1999 GMC SIERRA, TWO CARS INFRONT TURNING LEFT, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKES. ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH IN TURN HIT THE CAR TURNING. AS I WAS MAKING SURE NO ONE WAS HURT, I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE ROAD. *KB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
70 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND DECELERATING HE NOTICED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE AND IT ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT HE WA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND DECELERATING HE NOTICED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE AND IT ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT HE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED (70 MPH) MY GRANDSON PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AT AN EXIT AND LOST ALL BUT 1/2 IN OF BRAKE PEDAL. NO ACCIDENT BUT BARELY STOPPED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AND HE IS ONLY 17 YRS OLD AND WAS BADLY SCARED.. REPAIR SHOP CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE TO THE REAR BRAKE CONNECTI…
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WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED (70 MPH) MY GRANDSON PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AT AN EXIT AND LOST ALL BUT 1/2 IN OF BRAKE PEDAL. NO ACCIDENT BUT BARELY STOPPED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AND HE IS ONLY 17 YRS OLD AND WAS BADLY SCARED.. REPAIR SHOP CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE TO THE REAR BRAKE CONNECTION DUE TO BEING RUSTED THROUGH. COST WAS $451.00. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE OTHER 5 BRAKE LINES AT THE ABS MODULE WERE BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA C1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COVERED WITH RUST, CORRODED AND THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA C1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COVERED WITH RUST, CORRODED AND THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,703. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 09/19/11
ON APRIL 15 2010, AS I WAS BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO EXAMINE IT I SAW THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID BADLY DUE TO A BREAK IN THE METAL BRAKE LINE. AGAIN ON 2/27/2011, I WAS STOPPING MY VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE SAME …
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ON APRIL 15 2010, AS I WAS BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO EXAMINE IT I SAW THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID BADLY DUE TO A BREAK IN THE METAL BRAKE LINE. AGAIN ON 2/27/2011, I WAS STOPPING MY VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED. ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS A FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE. LUCKILY IN MY INCIDENTS THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES OR DEATHS, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, ALL THE REST OF MY BRAKE LINES ARE IN VERY POOR CONDITION AT THIS TIME AND WILL ALSO NEED TO BE CHANGED SO I FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TRUCK, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY FAMILY IS WITH ME. I HAVE OWNED TWENTY PLUS VEHICLE IN MY TIME AND EVEN SOME OF THEM WHERE GENERAL MOTORS, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE DETERIORATE THE WAY THAT THIS ONE IS.
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BRAKE LINE BURSTING BECAUSE OF CORROSION ON 1999 GMC TRUCK. *TR
1999 GMC SIERRA TRUCK HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A STOP LIGHT. NO INDICATIONS OF BRAKE PROBLEMS AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW FOR THE LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *TR
SEVERE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES BECAME APPARENT DURING A SUDDEN APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED MULTIPLE BRAKE LINES TO RUPTURE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES SINCE A LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT FRONT LEFT INPUT AND THE ABS TO THE REAR T LINE BLEW SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN REMOVING THE DAMAGED BRAKE…
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SEVERE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES BECAME APPARENT DURING A SUDDEN APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED MULTIPLE BRAKE LINES TO RUPTURE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES SINCE A LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT FRONT LEFT INPUT AND THE ABS TO THE REAR T LINE BLEW SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN REMOVING THE DAMAGED BRAKE LINES THEY LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO PIECES DUE TO CORROSION. DURING THE REPAIR TO THE BRAKE LINES SEVERE CORROSION WAS NOTED ON THE FUEL LINES ALSO.
WHILE I DRIVING MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP,THE BRAKE ACTED VERY SOFT WHEN I WAS COMING TO A STOP ON THE ROADWAY. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT I WAS LOW ON BRAKE FLUID. BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORROSION AND A SMALL HOLE OPENED UP THROW BRAKE FLUID ALL UNDER…
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WHILE I DRIVING MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP,THE BRAKE ACTED VERY SOFT WHEN I WAS COMING TO A STOP ON THE ROADWAY. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT I WAS LOW ON BRAKE FLUID. BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORROSION AND A SMALL HOLE OPENED UP THROW BRAKE FLUID ALL UNDER THE UNDERCARRIAGE IN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TRUCK HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO ADDRESSED SOON, BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF THERE BRAKES. I WAS JUST LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL AND THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT. I THINK THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO GMC TO DO A RECALL ON ALL THERE 1999 GMC TRUCKS. *TR
MY TRUCK WAS PARKED. I STARTED MY TRUCK. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO PUT MY TRUCK IN GEAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I INSPECTED UNDER MY TRUCK, AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AREA ON THE CEMENT. I SAW THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES CONNECTED TO THE ABS ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT …
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MY TRUCK WAS PARKED. I STARTED MY TRUCK. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO PUT MY TRUCK IN GEAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I INSPECTED UNDER MY TRUCK, AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AREA ON THE CEMENT. I SAW THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES CONNECTED TO THE ABS ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, AND ONE OF THEM WAS LEAKING SEVERELY. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED HOME. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT WAS BLINKING TO TELL ME I THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES. THEY WERE WORKING FINE PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. I WILL DOCUMENT THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKE LINES WITH A PICTURE AND BRAKE MECHANIC WITNESSES BEFORE ANY REPAIRS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING A BRAKE REPAIR BUSINESS. *TR
Official recalls
100V122000 · 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
2EA04011 · 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.
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