NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
158 reports180,000 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
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
3,700 miles · Jan 28, 2012
Seats
THE SEAT LATCHES THAT HOLD THE SEATS IN PLACE WHICH ARE MADE OF PLASTIC BREAK AND THE SEAT SLIDES BACK AND FORTH (ALL THE WAY BACK AND ALL THE WAY FORWARD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL). THE LATCHES ON MY 1999 GMC SIERRA PICK UP TRUCK BROKE IN 2000 WHEN THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 3700 MILES ON IT. GMC CORP. HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND …
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THE SEAT LATCHES THAT HOLD THE SEATS IN PLACE WHICH ARE MADE OF PLASTIC BREAK AND THE SEAT SLIDES BACK AND FORTH (ALL THE WAY BACK AND ALL THE WAY FORWARD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL). THE LATCHES ON MY 1999 GMC SIERRA PICK UP TRUCK BROKE IN 2000 WHEN THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 3700 MILES ON IT. GMC CORP. HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO TALK TO ME ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. IT IS A REALLY BAD SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THEY COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME AND WOULD SLAM YOU FORWARD IF YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES AND BACKWARD WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. I ASK THE DEALER ABOUT FIXING IT BUT THEY REFUSED, SAYING IT WOULD COST $600.00 OR MORE JUST BUY THE FRAME FOR THE SEAT. SO IT HAS BEEN TIED WITH BAILING WIRE EVER SINCE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. IS THERE A RECALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10445691
107,000 miles · Jan 20, 2012
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE SEAT WOULD SLIDE BACK AND FORTH ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE SEAT WOULD SLIDE BACK AND FORTH ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
NHTSA ODI #10444700
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
172,789 miles · Oct 2, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I ONLY NOTICED THE FUEL LEAKING WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. I CLIMBED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FUEL LEAK IS COMING FROM THE RETURN LINE ON THE FRAME UNDER WHERE THE FUEL FILTER IS ATTACHED. THAT SECTION OF THE FU…
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I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I ONLY NOTICED THE FUEL LEAKING WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. I CLIMBED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FUEL LEAK IS COMING FROM THE RETURN LINE ON THE FRAME UNDER WHERE THE FUEL FILTER IS ATTACHED. THAT SECTION OF THE FUEL LINE IS TOTALLY CORRODED AND FUEL IS SLOWLY DRIPPING FROM IT. I AM TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC TOMORROW FOR REPAIR. THE BRAKE LINE RIGHT ABOVE THE FUEL LINE IS ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED. GM REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE ISSUES DUE TO THESE CORRODED FUEL AND BRAKE LINES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10428204
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
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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