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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

Structure complaints

9 reports
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66,030 miles · Jul 31, 2018
Structure

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK A FEW MONTHS AGO. WITHIN A WEEK I HAD A CO WORKER POINT OUT THE BED WAS LEANING TOWARD THE CAB. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE GOT UNDER THE TRUCK TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE NOTICED ALOT OF RUST. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE HOW TO FIX IT AND FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DECIDED TO GE…

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I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK A FEW MONTHS AGO. WITHIN A WEEK I HAD A CO WORKER POINT OUT THE BED WAS LEANING TOWARD THE CAB. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE GOT UNDER THE TRUCK TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE NOTICED ALOT OF RUST. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE HOW TO FIX IT AND FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DECIDED TO GET SOME SHEET METAL AND WELD IT TO THE FRAME. I THEN ASKED MY BOSS WHO OWNS A WELDER IF HE COULD HELP ME WITH IT. HE SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING LEFT TO WELD TO. THEN THE TRUCK STARTED NOT GOING INTO PARK. AND TO START IT YOU'D HAVE TO START IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT WOULD NOT STAY IN PARK, IT WOULD ROLL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NO LONGER WORKED. I THEN HAD MY PARENTS TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPAIR IT. BOTH BODY SHOPS SAID IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED REPLACED. ONE SHOP SAID THAT THE PARKING ISSUE COULD BE FROM THE FRAME BENDING, BUT DID NOT KNOW WITHOUT GETTING INTO THAT. THEY ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. I FINANCED THIS TRUCK FOR $5500 AND NOW I'M PAYING PAYMENTS ON A TRUCK I CAN'T EVEN USE.

NHTSA ODI #11114941

60,000 miles · Jan 14, 2017
Service BrakesStructure

BRAKE LINES RUSTED , ABS FAILURE ,GAS LINES RUSTED, TRANS COOLING LINES RUSTED. THESE WERE ALL FAILURES THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. NOW FRAME RUSTED AND CRACKED . TRUCK BASICALLY SHOT .

NHTSA ODI #10945232

172,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Structure

FRAME CROSS MEMBER BEHIND THE CAB IS RUSTED THROUGH. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES IN "SALT" STATES AND NOT HAD THE FRAME RUST OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A "WEAR ITEM". THIS CAN LEAD TO A FAILURE WHEREBY THE FUEL TANK FALLS DOWN LEADING TO A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. THIS WAS FOUND DURING A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LINE (3RD SET) ASSEM…

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FRAME CROSS MEMBER BEHIND THE CAB IS RUSTED THROUGH. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES IN "SALT" STATES AND NOT HAD THE FRAME RUST OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A "WEAR ITEM". THIS CAN LEAD TO A FAILURE WHEREBY THE FUEL TANK FALLS DOWN LEADING TO A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. THIS WAS FOUND DURING A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LINE (3RD SET) ASSEMBLY AND REMOVAL OF THE TRUCK BED.

NHTSA ODI #10918981

200,000 miles · Nov 6, 2013
Structure

THE FRAME IS RUSTED THRU AND IS CRACKING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551070

120,000 miles · Jun 11, 2013
Power TrainStructureSuspension

FRAME ROTTED,SUSPENSION ROTTED,FRONT SUSPENSION LOCK TOTALLY ROTTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519370

180,000 miles · Apr 28, 2012
StructureSuspension

I HAVE SEVERE FRAME RUST TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME HAS A CRACK HALFWAY AROUND IT NEAR THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE FACTORY MOUNTED TOW HITCH LITERALLY BROKE COMPLETELY OFF OF THE FRAME DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST THAT WAS BUILT UP AROUND THE WELDS WHILE I WAS TOWING MY CAMPER, LUCKILY I HAD JUST MADE IT HOME FROM A TRIP FROM CAMPIN…

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I HAVE SEVERE FRAME RUST TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME HAS A CRACK HALFWAY AROUND IT NEAR THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE FACTORY MOUNTED TOW HITCH LITERALLY BROKE COMPLETELY OFF OF THE FRAME DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST THAT WAS BUILT UP AROUND THE WELDS WHILE I WAS TOWING MY CAMPER, LUCKILY I HAD JUST MADE IT HOME FROM A TRIP FROM CAMPING WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I CAN LITERALLY PEEL OFF 1/8" THICK PIECES OF RUST AT A TIME, THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER OPERABLE DUE TO THE SAFETY ASPECT, I HAVE NEVER SEEN RUST LIKE THIS ON ANY VEHICLE, EVEN ONES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE OCEAN AND SALT, AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES WITH THESE PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR TRUCKS RANGING FROM 1999-CURRENT I HAVE DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT, MAYBE IF YOUR ADMINISTRATION GETS ENOUGH OF THESE COMPLAINTS SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY GM WILL DO SOMETHING TO COMPENSATE SO MANY OF THEIR DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMERS OR BETTER YET FIX THE ISSUE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM TRUCK I PURCHASE DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE AND AFTER READING 100'S OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE GM DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE THEY JUST GIVE THE RUN AROUND JUST LIKE WHEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLES IN THE PAST UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456746

150,000 miles · Sep 27, 2011
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THE TAILGATE WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE HINGE. ONE OF THE CABLES THAT HELD THE LIFT GATE UP WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THE TAILGATE WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE HINGE. ONE OF THE CABLES THAT HELD THE LIFT GATE UP WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V066000, STRUCTURE BODY, TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10427555

90,000 miles · Feb 22, 2011
Structure

'99 GMC SIERRA RUST ISSUES. ON BOTH SIDES, THE CAB CORNERS AND KICKER PANELS ARE HAVE ROTTED AWAY. WHEEL WELLS ARE JUST AS BAD. THIS IS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR OF TRUCKS IN MANY STATES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384066

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Structure

VEHICLE HAS CRACKS ON EITHER SIDE. CONSUMER THINKS IT IS BETWEEN EXTENDED CAB AND SHORT PICK UP BED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882654

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.