IllustrationTHE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR ON THE FRAME ARE ALL RUSTED AND HAVE STARTED TO LEAK FROM EXCESSIVE CORROSION. JUST NOTICED THE LEAK AS THE TRUCK WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE. *TR
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
70–25K
1225–50K
2050–75K
2175–100K
33100–150K
37150K+
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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND SEPARATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND SEPARATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES ON TO A 1999 GMC SIERRA THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, SPEWING BRAKE FLUID ONTO PAVEMENT AND CAUSING NEAR IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL STOPPING ABILITY. THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED WITH EXCESSIVE PRESSURE AND THE SPEED WAS LESS THAN 15 MPH. COULD THERE BE A DEFECT WITH THE PLACING OF THE LINES THAT CAUSES THESE BRAKE…
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UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES ON TO A 1999 GMC SIERRA THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, SPEWING BRAKE FLUID ONTO PAVEMENT AND CAUSING NEAR IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL STOPPING ABILITY. THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED WITH EXCESSIVE PRESSURE AND THE SPEED WAS LESS THAN 15 MPH. COULD THERE BE A DEFECT WITH THE PLACING OF THE LINES THAT CAUSES THESE BRAKE LINES TO RUPTURE? UPON CHECKING WITH FRIENDS AND THE INTERNET IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE WITH THE GMC SIERRAS/SILVERADOS. THE REPAIR WAS QUOTED AT $1900 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE RUPTURED BRAKE LINE AS WELL AS OTHER ASSORTED BRAKE PARTS. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE WITHIN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR INDUSTRY THAT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE WILL DEVELOP PROBLEMS WITH ITS BRAKES. IF I WERE USING ANY SPEED WITH THIS RUPTURE OCCURRED, I AM SURE THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES YET THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BRAKE FL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES YET THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO RUST OF THE BRAKE LINE. SHE STATED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,542 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,636. UPDATED 12/30/10. *LJ UPDATED 04/07/11
IN MARCH OF 2009, THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 BROKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND CHECKED ALL OVER AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED UNDER THE CAB ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THAT WAS WHERE THE LINE BROKE AND BRAKE FLUID WOULD LEAK OUT. I HAD IT FIXED FOR $650 AND ON TUE…
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IN MARCH OF 2009, THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 BROKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND CHECKED ALL OVER AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED UNDER THE CAB ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THAT WAS WHERE THE LINE BROKE AND BRAKE FLUID WOULD LEAK OUT. I HAD IT FIXED FOR $650 AND ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010, THE BRAKE LINE BROKE AGAIN RIGHT AT THE REAR AXLE WHEN I WAS MOVING THE TRUCK IN MY BACKYARD. *TR
I USED MY TRUCK MONDAY AND TUESDAY WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NOBODY HURT ! I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED OUT. STILL WAITING FOR REPAIR AND NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD IT. *TR
APPLIED BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL IS ALL CORRODED AND BLEW OUT. I'VE GOTTEN A C QUOTE OF UP TO $1,200. THE TRUCK WILL SIT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THIS REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTENDED CAB TRUCK. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THREE QUARTERS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTENDED CAB TRUCK. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THREE QUARTERS OF THE BRAKE LINE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,000. UPDATED 9/22/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED. UPDATED 09/24/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL EXPLODED. HE STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE M…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL EXPLODED. HE STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BOTH BRAKE LINES TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS UNIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,686 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,058. UPDATED 08/27/10.*LJ UPDATED 08/30/10*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING FROM UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PROCEEDED UP AN INCLINE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LINE EXPLODED DUE TO CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING FROM UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PROCEEDED UP AN INCLINE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LINE EXPLODED DUE TO CORROSION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
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.