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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

509 reports
124,600 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINES WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND FAILED. NO WARNING SIGNS TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM IDENTIFIABLE OR EXPECTED. THE TRUCK WAS IMMEDIATELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR LINES BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS MODULE FAILED, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HAVE NO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614647

94,100 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK TOOK A LONG TIME TO STOP. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUSTED BRAKE LINES WHICH ALLOWED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. ONE LINE WAS RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND SEVERAL OTHER WERE BADLY RUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609337

128,549 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE ALMOST STRIKING ANOTHER PARKED CAR. REMAINING BRAKE LINES ARE VERY RUSTED AND WILL NEED REPLACED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608932

105,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Service Brakes

PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION ..BREAK LINES RUPTURED AND I DRIFTED OUT INTO THE ROAD BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP. CAR WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH A LOT OF BREAKING FORCE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608829

84,500 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Electrical System

ON DECEMBER 19TH 2013 WAS AT A CLASS FOR WORK ABOUT 65 MILES FROM HOME, WHEN CAME OUT OF CLASS AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START KEEP GETTING SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING IN THE INFORMATION WINDOW. LATER FOUND OUT THIS CUT THE GAS OF FROM SOMEONE STEALING THE VEHICLE, BUT I HAD THE ORIGINAL KEY TO THE TRUCK. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO…

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ON DECEMBER 19TH 2013 WAS AT A CLASS FOR WORK ABOUT 65 MILES FROM HOME, WHEN CAME OUT OF CLASS AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START KEEP GETTING SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING IN THE INFORMATION WINDOW. LATER FOUND OUT THIS CUT THE GAS OF FROM SOMEONE STEALING THE VEHICLE, BUT I HAD THE ORIGINAL KEY TO THE TRUCK. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO MY HOME 65 MILES AWAY. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE TRUCK FOR ME AND SAID HE BELIEVED HE HAD FIXED IT BY REPLACING THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS. TRUCK WORKED GREAT UNTIL RECENT I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION ONTO THE FLOOR, LUCKY FOR ME THE VEHICLE STAYED RUNNING. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN LOOKING AT THE IGNITION AND HAVE FOUND THAT ANY POSITION THAT THE KEY IS IN RATHER IT BE RUNNING OR AUXILIARY THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ALSO THE TRUCK IS BACK TO SHOWING THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING IN THE INFORMATION CENTER AND TRUCK WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION AND WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE TRUCK WILL START. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH CHEVY!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599062

104,685 miles · Jun 12, 2014
Service BrakesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE FOUR BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,685. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/12/14*LJ UPDATED 07/06/2017 *CT

NHTSA ODI #10597911

114,287 miles · Jun 7, 2014
Service Brakes

ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 23, 2013, WHILE TRAVELLING ON A CONNECTICUT STATE ROAD, I APPLIED MY BRAKES, AS A VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFT AHEAD OF ME. THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE FLOOR. I REALIZED A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY THAT I UTILIZE. I WAS ABLE TO NURSE THE VE…

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ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 23, 2013, WHILE TRAVELLING ON A CONNECTICUT STATE ROAD, I APPLIED MY BRAKES, AS A VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFT AHEAD OF ME. THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE FLOOR. I REALIZED A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY THAT I UTILIZE. I WAS ABLE TO NURSE THE VEHICLE THERE, WHERE IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED (BRAKE LINE REPLACED). IN THE PAST, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, BUT THAT DEALERSHIP WAS ONE OF MANY CLOSED DOWN BY GM. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, IN ANY DIRECTION IS ABOUT 20 MILES. FORTUNATELY I HAVE FOUND AN OUTSTANDING LOCAL INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596837

100,000 miles · Jun 6, 2014
Service Brakes

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HAVE BEEN OUT TIME & EXPENSE OF INSTALLING NEW PARK BRAKE PADS NOT NEEDED, TURNING DRUMS, TRIED REPLACING LONG BRAKE CABLE UNDER FLOOR, PULLED REAR ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES & RE ADJUSTED PARK BRAKE... 1 WEEK LATER DON'T WORK AGAIN.. I HAVE TO PUT BLOCKS UNDER WHEELS FOR 3 YEARS TO KEEP TRUCK FROM ROLLING DOWN DRIV…

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FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HAVE BEEN OUT TIME & EXPENSE OF INSTALLING NEW PARK BRAKE PADS NOT NEEDED, TURNING DRUMS, TRIED REPLACING LONG BRAKE CABLE UNDER FLOOR, PULLED REAR ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES & RE ADJUSTED PARK BRAKE... 1 WEEK LATER DON'T WORK AGAIN.. I HAVE TO PUT BLOCKS UNDER WHEELS FOR 3 YEARS TO KEEP TRUCK FROM ROLLING DOWN DRIVEWAY.. LIVE ON A HILL..CHEVY DON'T NEED THE TENSION ON LITTLE BITTY PARK GEAR IN TRANSMISSION....ALSO HAVE HAD TO FIX EVERY DEC BECAUSE SAFETY INSPECTION ENDS DEC,,,NEIGHBORS HAVE FORD & DODGE & THEIRS WILL STAY IN DRIVEWAY..HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY & TIME SPENT ON A GM BLUNDER... WHY HAS THEIR NOT BEEN A RECALL ? ANOTHER COVER UP BY GM EXECUTIVES ? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596643

67,000 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

AFTER EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF I264 IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA I SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHED THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. UPON APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL NO RESISTANCE WAS NOTED AND THE SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND NEGLIGIBLE. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. BOTH CARS INVOLV…

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AFTER EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF I264 IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA I SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHED THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. UPON APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL NO RESISTANCE WAS NOTED AND THE SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND NEGLIGIBLE. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. BOTH CARS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN OUT OF TRAFFIC. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE TRUCK FRAME AT THE FORWARD HINGE OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIPPING FLUID WAS BRAKE FLUID. I SUSPECT A RUPTURED BRAKE FLUID LINE OR TUBE HAD RUPTURED WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING GIVEN BY THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER TO WARN OF LOW BRAKE FLUID BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR WAS STILL AT THE NORMAL LEVEL. I BELIEVE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS ACCELERATED DUE TO THE USE OF SALT TREATMENTS ON THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER SNOW STORMS THAT HAVE FALLEN IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AND LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. ALSO THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THESE ARE TWO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES INCURRED IN ONCE INCIDENT TO A TRUCK WHICH HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND 12 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595709

146,000 miles · Jun 1, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE PROBLEM WITH ABS. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP CORRECTLY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. AFTER RESEARCHING FOUND RECALL FOR ABS WHEEL ISSUE FOR OTHER STATES BUT NOT TEXAS. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595370

Official recalls

0

No 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

2

EA04011 · 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.