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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
54,110 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM CHARLESTON SC ON HWY 526 GOING TO ISSLE OF PALMS SC WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME,AND THE BRAKES DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT BY THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I STOPPED AND SAW THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS OUT OF FLUID. I REFILLED THE TANK AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE BRAKES WERE STILL …

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I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM CHARLESTON SC ON HWY 526 GOING TO ISSLE OF PALMS SC WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME,AND THE BRAKES DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT BY THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I STOPPED AND SAW THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS OUT OF FLUID. I REFILLED THE TANK AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE BRAKES WERE STILL SPONGIE, AND WHEN I GOT HOME BY DRIVING A LOT SLOWER. I MADE IT HOME AND FOUND OUT,THE BRAKE LINE GOING TO THE PASSENGER WHEEL WAS CORODED AND RUPTURED,MAKING IT TO LEAK AND AFFECT THE STOPPING ABILITY OF THE VECHILE. IT WAS GOOD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10464025

100,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION FROM A MECHANIC, IT WAS NOTED THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED (ONE WAS ROTTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE LINE). WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE GAS LINE AND CALIPER HAD SEVERE ROTTING. UPON MY RESEARCH, THI…

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UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION FROM A MECHANIC, IT WAS NOTED THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED (ONE WAS ROTTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE LINE). WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE GAS LINE AND CALIPER HAD SEVERE ROTTING. UPON MY RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TRUCKS. I HOPE THIS WILL BE RESOLVED SO ADDITIONAL CHEVROLET OWNERS DO NOT HAVE SEVERE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THESE ISSUES. MY HUSBAND AND 4 YEAR OLD SON HAD TO WALK QUITE A FEW MILES IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HOPE MY COMPLAINT WILL HELP FURTHER THE INVESTIGATION. *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464021

90,000 miles · Jun 26, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ODI #10463114

84,400 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Fuel/propulsion System

AN ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICING DEALER DIAGNOSED RUSTED THROUGH FUEL LINES, ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462987

56,454 miles · Jun 18, 2012
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WAS ALMOST HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVEWAY. UNDER THE TRUCK THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING OUT AND THE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ALL MY BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY ARE RUSTED EVERY WHERE. THE FRAME ALSO HAS …

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WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WAS ALMOST HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVEWAY. UNDER THE TRUCK THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING OUT AND THE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ALL MY BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY ARE RUSTED EVERY WHERE. THE FRAME ALSO HAS RUST EVERY WHERE. I AM TAKING PICTURES OF UNDER THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462095

56,232 miles · Jun 14, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY RESIDENCE SO I DROVE THE TRUCK BACK HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE …

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY RESIDENCE SO I DROVE THE TRUCK BACK HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FLUID WAS LOW. I REFILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HAD MY SON PUMP THE BRAKES AS I WAS UNDER THE TRUCK LOOKING FOR ANY VISIBLE FLUID LEAKS. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED NEAR THE FRAME RAIL. AFTER REPAIRING THE BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT OF RUPTURE WE RE-FILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BEGAN TO BLEED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AGAIN AT A POINT UNDER THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10461751

4,500 miles · Jun 9, 2012
Service Brakes

SINCE DAY 1 WITH THIS VEHICLE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN NOTICEABLY WEAK. IN EMERGENCY STOP SITUATIONS OR NEAR EMERGENCY STOP SITUATIONS REQUIRING A QUICK STOP WHEN I AM STANDING WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THIS VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND AS EXPECTED. IT'S AS IF ONLY HALF THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AS THE VEHICLE EASES TO A STO…

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SINCE DAY 1 WITH THIS VEHICLE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN NOTICEABLY WEAK. IN EMERGENCY STOP SITUATIONS OR NEAR EMERGENCY STOP SITUATIONS REQUIRING A QUICK STOP WHEN I AM STANDING WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THIS VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND AS EXPECTED. IT'S AS IF ONLY HALF THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AS THE VEHICLE EASES TO A STOP ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN NORMAL BRAKING. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10461087

54,683 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Service Brakes

MY WIFE AND I WERE COMMUTING TO WORK THE MORNING OF 4/6/2012. A CAR IN FRONT OF US PUT THEIR BLINKER ON TO TURN LEFT...I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE BRAKES FAILED!! THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND WITH THE LOW MILES OF THE TRUCK AND BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER I KNEW THAT PROPER MAINTENAN…

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MY WIFE AND I WERE COMMUTING TO WORK THE MORNING OF 4/6/2012. A CAR IN FRONT OF US PUT THEIR BLINKER ON TO TURN LEFT...I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE BRAKES FAILED!! THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND WITH THE LOW MILES OF THE TRUCK AND BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER I KNEW THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DONE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO BARELY MISS HITTING THIS VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 45MPH. IF THE CAR HAD TO HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WOULD HAVE NO DOUBT PLOWED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR WITH MORE THAN LIKELY RESULTING IN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES. AFTER THE INCIDENT AND TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE GARAGE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS SOMEWHAT BECOMING A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH CERTAIN GM VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2003. THIS MUST BE MADE PUBLIC BEFORE MORE INCIDENTS HAPPEN RESULTING IN INJURIES AND FATALITIES TAKING PLACE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460854

36,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Service Brakes

AS I APPROACHED A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION BETWEEN TWO HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS, I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AS USUAL. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER CAR APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISIO…

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AS I APPROACHED A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION BETWEEN TWO HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS, I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AS USUAL. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER CAR APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION AS I APPLIED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. BUT IT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST GM DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE BRAKE LININGS WERE CORRODED AND RUSTED THROUGH. WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED, I FOUND MANY DOZENS OF EXAMPLES. (SEE LINK BELOW) THE USE OF AN INFERIOR ALLOY INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THE BRAKE LINES HAS RESULTED IN CORROSION AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS, ESPECIALLY IN STATES LIKE NJ SUBJECT TO WINTER CONDITIONS. THIS BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA., BUT NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED. OWNERS OF MILLIONS OF GM VEHICLES ARE AT SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY AND DEATH FROM THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW. RECALL NOTICES SHOULD BE SENT TO OWNERS AND GM SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS IN THE INTEREST OF THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. HTTP://TRUCKS.ABOUT.COM/B/2011/09/23/NHTSAS-ONGOING-INVESTIGATION-OF-GM-TRUCK-BRAKE-LINE-CORROSION.HTM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460830

120,000 miles · May 31, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT. STARTED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I LIVED IN INDIANA FOR 8 YEARS OF OWNING THE TRUCK. I HAVE LIVED IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. ALL LINES FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ABS MODULATOR ARE RUSTED. THE REAR LINE IS OK. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY RUNNING THE LI…

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BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT. STARTED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I LIVED IN INDIANA FOR 8 YEARS OF OWNING THE TRUCK. I HAVE LIVED IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. ALL LINES FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ABS MODULATOR ARE RUSTED. THE REAR LINE IS OK. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY RUNNING THE LINES WHERE THEY ARE. THE FUEL LINES APPEAR TO HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT YET FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460181

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.