IllustrationMY BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND BURST WHEN I USED MY BRAKES. COULD NOT KEEP MY TRUCK FROM MOVING WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. *TR
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
340–25K
4925–50K
7950–75K
10275–100K
124100–150K
55150K+
443 reports with mileage · 66 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. Review the 184 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
45 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports
Service Brakes complaints
184 reportsSERVICE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE ABOVE REAR AXLE. PARK BRAKE FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE DUSTSHIELD BEING CORRODED TO THE POINT IS WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THE LACK OF A DUST SHIELD ALLOWED THE PARK BRAKE SHOE AND LINKAGE CORRODE AND BECOME INOPERATIVE. *TR
I WAS QUITE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN LEAVING A PARKING SPOT AND HAD JUST LEFT "PARK" SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND APPLIED THE BRAKE BECAUSE A PEDESTRIAN STEPPED OUT. AT THAT TIME THE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR, I STEERED THE TRUCK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THE PERSON, HEADED FOR A PART OF THE LOT WHERE THERE WERE NO CARS, APPLIED THE PAR…
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I WAS QUITE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN LEAVING A PARKING SPOT AND HAD JUST LEFT "PARK" SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND APPLIED THE BRAKE BECAUSE A PEDESTRIAN STEPPED OUT. AT THAT TIME THE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR, I STEERED THE TRUCK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THE PERSON, HEADED FOR A PART OF THE LOT WHERE THERE WERE NO CARS, APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, IT DID'NT WORK EITHER, SO I PUT IT INTO PARK. ALL THIS AND I HADNT APPLIED THE GAS TO THE VEHICLE. ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE I PARKED, I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND. UPON CLOSER INVESTIGATION, WE NOTICED THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED OUT COMPLETELY. WE FEEL LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. VERY ANGRY AT CHEVROLET. *TR
THIS VEHICLE, AT 46,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE ALL THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND TWO CALIPERS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY RUSTED UP AND LOCKED UP. HAD TO DO IT AGAIN ABOUT 65,000 MILES, THEN HAD A BACK CALIPER SEIZE UP AND REPLACED BOTH ROTORS AND ONE CALIPER ALONG WITH NEW PADS. I THEN HAD TO HAVE ALL THE ROTORS REPLACED, BOTH FRONT HUB…
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THIS VEHICLE, AT 46,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE ALL THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND TWO CALIPERS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY RUSTED UP AND LOCKED UP. HAD TO DO IT AGAIN ABOUT 65,000 MILES, THEN HAD A BACK CALIPER SEIZE UP AND REPLACED BOTH ROTORS AND ONE CALIPER ALONG WITH NEW PADS. I THEN HAD TO HAVE ALL THE ROTORS REPLACED, BOTH FRONT HUBS, ONE NEW CALIPER AND PADS AGAIN AT BECK CHEVROLET A YEAR AGO. ON MY WAY DOWN TO FL THIS PAST FALL, WITH ABOUT 84,000 ON THE TRUCK, ANOTHER CALIPER SEIZED UP AND HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER, BOTH BACK ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. YESTERDAY, 3/27/13, ON MY WAY HOME FROM TOWN, WITH 85,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKES. INSPECTION SHOWED A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. MY REPAIRMAN SAID EVERY BRAKE LINE IS SWISS CHEESE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I'VE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS AND HAVE REPLACED BRAKES 3 TIMES, ALL ROTORS, MOST CALIPERS AND TWO FRONT HUBS BECAUSE OF RUST. THE FRAME AND EVERYTHING UNDER MY TRUCK IS RUSTED VERY BADLY. I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE 2004, AND BOUGHT IT WHEN IT HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT. IT DRIVES BEAUTIFUL AND IS LIKE NEW, BUT IT'S GOING TO ROT RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER ME. PLEASE HELP! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SILVERADO ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD WITH A FEW STEEP GRADES AND MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR ON ONE OF THE DOWN GRADES. I PUMPED THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO REACT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET STOPPED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GRADE BEFORE RUNNING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AT T…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SILVERADO ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD WITH A FEW STEEP GRADES AND MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR ON ONE OF THE DOWN GRADES. I PUMPED THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO REACT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET STOPPED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GRADE BEFORE RUNNING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AT THE T INTERSECTION AND POSSIBLY OVER THE EMBANKMENT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM ME. ONCE I GOT HOME I REALIZED THAT ALL THE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME TO THE ABS BOX WERE CORRODED AS WELL AS THE ONES GOING TO THE FRONT CALIPERS. ONCE I STARTED RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. ALSO, ONE THAT JUST ABOUT EVERONE THAT I KNOW WITH A SILVERADO AROUND THAT SAME YEAR HAS HAD. I'M JUST GLAD THAT MY WIFE OR MY 16 YEAR OLD STEP-DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED! *TR
WHILE EXITING FREEWAY, ON "OFF RAMP" REMOVED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO START BRAKING AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LITERALLY STOPPED TWO (2) FEET FROM REAR OF ALREADY STOPPED CAR. UPON UNDERNEATH INSPECTION FOUND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AT REAR, SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINE. *TR
BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. MECHANIC SAID IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH. THIS HAPPEN IN 2009 AND AGAIN TODAY 2/23/2013. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON CT. RTE. 8 AT APPROX 6AM AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. STATE MAINTENANCE VEHICLES HAD PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED THE ROAD AS I ROUNDED THE BEND APPROACHING THE TRUMBULL TOWN LINE THIS IN TURN CAUSED AN ABRUPT HALT OF TRAFFIC. I APPLIED MY BRAKES RATHER HARD WHICH DID SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT I STILL HAD TO SWERVE IN…
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I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON CT. RTE. 8 AT APPROX 6AM AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. STATE MAINTENANCE VEHICLES HAD PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED THE ROAD AS I ROUNDED THE BEND APPROACHING THE TRUMBULL TOWN LINE THIS IN TURN CAUSED AN ABRUPT HALT OF TRAFFIC. I APPLIED MY BRAKES RATHER HARD WHICH DID SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT I STILL HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INVESTIGATION I HAD FOUND THAT THE STEEL HARD LINE RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME RAIL FOR THE REAR BRAKES WAS BADLY CORRODED AND HAD BUST. THE REST OF THE STEEL LINES WHICH ALL RUN TO AND FROM THE ABS PUMP ARE ALSO IN BAD SHAPE. IT IS MY OPINION THESE LINES BE MADE FROM STAINLESS STEEL IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. AFTER ALL THEY MAKE MOST MODERN EXHAUST IN STAINLESS AND THAT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS STOPPING YOUR VEHICLE!!! *TR
DURING AN UNEXPECTED STOP SITUATION, MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING NORMALLY. THE ABS SYSTEM WAS GOING ON AND OFF. MY PICK UP WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN THE ONCOMING LANE AVOIDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND T…
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DURING AN UNEXPECTED STOP SITUATION, MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING NORMALLY. THE ABS SYSTEM WAS GOING ON AND OFF. MY PICK UP WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN THE ONCOMING LANE AVOIDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THAT THE BRAKELINES WERE RUSTING OUT AND IN TWO SPOTS THE LINES HAD RUPTURED, PROBABLY DURING THE EVENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE LINES IN TWO SPOTS. *TR
TOOK TRUCK IN FOR STATE INSPECTION, TRUCK FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING , DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1228.43 TO $1420.99 TO JUST FIXED THE BRAKE LINES ALL LINES NEEDED REPLACED AND CALIPERS SCREWS. POWER STEERING PUMP COST 535.00 TO REPLACE. POOR QUALITY ,HIGH COST TO FIX AND LACK OF SA…
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TOOK TRUCK IN FOR STATE INSPECTION, TRUCK FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING , DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1228.43 TO $1420.99 TO JUST FIXED THE BRAKE LINES ALL LINES NEEDED REPLACED AND CALIPERS SCREWS. POWER STEERING PUMP COST 535.00 TO REPLACE. POOR QUALITY ,HIGH COST TO FIX AND LACK OF SAFETY ON GM PART FOR NOT COVERING RUBBER COATING OR USING STAINLESS STEEL LINES TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY VERY DISCOURAGED WITH SERVICE TECH SAID THESE ARE THE PRICES. WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SAFETY. BRAKE LINES AND GAS LINES SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF STEEL THAT CAN CORRODE AND RUST OUT AND BREAK. POWER STEERING PUMP WITH THESE FEW MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT. MY 1988 CHEVY TRUCK NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *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.