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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

726 reports with mileage · 79 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 273 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 195 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports7 fire reports8 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

151 reports
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41,000 miles · Jun 28, 2016
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000. UPDATED 09/27/16*LJ **UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT RUPTURED. UPDATED 01/05/17. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10877100

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2015
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILURE HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LEAK AND NO OTHER VISIBLE OR PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LIN…

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2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILURE HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LEAK AND NO OTHER VISIBLE OR PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10805735

141,980 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE LOOKING AT MY TRUCK AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE SHOP GETTING ALL 4 OF THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED, I NOTICED THE FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING AND EXTREMELY CORRODED. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY LOVER, AND THIS IS MY FIRST NICE VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. BOUGHT USED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. SO FAR WE HAVE NOTICED THAT JUST ABOUT EVER…

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WHILE LOOKING AT MY TRUCK AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE SHOP GETTING ALL 4 OF THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED, I NOTICED THE FUEL LINES ARE LEAKING AND EXTREMELY CORRODED. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY LOVER, AND THIS IS MY FIRST NICE VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. BOUGHT USED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. SO FAR WE HAVE NOTICED THAT JUST ABOUT EVERY RECALL FROM THE PAST WAS NEVER FIXED ON OUR TRUCK, SO WE HAD TO SHELL OUT ALMOST $900 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES FRONT TO BACK. NOW THE FUEL LINES, THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS LOOSE, THESE ARE ALL RECALLS FROM THE PAST. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO PUT A TIME FRAME ON RECALLS CONSIDERING SOME PEOPLE MAY NEVER FIND OUT TIL IT'S TOO LATE, AND OTHERS MAY NOT FIND OUT TIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659278

100,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LINES FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED EXTENSIVE RUST ON ALL SIX BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED ALL SIX BRAKE LINES AND REPLACED THE CALIPERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LINES FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED EXTENSIVE RUST ON ALL SIX BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED ALL SIX BRAKE LINES AND REPLACED THE CALIPERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10621673

27,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK INTO THE FLOORBOARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK INTO THE FLOORBOARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10610985

90,841 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAS NOW HAD TWO BRAKE LINE FAILURES (ONE IN 2010 AND ONE IN 2013) RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY. IN BOTH CASES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS QUICKLY USED TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING WITHIN CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. BOTH BRAKE LINE FAILURE WERE DUE TO CORROSION ACC…

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MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAS NOW HAD TWO BRAKE LINE FAILURES (ONE IN 2010 AND ONE IN 2013) RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY. IN BOTH CASES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS QUICKLY USED TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING WITHIN CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. BOTH BRAKE LINE FAILURE WERE DUE TO CORROSION ACCORDING TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A BRAKE CALIPER AND A FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY (DUE TO ABS SENSOR FAILURE).

NHTSA ODI #10567344

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2013
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES, FAILED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE. THE LAST BILL WAS $1200 FOR THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES AND $600 FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.

NHTSA ODI #10543725

183,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

NOTICED THAT BRAKES WERE "SPONGY" THE NIGHT BEFORE. IN THE MORNING I STARTED THE CAR, AND STARTED TO DRIVE OUT THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES , THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DASH BOARD INFORMATION CENTER INDICATED "SERVICE BRAKES". I GOT OUT AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO DETECT THE ISSUE. I SAW FLUID LEAKING FROM A RUSTE…

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NOTICED THAT BRAKES WERE "SPONGY" THE NIGHT BEFORE. IN THE MORNING I STARTED THE CAR, AND STARTED TO DRIVE OUT THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES , THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DASH BOARD INFORMATION CENTER INDICATED "SERVICE BRAKES". I GOT OUT AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO DETECT THE ISSUE. I SAW FLUID LEAKING FROM A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I NOTED THAT IT RUPTURED. THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE IN TRAFFIC OR WHEN EXITING MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS 100 FEET ELEVATION FROM THE ROAD. EITHER WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER THIS HAPPENED I RESEARCHED SIMILAR INCIDENCES WITH THE SILVERADO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFAULT THAT SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES, SOME YEARS OLDER THAN THIS 2003 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541871

67,880 miles · Apr 28, 2013
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TRUCK EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHEN A CORRODED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DURING AN ATTEMPTED HARD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND APPLYING THE EMER…

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TRUCK EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHEN A CORRODED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DURING AN ATTEMPTED HARD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE TRUCK. FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RUPTURE DRAINED THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF ALL THE BRAKE LINES REVEALED SEVERE CORROSION AND PITTING AT MANY LOCATIONS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE TRUCK. DESPITE HAVING THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ON SEPARATE HYDRAULIC CIRCUITS, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH BRAKING CAPABILITY REMAINING TO SAFELY DRIVE THE TRUCK, EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL AND IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF THE BRAKE LINES IS SUBSTANDARD, POSING A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #10512138

116,000 miles · Feb 4, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD HOOKED TRUCK TO A CAR TRAILER AND STEPPED ON BRAKES TO PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, THERE WAS NO BRAKES AT ALL. UPON EXAMINING I FOUND THAT THREE BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THAT ALL BRAKE LINES AND ALSO THE FUEL LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLA…

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HAD HOOKED TRUCK TO A CAR TRAILER AND STEPPED ON BRAKES TO PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, THERE WAS NO BRAKES AT ALL. UPON EXAMINING I FOUND THAT THREE BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THAT ALL BRAKE LINES AND ALSO THE FUEL LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10497241

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

3

EA11001 · Brake Line Corrosion Failure

Opened Jan 5, 2011 · Closed Apr 8, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

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.