Illustration7 O' CLOCK IN THE MORNING HEADING TO WORK MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO PARKING LOT APPLY THE BRAKES, PEDAL WANT TO THE FLOOR, AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, JUMPING THE CURB CAME TO A STOP, CHECKED UNDERNEATH, OIL LEAKING. CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. . MECHANIC CHECKED THE BRAKES LINES ALL NEED TO BE REPLACE. *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
What owners actually said
158 reportsCOMING TO A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; NO LIGHTS OR INDICATION FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. MANAGED TO TURN ONTO A DIRT SHOULDER AND DOWNSHIFT TO STOP. INSPECTION REVEALED RUSTED THROUGH REAR BRAKE LINE. ALTHOUGH THE DASH BRAKE WARNING LIGH…
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COMING TO A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; NO LIGHTS OR INDICATION FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. MANAGED TO TURN ONTO A DIRT SHOULDER AND DOWNSHIFT TO STOP. INSPECTION REVEALED RUSTED THROUGH REAR BRAKE LINE. ALTHOUGH THE DASH BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE STARTING THE TRUCK, IT GOES OFF AND GIVES NO INDICATION THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW. WHILE REPAIRING THE BRAKE LINES IT WAS NOTICED THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS EXTREMELY RUSTY AND FLAKING. AFTER WIRE-BRUSHING BY HAND,THE FRAME IS SHOWING CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES, UNDER THE CAB, NEAR THE REAR, RIGHT ABOUT WHERE A CROSSMEMBER IS ATTACHED. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH GM'S CLAIM THAT THIS WAS A LIGHTER, STRONGER FRAME ON THIS TRUCK. WE HAVE 2 OLDER TRUCKS WITH NOWHERE NEAR THIS MUCH RUST AND NEITHER HAVE CRACKED. THE DESIGN ALLOWS TOO MUCH CRUD TO ACCUMULATE INSIDE THE LIP OF THE FRAME WHERE IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO WASH OUT. *TR
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
WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE AWAY, APPLIED BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP. NO WARNING ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE AND HAVE TOWED TO REPAIR TO A LOCAL GM DEALER REPAIR FACILITY REPAIRED SECTION OF RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 2010 TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. APPLYING BRAKES FOR A TURN NO BRAKES NO WARNING, W…
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WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE AWAY, APPLIED BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP. NO WARNING ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE AND HAVE TOWED TO REPAIR TO A LOCAL GM DEALER REPAIR FACILITY REPAIRED SECTION OF RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 2010 TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. APPLYING BRAKES FOR A TURN NO BRAKES NO WARNING, WAS ABLE TO AVOID REAR END COLLISION BY GOING STRAIGHT AND USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR CENTER AND HAD TO REPLACE 3 FT OF BRAKE LINE AND AGAIN WAS A RUSTED OUT SECTION OF BREAK LINE I AM SENDING INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THE REPORTS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM FOR GM TRUCKS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 295 I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT COME ON SO I CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T PUSHED IN I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT REST STOP I LOOKED OVER TRUCK ALL SEEMED OK AFTER RESTARTING LIGHT WAS OFF THEN CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AGAIN AS I GOT TO MY EXIT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR SCARY AS HELL BUT …
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WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 295 I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT COME ON SO I CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T PUSHED IN I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT REST STOP I LOOKED OVER TRUCK ALL SEEMED OK AFTER RESTARTING LIGHT WAS OFF THEN CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AGAIN AS I GOT TO MY EXIT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR SCARY AS HELL BUT THE TRUCK DID STOP AS I STEPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN . I PROCEEDED HOME CHECKED BRAKE FLUID NONE AT ALL I ADDED SOME AND COULD SEE AFTER I STARTED AND PUMPED BRAKES THE FLUID WAS SPURTING OUT A LINE ONTO UNDER CARRIAGE I TOOK TO MY TECH HE SAID ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHEVY GMC AND WOULD COST CLOSE TO $1500.00 RIGHT NOW IM UNEMPLOYED AND CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED PLEASE HELP, HELP, HELP! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC K1500 SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC K1500 SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 01/14/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED 9 BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/16/14
THE FRAME IS RUSTED THRU AND IS CRACKING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS??? *TR
I STARTED MY TRUCK TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MONDAY 7-1-2013 BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR..CHECKING THE SYSTEM I FOUND FLUID LEAK UNDER REAR OF TRUCK. LINE RUST COLOR, LEAK, AIR COMING FROM LINE. CALLED MECHANIC. WILL HAVE RESULTS NEXT WEEK. TRUCK HAS TO BE TOWED..IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CRASH...THIS SITUATION…
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I STARTED MY TRUCK TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MONDAY 7-1-2013 BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR..CHECKING THE SYSTEM I FOUND FLUID LEAK UNDER REAR OF TRUCK. LINE RUST COLOR, LEAK, AIR COMING FROM LINE. CALLED MECHANIC. WILL HAVE RESULTS NEXT WEEK. TRUCK HAS TO BE TOWED..IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CRASH...THIS SITUATION NEEDS SERIOUS ATTENTION......I AM BLESSED. WILL UPDATE FROM MECHANIC NEXT WEEK.
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, ALWAYS NOTICED HOW RUSTY THE TRUCK IS UNDERNEATH, AND THE OUTSIDE LOOKS LIKE NEW. WHAT HAD HAPPEN IS A WHOLE IN MY BRAKE LINE .I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICED ABOUT 6 MILLION OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE..DEFINITELY THINK GM SHOULD PAY FOR NEW BRAKE LINE…
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I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, ALWAYS NOTICED HOW RUSTY THE TRUCK IS UNDERNEATH, AND THE OUTSIDE LOOKS LIKE NEW. WHAT HAD HAPPEN IS A WHOLE IN MY BRAKE LINE .I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICED ABOUT 6 MILLION OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE..DEFINITELY THINK GM SHOULD PAY FOR NEW BRAKE LINES, WHY WOULD THEY BUILD A VEHICLE THAT'S NOT SAFE FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS..DON'T THINK I'LL EVER OWN ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *TR
FRAME ROTTED,SUSPENSION ROTTED,FRONT SUSPENSION LOCK TOTALLY ROTTED. *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.