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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

805 reports
114,171 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes

DURING COMMUTE TO WORK ON 22 APRIL 2014, AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AND PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE MAIN CONSOLE CHIMED, SHOWED A MESSAGE TO CHECK BRAKES, AND I WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE BRAKE LEVER TO THE FLOOR. I WAS STILL ABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO REACHING THE STOPLIGHT. I SLOWLY RETURNED HOME (ABOUT A MILE) AND WAS …

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DURING COMMUTE TO WORK ON 22 APRIL 2014, AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AND PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE MAIN CONSOLE CHIMED, SHOWED A MESSAGE TO CHECK BRAKES, AND I WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE BRAKE LEVER TO THE FLOOR. I WAS STILL ABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO REACHING THE STOPLIGHT. I SLOWLY RETURNED HOME (ABOUT A MILE) AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK NEARBY, THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IN DRIVE. WHEN PLACED ON THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE BED. AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANICS STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEHIND THE MASTER CYLINDER. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD ASKED THEM TO INSPECT WHY I SOMETIMES HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THIS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE FUEL TANK (DUE TO CORROSION), AND I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TANK SYSTEM TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610588

84,859 miles · Jul 13, 2014
Service Brakes

GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH A 700 LB LOAD IN THE BACK ON RT. 44. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE PUMPED THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF RT. 44 ONTO A SIDE STREET. WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN STREET THERE WERE LIMITED BRAKES. WHEN SHE CAME UPON OUR STREET…

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GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH A 700 LB LOAD IN THE BACK ON RT. 44. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE PUMPED THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF RT. 44 ONTO A SIDE STREET. WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN STREET THERE WERE LIMITED BRAKES. WHEN SHE CAME UPON OUR STREET SHE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. SHE AGAIN APPLIED THIS METHOD TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. ONCE IN THE DRIVEWAY SHE TOLD ME THERE ARE NO BRAKES IN THE TRUCK. I GOT IN THE TRUCK AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A SPRAYING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT. I GOT OUT AND SAW BRAKE FLUID AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND DRIPPING ON THE GROUND FROM THE BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610189

109,450 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Service Brakes

ON WED, JUNE 25TH APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM I HAD TO STOP QUICKLY DUE A STOP LIGHT CHANGING ON ME AND I FELT MY BRAKE PEDAL GET "SQUISHY" WHEN TRYING TO STOP. I VERIFIED THIS WHEN I TRIED STOPPING AT THE NEXT LIGHT AND THE PEDAL SUNK EVEN FURTHER AND IT TOOK EVEN LONGER TO STOP. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME MY BRAKES WERE ABOUT USELESS…

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ON WED, JUNE 25TH APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM I HAD TO STOP QUICKLY DUE A STOP LIGHT CHANGING ON ME AND I FELT MY BRAKE PEDAL GET "SQUISHY" WHEN TRYING TO STOP. I VERIFIED THIS WHEN I TRIED STOPPING AT THE NEXT LIGHT AND THE PEDAL SUNK EVEN FURTHER AND IT TOOK EVEN LONGER TO STOP. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME MY BRAKES WERE ABOUT USELESS FOR ANY SPEED OVER AN IDLE AS THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARDS WHEN PRESSED. LUCKILY IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WERE VERY FEW CARS ON THE ROAD, SO I DID NOT NEED TO STOP QUICKLY. I THEN LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK AND FOUND BOTH OF THE BRAKE LINES HEAVILY CORRODED/RUSTED IN A SPOT JUST BEHIND MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. I HAD MY WIFE PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE I WAS WATCHING THE LINES AND AT LEAST ONE OF THEM HAD BLOWN OPEN AND WAS SQUIRTING FLUID. I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO GET MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AS IT WAS NOT DRIVE-ABLE. AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE REQUIRED PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED DIRECTLY FROM THE DEALER INCREASING MY REPAIR BILL. AND AFTER TALKING WITH MY MECHANIC, HE STATED THAT WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALER FOR THE PARTS, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED AS THEY HAVE HAD TO DO THESE SAME REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS USING MY TRUCK TO HAUL HER HORSES AROUND AS I DO NOT THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP AT ALL WITH THAT EXTRA WEIGHT BEHIND HER TRAILER BRAKES OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609714

230,000 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

MY SON [XXX] WANTED A 4X4 TRUCK SO THIS GUY [XXX] SAID HIS WAS FOR SALE HE COULD TEST DRIVE IT,WELL THE 4X4 DID NOT WORK ON THE TRUCK THE MINUTE MY SON SHIFTED IT IN TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE THE TIRE ROD AND SOMETHING ELSE,SO MY DAUGHTERS FATHER [XXX] WORKS ON VEHICLES AND SALES THEM TOO. WELL I ASKED [XXX] TO HELP GET MY SONS TRUCK BAC…

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MY SON [XXX] WANTED A 4X4 TRUCK SO THIS GUY [XXX] SAID HIS WAS FOR SALE HE COULD TEST DRIVE IT,WELL THE 4X4 DID NOT WORK ON THE TRUCK THE MINUTE MY SON SHIFTED IT IN TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE THE TIRE ROD AND SOMETHING ELSE,SO MY DAUGHTERS FATHER [XXX] WORKS ON VEHICLES AND SALES THEM TOO. WELL I ASKED [XXX] TO HELP GET MY SONS TRUCK BACK FROM [XXX] AND FIX NICKS TRUCK SO WE COULD HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE WE WERE SHARING ONE VEHICLE. NICK WANTED AND [XXX] WANTED FINALLY [XXX] FIXED [XXX] TRUCK AND WHEN WE GOT MY SON TRUCK BACK IT WAS MAKING A NOISE,SO [XXX] SAID HE THINKS ITS THE FUEL PUMP NO BIG DEAL,I SAID OK. HE GAVE ME AND ESTIMATE TO FIX NICKS TRUCK OF 2000.00, WELL SOMEONE AT [XXX]"S WAS RIPPING ME OFF IT WAS ONLY 600.00 R AROUND THAT AMOUNT. WELL ME AND MY HUSBAND WERE GOING THROUGH A BAD DIVORCE HE HAD JUST SIGN OVER THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION TO ME,AND IT WAS LEFT IN GLOVE BOX MY FAULT,BUT HE FORGED THE DOCUMENTS PLUS CASH A 500.00 CHECK THAT I STOPPED PAYMENT ON. I MADE TO POLICE REPORTS PLUS THERE'S 2 911 CALLS WHERE WE R CHASING HIM BUT THE SPEED WAS GETTING OUT OF HAND I TOLD MY SON TO BACK OFF,WE PAID 1500.00 FOR THE TRUCK OUR LIFE IS WORTH MORE. I GOT THE COMPLAINT NUMBERS COPS DID NOTHING. WENT TO DMV HE TRIED TWICE THERE TO SWITCH IT THEY TURNED HIM DOWN,SO HE WENT TO A TITLE COMPANY IN LAFAYETTE,LA ON JOHNSTON STREET AND GOT IT DONE. PLUS I PAID MY INSURANCE FOR SIX MONTHS AHEAD, I REPORTED IT TO PROGRESSIVE THEY WERE MAILING MY REFUND CHECK,HE STOLE THAT AND APPLIED IT BACK I THINK HE R SOMEONE GOT IN A WRECK AND TRIED TO CLAIM A INSURANCE CLAIM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609625

76,535 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Service Brakes

I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING AND PARKED VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLUID UNDER LEFT REAR AXLE AREA. BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. I DO NOT THINK A TEN YEAR OLD TRUCK SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609515

122,268 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. BRAKE LINE FAIL DO TO RUST. TRUCK'S STOPPING DISTANCE HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AND I WAS LUCKY WASN'T IN TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OCCUR, TIMING WAS A FACTOR FOR THAT. OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF I WAS TOWING MY BOAT AND IN TR…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. BRAKE LINE FAIL DO TO RUST. TRUCK'S STOPPING DISTANCE HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AND I WAS LUCKY WASN'T IN TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OCCUR, TIMING WAS A FACTOR FOR THAT. OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF I WAS TOWING MY BOAT AND IN TRAFFIC. NOTE: I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CHEVROLET TRUCKS FOR OVER 39 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD BRAKE LINE FAIL, ESPECIALLY FOR RUSTING. TRUCK'S LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED BY GOODYEAR BARRY ROAD TIRE & SERVICE, COST OF $181.20. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609454

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2014
Service Brakes

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE LOST MY BRAKES. THANK GOD BOTH TIMES WERE AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS 2ND TIME OCCURRED IN A DRIVE THRU RESTAURANT. AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD JUST LEFT WITH THERE ORDER OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THEM. I THEN DROVE VERY SHORT DISTANCE USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. PLEASE RECALL …

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THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE LOST MY BRAKES. THANK GOD BOTH TIMES WERE AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS 2ND TIME OCCURRED IN A DRIVE THRU RESTAURANT. AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD JUST LEFT WITH THERE ORDER OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THEM. I THEN DROVE VERY SHORT DISTANCE USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. PLEASE RECALL AN FIX THIS PROBLEM. ..ITS THE RIGHT THING FOR GM TO DO. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608884

192,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Service Brakes

DRIVING ON I271 NORTHBOUND, HEADING TO 77N, LEFT LANE OF HIGHWAY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, THE ROAD WAS DRY. I WAS DOING 70 -72 MPH. SPEED LIMIT ON 271 IS 70. DRIVER IN RIGHT LANE SUDDENLY DECIDED TO SWITCH TO LEFT LANE, CUTTING IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES VERY HARD. I AL…

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DRIVING ON I271 NORTHBOUND, HEADING TO 77N, LEFT LANE OF HIGHWAY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, THE ROAD WAS DRY. I WAS DOING 70 -72 MPH. SPEED LIMIT ON 271 IS 70. DRIVER IN RIGHT LANE SUDDENLY DECIDED TO SWITCH TO LEFT LANE, CUTTING IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES VERY HARD. I ALSO HAD TO HIT BRAKES, BUT NOT QUITE AS HARD, AS I HAD SOME SPACE. AS I HIT THE BRAKES, THEY IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY CHOICE I HAD TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO HER, WAS SWERVE LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN, ALL THE WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKES HOPING FOR SOMETHING. BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE TRUCK FROM FISHTAILING IN THE GRASS, STRAIGHTENED OUT, PASSED THE WOMAN WHO I ALMOST REAR ENDED, AND THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT STILL NO BRAKES. I EVENTUALLY GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND COASTED TO A STOP.I WAS VERY LUCKY---THERE WAS ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMING UP WITH SIGNS IN THE MEDIAN,AND TRAFFIC BARRELS IN THE ROAD, AND THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN A MILE OF THAT AREA. HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO FIRESTONE, AND THEY TOLD ME BOTH BRAKE LINES GOING TO THE ABS UNIT BLEW OUT. IF GM WANTS TO SAVE MONEY BY USING CHEAP MATERIAL, IT SHOULD BE ON NON SAFETY RELATED PARTS, NOT SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS BRAKE COMPONENTS. AS THE AVERAGE AGE OF MOST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY IS 10 YRS., CAR MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO MANUFACTURE OR USE PARTS, ESP., PARTS AS BRAKES, THAT WILL LAST A LOT LONGER THAN THAT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608882

214,523 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN I FOUND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. REPAIR MECHANIC SAID BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ARE RUSTED OUT. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608708

171,000 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER TO THE TRANNY, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A DIAGNOSTIC CENTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MOTOR, MY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AS WELL BUT I CANT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 35 MILES AN HOUR IT ACCELERATES SLOWLY GAINING SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608158

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.