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1999 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

130 reports with mileage · 28 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, Hydraulic. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

70 reports
Clear category filter
60,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED AS THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED AS THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2 DAMAGED LINESWITH UNION WERE REPAIRED. ALL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. UPDATED 1/15/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10597026

192,150 miles · Jun 26, 2012
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO GET NEWSPAPER AND MAIL. I GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK AND APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COASTED UP THE DRIVEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK THERE WAS A TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID. THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AREA, WHERE THE B…

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STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO GET NEWSPAPER AND MAIL. I GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK AND APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COASTED UP THE DRIVEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK THERE WAS A TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID. THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AREA, WHERE THE BRAKE LINE ATTACHED TO THE ABS PUMP. MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10463161

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY TO THE FIRST INTERSECTION THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. I GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND PARKED IT. I THOUGHT THE ANTI-LOCK PART WAS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM. EXPENSIVE AS THAT PART IS I JUST LET THE TRUCK SIT. ONE DAY I LEFT A PIECE OF CARDBOARD UNDER THE TRUCK AND ISOLATED THE LEAK TO TWO RUS…

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UPON LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY TO THE FIRST INTERSECTION THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. I GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND PARKED IT. I THOUGHT THE ANTI-LOCK PART WAS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM. EXPENSIVE AS THAT PART IS I JUST LET THE TRUCK SIT. ONE DAY I LEFT A PIECE OF CARDBOARD UNDER THE TRUCK AND ISOLATED THE LEAK TO TWO RUSTED OUT LINES AT THE PLASTIC CLIP ON THE FRAME. THIS AREA MUST HOLD MOISTURE AND DOESN'T DRY-OUT, ALLOWING IT TO RUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455298

141,084 miles · Jan 4, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS JUST LEAVING THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE , TOW TO GARAGE $65.00 INSTALLED ALL NEW BRAKE LINES FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS PUMP AND FROM ABS PUMP TO EACH WHEELS FLEX LINE COST OF $300.49, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS$10.00,LABOR $500.00 . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442335

144,000 miles · Dec 5, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH AND I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT SO I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND I HEARD A POP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST WENT THRU THE INTERSECTION. I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK AND SAW THAT I WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM THE FRONT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW MY FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AROUND A CORRODE…

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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH AND I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT SO I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND I HEARD A POP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST WENT THRU THE INTERSECTION. I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK AND SAW THAT I WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM THE FRONT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW MY FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AROUND A CORRODED AREA ON A HARD BRAKE LINE ATTACHED THE FRAME RAIL. IT WAS A HARD BRAKE LINE FAILURE NOT A RUBBER LINE LIKE IN THE WHEEL WELL. I CANT BELIEVE THAT A TRUCK THAT IS 12 YEARS OLD HAS A BRAKE LINE RUST THRU, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438568

136,000 miles · Oct 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS DRIVING TO THE DUMP AND THE BRAKES FAILED.. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. ALMOST CRASHED BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. BRAKE FLUID WAS PORING OUT FROM UNDER DRIVERS SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10430359

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS DRIVING HOME AND NOTICED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED IT HAD TO BE PRESSED HARDER TO STOP. ONCE ARRIVING HOME NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. THE BRAKE LINE IS RUSTED, CORRODED AND HAS A BREAK IN THE LINE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429103

148,234 miles · Oct 2, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO START THE TRUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE WINDOW DOWN SO EVERYTIME I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL I HEARD THE PRESSURE OF THE BRAKE FLUID BEING PUSHED OUT THE BROKEN BRAKE LINE. IT COST 350.00 JUST TO G…

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I WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO START THE TRUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE WINDOW DOWN SO EVERYTIME I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL I HEARD THE PRESSURE OF THE BRAKE FLUID BEING PUSHED OUT THE BROKEN BRAKE LINE. IT COST 350.00 JUST TO GET REPAIRED PLUS A TOW. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE LINE BEING CORRODED. IT WAS ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR BRAKE LINES ON MY TRUCK BUT THE MECHANIC SAID THE OTHER ONES LOOK PRETTY BAD ALSO AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428202

94,320 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,320.

NHTSA ODI #10427944

129,994 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

RETURNING HOME TURNED ONTO PROGRESS DR. XENIA, OH. HAD TO MAKE A RAPID STOP (CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME), BRAKES FELT SOFTER, PULLED INTO SIOUX DR. XENIA, OH. TO PICK UP WIFE AND HEAD A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE. DROVE UP SIOUX DR. STOPPED AT THE STOP AND TURNED ONTO MAUMEE DR., WENT TO PUSH ON BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, D…

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RETURNING HOME TURNED ONTO PROGRESS DR. XENIA, OH. HAD TO MAKE A RAPID STOP (CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME), BRAKES FELT SOFTER, PULLED INTO SIOUX DR. XENIA, OH. TO PICK UP WIFE AND HEAD A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE. DROVE UP SIOUX DR. STOPPED AT THE STOP AND TURNED ONTO MAUMEE DR., WENT TO PUSH ON BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, DROVE BACK HOME AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING ON THE DRIVEWAY. FOUND THAT BRAKE LINE NEXT TO FRAME OF TRUCK WAS LEAKING. LATER FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON FRONT DRIVEWAY WHERE I HAD STOP EARLIER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425189

Official recalls

1

00V122000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Apr 27, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS MAY NOT MEET THE NECK EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TRAY INSERT ON THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRAY INSERT CORRECTS THE NONCOMPLIANCE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA04011 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Apr 9, 2004 · Closed May 10, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Parking Brake:conventional

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Parking Brake

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE03057 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 8, 2003 · Closed Apr 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake

ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING BRAKE IS INTENDED TO OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO IMMOBILZE PARKED VEHICLES, AND THAT IN MANY CASES, ACCELERATED PARKING BRAKE LINING WEAR IS CAUSED BY ROUGH USE, VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, AND DRIVING WITH THE PARKING ENGAGED. ODI HAS UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO GATHER FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE USAGE FACTORS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SEVENTEEN REPORTED VEHICLE CRASHES.