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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

29 reports
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153,390 miles · Dec 6, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4X4 PICKUP ON SECONDARY STATE ROUTE. WHILE DESCENDING AN APPROXIMATE 6% GRADE INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN AT BOTTOM SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW FOR THE GRADE AND TURN AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE SERVICE BRAKE MESSAGE CAME UP IN THE DIC AND THE DOOR CHIME SOUNDED. SHE PULL…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4X4 PICKUP ON SECONDARY STATE ROUTE. WHILE DESCENDING AN APPROXIMATE 6% GRADE INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN AT BOTTOM SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW FOR THE GRADE AND TURN AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE SERVICE BRAKE MESSAGE CAME UP IN THE DIC AND THE DOOR CHIME SOUNDED. SHE PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS SHE WAS SHAKEN FROM RIDING OUT THAT HILL AND TURN WITH MINIMAL BRAKES AND CALLED ME. I WENT OUT AND DROVE THE TRUCK BACK TO OUR HOME AND PUT IN THE GARAGE TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM. ONCE UNDER THE TRUCK I FOUND BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND FRAME AREA UNDER THE CAB AND BED OF THE TRUCK. THE SERVICE BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS BLOCK TO THE REAR FRAME POINT WHERE THE BRAKE HOSE TO THE REAR AXLE MOUNTS WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND LEAKING. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ALL BRAKE HARD LINE PLUMBING TO BE IN POOR CONDITION AND ALSO THE FUEL LINES SHOWING HIGH CORROSION. A CALL TO A LOCAL GM PARTS COUNTER REVEALED THAT GM DOES NOT MAKE A REPLACEMENT SET FOR THESE LINES AND THAT A TECHNICIAN WOULD NEED TO FIELD BEND AND MAKE UP EACH LINE. LATER RESEARCH PROVED THIS TO BE WRONG AS GM OFFERS A DEEPLY DISCOUNTED UNADVERTISED LINE SET FROM AC DELCO. IN RESEARCHING FINDING PARTS TO REPAIR, I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET/GMC TRUCKS FROM ABOUT 1999 UP ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS TRUCK OWNER FORUMS ONLINE. DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AT SLOW SPEED, BRAKING WAS VERY MINIMAL WITH THE REAR BRAKE CIRCUIT OUT,AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF POOR BRAKE OPERATION, SO THEREFORE IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES WITH THE POTENTIAL OF INJURY OR EVEN DEATH WHEN ALL THE FACTORS COMBINE POORLY, AND AT THE LEAST, GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE, IF NOT RECALL AND REPAIR THOSE EFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555068

137,882 miles · Nov 11, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesStructure

WELL ABOUT MID 2012 THE BRAKE LINES JUST RUST OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK AND THE REAR. MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK AND LOST ALL THE PEDAL PRESSURE. THANK GOD SHE WAS GOING UP IN THE PARKING GARAGE. RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO REPLACE LINE FUEL LINES. IT JUST STARTED POURING GAS OUT AFTER I JUST GOT TO WORK. I NURSED I…

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WELL ABOUT MID 2012 THE BRAKE LINES JUST RUST OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK AND THE REAR. MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK AND LOST ALL THE PEDAL PRESSURE. THANK GOD SHE WAS GOING UP IN THE PARKING GARAGE. RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO REPLACE LINE FUEL LINES. IT JUST STARTED POURING GAS OUT AFTER I JUST GOT TO WORK. I NURSED IT HOME AND MADE IT. THE RETURN LINE IS JUST ALL RUSTED OUT. THEN I NOTICED ALL THREE LINES WHERE ALL RUSTED OUT. IT'S TO BAD NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET I CAN'T AFFORD THIS! IT IS WELL KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD BY MANY THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. ALSO TO TOP THAT THE FRAME LOOKS MORE RUSTED THAN THE 1989 DODGE I JUST GOT RIDE OF. I WASH UNDER THE TRUCK THROUGH OUT WINTER AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SO BAD ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551832

119,000 miles · Nov 24, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WENT INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND IDLE SPEED. IT TOOK SEVERAL RESTARTS BEFORE IT CLEARED AND WOULD RUN CORRECTLY. ABOUT THE TIME I MADE IT HOME IT WENT BACK INTO THIS MODE AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING…

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MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WENT INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND IDLE SPEED. IT TOOK SEVERAL RESTARTS BEFORE IT CLEARED AND WOULD RUN CORRECTLY. ABOUT THE TIME I MADE IT HOME IT WENT BACK INTO THIS MODE AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437219

12,000 miles · Jun 8, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINTS SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 OWNER ALAN GOOLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273129

81,000 miles · Apr 14, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

GM SENT OUT A LETTER TELLING ITS CUSTOMERS THAT IF YOU HAD A SILVERADO (MINE IS A 2003) THAT HAS SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS IT COULD NBE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE IF IT HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILE OR 7 YEARS. MY TRUCK STARTED HAVING SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS WHEN IT HIT 81,000, SO EVEN THOUGH ITS 5 YEARS OLD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED? …

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GM SENT OUT A LETTER TELLING ITS CUSTOMERS THAT IF YOU HAD A SILVERADO (MINE IS A 2003) THAT HAS SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS IT COULD NBE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE IF IT HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILE OR 7 YEARS. MY TRUCK STARTED HAVING SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS WHEN IT HIT 81,000, SO EVEN THOUGH ITS 5 YEARS OLD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED? ITS NOT LIKE ITS A SPEEDOMETER CABLE, ITS THE WHOLE CLUSTER WHICH IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE. I THINK GM NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224501

58,000 miles · Jul 28, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO SPEEDOMETER BEGAN ACTING ERRATIC IN JANUARY OF 2007 WITH SPEEDS AT A STOP RANGING FROM 50-120 MILES PER HOUR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER IS USUALLY INCORRECT AND IN VARYING DEGREES OF INACCURACY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197738

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ON MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500

NHTSA ODI #10192679

51,850 miles · May 29, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2003 SILVERADO LS HALF TON PICK UP TRUCK. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS RETURNING FROM FT. WORTH, TX AND HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 67MPH. I WAS STOPPED AND TOLD THAT I WAS CLOCKED AT 85MPH. AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, THE OFFICER ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. APPARENTLY, WHILE THE CRUISE CONT…

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I OWN A 2003 SILVERADO LS HALF TON PICK UP TRUCK. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS RETURNING FROM FT. WORTH, TX AND HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 67MPH. I WAS STOPPED AND TOLD THAT I WAS CLOCKED AT 85MPH. AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, THE OFFICER ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. APPARENTLY, WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 67, THE SPEED HAD CREPT UP TO 85MPH. I DID NOT DRIVE MY TRUCK SUNDAY OR MONDAY, BUT WHEN I LEFT TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TUESDAY MORNING, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS WORKING FINE. MY MECHANIC CHECKED FOR ANY CODES AND IT TURNED UP AN IP CODE WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. CONSIDERING IT WOULD COST ABOUT $600.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE SOMETHING REPLACED THAT IS NOW WORKING, I ELECTED TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN I TRUST THIS NOW? THIS CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE IF I AM ISSUED A CITATION, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. SOMEONE CAN UNKNOWINGLY BE GOING THAT FAST IS A VERY BIG LIABILITY TO YOUR COMPANY AND TO MY LIFE. IF THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, THESE IP MODULES NEED TO BE RECALLED, THEY ARE A HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10191938

56,799 miles · May 8, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2003 C1500 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT. ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT POSTED SPEEDS THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE FROM APPROXIMATE 65 MPH, CORRECT READOUT, TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 90-120 MPH. AFTER SITTING FOR 12 TO 36 HOURS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL R…

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I OWN A 2003 C1500 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT. ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT POSTED SPEEDS THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE FROM APPROXIMATE 65 MPH, CORRECT READOUT, TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 90-120 MPH. AFTER SITTING FOR 12 TO 36 HOURS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL READ CORRECTLY. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY GM. THIS PROBLEM WAS SO COMMON THAT I HAVE SEEN IT DISCUSSED ON THE NATIONAL NEWS SHOWS TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190141

27,800 miles · May 1, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED TO 120 MPH. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. HE DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND PARKED THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED TO 120 MPH. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. HE DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR TWENTY MINUTES. HE THEN REHOOKED THE CABLE AND THE SPEEDOMETER RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT HAD TO PERFORM THIS ROUTINE EACH TIME THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 120 MPH. FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE HE DISCOVERED THAT THISWAS AN ONGOING FAILURE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 28,144, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,800.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10189345

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.