IllustrationHad a front end collision going 65 miles per hour. Air bag never deployed
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 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
340–25K
4925–50K
7950–75K
10275–100K
124100–150K
55150K+
443 reports with mileage · 66 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. Review the 184 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
45 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
14 reportsThe contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the airbag warning light illuminated. The independent mechanic was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diag…
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The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the airbag warning light illuminated. The independent mechanic was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 143,725.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT WAS MAKING A LEFT, THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER PROCEEDED TO HIT A THIRD VEHICLE THAT WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE OTHER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT WAS MAKING A LEFT, THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER PROCEEDED TO HIT A THIRD VEHICLE THAT WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS FOUND AT FAULT BY THE POLICE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER INJURIES AT THE FACE, ARM, AND LEFT WRIST. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED TO FULLY DEPLOY AND CAUSED THE PASSENGERS HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE STOMACH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED TO BOTH INJURED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT TSB SEAT 10-08-50-003B DESCRIBES THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LOOSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LOOSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS AND INJURIES TO HER RIBS, STERNUM, AND PELVIC. THE INJURIES WERE FATAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR *BF*JB*DT MEDICAL RECORD XXXXXXXXXXXX CERTIFICATION OF TITLE NO XXXXXXXXXXXX ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN IT WENT OFF THE ROAD, DOWN A SHORT EMBANKMENT, HIT AT LEAST 2 TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE COLLISION WAS A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIRBAG, HOWEVER, DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIEENT.
DRIVING ON ROADWAY AND HIT A CONCRETE MAIL BOX AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY HAD SURGERY ON MY LEFT ARM BROKEN LEFT LEG FIBULA HAD A BOWEL BLOCKAGE HIT A ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION MAIL BOX MADE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS AND REBAR AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY
I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A 35MPH ZONE. THE BRAKES INITIALLY WORKED AND THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD FEEL THE ABS ENGAGE BUT NOT STOP HITTING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I COULD SMELL THE BRAKE FLUID AND OBSERVED FLUID LEA…
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I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A 35MPH ZONE. THE BRAKES INITIALLY WORKED AND THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD FEEL THE ABS ENGAGE BUT NOT STOP HITTING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I COULD SMELL THE BRAKE FLUID AND OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING FROM MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURES DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
AFTER EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF I264 IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA I SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHED THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. UPON APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL NO RESISTANCE WAS NOTED AND THE SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND NEGLIGIBLE. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. BOTH CARS INVOLV…
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AFTER EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF I264 IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA I SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHED THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. UPON APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL NO RESISTANCE WAS NOTED AND THE SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND NEGLIGIBLE. I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. BOTH CARS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN OUT OF TRAFFIC. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE TRUCK FRAME AT THE FORWARD HINGE OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIPPING FLUID WAS BRAKE FLUID. I SUSPECT A RUPTURED BRAKE FLUID LINE OR TUBE HAD RUPTURED WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING GIVEN BY THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER TO WARN OF LOW BRAKE FLUID BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR WAS STILL AT THE NORMAL LEVEL. I BELIEVE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS ACCELERATED DUE TO THE USE OF SALT TREATMENTS ON THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER SNOW STORMS THAT HAVE FALLEN IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AND LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. ALSO THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THESE ARE TWO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES INCURRED IN ONCE INCIDENT TO A TRUCK WHICH HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND 12 YEARS OLD. *TR
ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 WHILE DRIVING A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 PICKUP MY HUSBAND RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIS TRUCK CRASHED IN A RAVINE. HIS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING HIM A SEVERE BRAIN INJURY KNOWN AS A DAI. HE SPENT 84 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO LEARN TO DO EVERYTHING AGAIN. HE MAY NEVER FULLY RECOVER FROM THIS AC…
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ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 WHILE DRIVING A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 PICKUP MY HUSBAND RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIS TRUCK CRASHED IN A RAVINE. HIS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING HIM A SEVERE BRAIN INJURY KNOWN AS A DAI. HE SPENT 84 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO LEARN TO DO EVERYTHING AGAIN. HE MAY NEVER FULLY RECOVER FROM THIS ACCIDENT COMPLETELY. HAD HIS AIRBAG DEPLOYED I BELIEVE HIS INJURY WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN NEARLY AS SERIOUS. HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.