAD TO REPLACE. FUEL LINES ARE ROTTING OUT. NOT REPLACED YET. DRIVE SHAFT IS QUESTIONABLE. SEVERELY RUSTED. REAR BACKING PLATES ROTTED OFF, NO MORE PARKING - EMERGENCY BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER MANY TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. ENGINE LEAKS OIL. LOOSING COOLANT, POSSIBLE BURNING IT. FUEL MILEAGE IS TERRIBLE. BODY RUSTED OUT. ROCKER PANELS ARE GONE. CAB CORNERS ARE GONE. REAR BUMPER IS GONE. PUTTING THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH IS A STUPID IDEA. THE COST TO REPLACE THESE PARTS IS TOO EXPENSIVE. FOR WHAT THESE VEHICLES COST NEW ALL OF THESE PARTS SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL OR USE PLASTIC FOR THE FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING RELATED TO A POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICE SHOULD BE ENTIRE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THESE PARTS AND WHATEVER IS UPSTREAM THAT CAUSED THE POLLUTION CONTROL PART TO FAIL SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN PERPETUITY. ANTI LOCK BRAKES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ALL CARS. THE PARTS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. THE COST SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CAR OWNER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10928822
12,000 miles · Apr 7, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT FLAMES IGNITED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND GARDEN HOSE. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT FLAMES IGNITED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND GARDEN HOSE. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A RESPONSE WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10324336
87,000 miles · May 21, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainStructure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PISTONS STRIKING AGAINST THE METAL BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEAR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PISTONS STRIKING AGAINST THE METAL BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE PISTONS AND THE CYLINDER. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SLACK IN THE REAR, WHICH COULD BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE YOKE WITH A NICKEL PLATED COVER. THE REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE CONTACT FEELS AS IF THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,350. UPDATED 06/09/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO 2ND AND SOMETIME THIRD GEAR, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO COME APART. THE ENGINE ALSO MADE A NOISE AS IF THE VALVES WERE CLICKING AND TAPPING. UPDATED 06/10/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10269597
75,000 miles · Oct 3, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
2000 CHEVY SILVERADO, 5.3 LITE Z71. COLD ENGINE KNOCK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244303
110,000 miles · Sep 17, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE BEFORE HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA ODI #10242721
49,000 miles · Oct 23, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND IS STARTED, THE ENGINE KNOCKS FROM THIRTY SECONDS TO ONE MINUTE. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED, THE KNOCKING STOPS. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THIS WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND IS KNOWN AS ENGINE KNOCK COLD START, OR CARBON BUILD UP ON TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND IS STARTED, THE ENGINE KNOCKS FROM THIRTY SECONDS TO ONE MINUTE. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED, THE KNOCKING STOPS. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THIS WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND IS KNOWN AS ENGINE KNOCK COLD START, OR CARBON BUILD UP ON THE PISTON HEAD. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE HIS RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
NHTSA ODI #10206678
140,000 miles · Oct 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10095085
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE ARE KNOCKING. THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT HEAR THE NOISE WHICH IS QUITE OBVIOUS AND GETTING LOUDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND STILL IT IS NOT CORRECTED. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BBB, CONGRESSMAN, ATTY GENERAL, IN HOPES TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE TO PREVENT THE LOCUP OF THI…
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THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE ARE KNOCKING. THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT HEAR THE NOISE WHICH IS QUITE OBVIOUS AND GETTING LOUDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND STILL IT IS NOT CORRECTED. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BBB, CONGRESSMAN, ATTY GENERAL, IN HOPES TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE TO PREVENT THE LOCUP OF THIS ENGINE. IF THE ENGINE WERE TO LOCKUP AT 70MPH ON THE INTERSATE THERE COULD BE A BAD ACCIDENT. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS EVEN A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THE PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.GMPISTONSLAP.CJB.NET/. THANK YOU.*AK
NHTSA ODI #764698
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
MOTOR HAS BEEN KNOCKING SINCE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE I'LL JUST LIKE FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746422
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
LIFTERS KNOCK AT STARTUP ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS REPLACED LIFTERS, USED HEAVY GRADE OIL AND CLEANERS, HIGHER GRADE GASOLINE USED FOR SIX MONTHS, NOTHING HAS STOPPED THE KNOCKING. SERVICE MANAGER HAS STATED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.5L ENGINES AND THIS DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER …
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LIFTERS KNOCK AT STARTUP ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS REPLACED LIFTERS, USED HEAVY GRADE OIL AND CLEANERS, HIGHER GRADE GASOLINE USED FOR SIX MONTHS, NOTHING HAS STOPPED THE KNOCKING. SERVICE MANAGER HAS STATED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.5L ENGINES AND THIS DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS WHOM PURCHASED THE 1999/2000 SERIES TRUCKS WITH THIS ENGINE, INCLUDING REPLACING THE ENGINE, BUT, HE WOULD NOT PUT INTO WRITING WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A MEETING WITH THE GM REP. FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND STILL DO NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #744965
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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