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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

726 reports with mileage · 79 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 273 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 195 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports7 fire reports8 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

273 reports
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148,000 miles · Jul 13, 2013
Service Brakes

DRIVING SOUTH ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NEW JERSEY, STOPPED TO GET NJ NUMBERS, TRUCK STOPPED FINE. UPON GETTING BACK INTO TRUCK PLACED IN REVERSE STEPPED ON BRAKE, RIGHT TO THE FLOOR, NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING. WENT BACK INTO STORE BOUGHT SOME BRAKE FLUID FILLED RESERVOIR PUMPED BRAKES BACK UP AND DID GET SOME PEDAL. UPON …

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DRIVING SOUTH ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NEW JERSEY, STOPPED TO GET NJ NUMBERS, TRUCK STOPPED FINE. UPON GETTING BACK INTO TRUCK PLACED IN REVERSE STEPPED ON BRAKE, RIGHT TO THE FLOOR, NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING. WENT BACK INTO STORE BOUGHT SOME BRAKE FLUID FILLED RESERVOIR PUMPED BRAKES BACK UP AND DID GET SOME PEDAL. UPON STARTING TRUCK APPLIED BRAKES, RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CHECKED UNDER TRUCK, FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR, APPEARED TO BE FROM ABOVE THE PUMPKIN. UPON HAVING THE TRUCK TOWED HOME APPROX 30 MILES, NEXT DAY CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE, BRAKE LINE RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH, LEAKING ALL OF EXTRA FLUID OUT ONTO PUMPKIN. I DO BELIEVE IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING NORTH ON THE PARKWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH AND HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES IN ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION, THE AFTERMATH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL FOR SOMEONE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH AND POP WITH OUT ANY WARNING, VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE BRAKE LINES ARE MAJORILY FLAWED, SUCH A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM SHOULD BE STAINLESS STEEL, NOT SOME CHEAP STEEL THAT COULD HAVE PROVEN FATAL. THANK U FOR LISTENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524688

66,000 miles · Jul 9, 2013
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING ALONG ALMOST HOME AND WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I STILL HAD A LITTLE STOPPING POWER SO I SLOWLY DROVE IT ON HOME. I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE LEFT FRONT HAD RUPTURED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED IT BUT ALL OF THE OTHER BRAKE LINES LOOK SEVERELY CORRODED AND LOOK LIKE THEY COULD RUPTURE …

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG ALMOST HOME AND WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I STILL HAD A LITTLE STOPPING POWER SO I SLOWLY DROVE IT ON HOME. I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE LEFT FRONT HAD RUPTURED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED IT BUT ALL OF THE OTHER BRAKE LINES LOOK SEVERELY CORRODED AND LOOK LIKE THEY COULD RUPTURE AT ANYTIME. I HAVEN'T EVER HAD A BRAKE LINE RUST AND RUPTURE BEFORE. I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS COULD CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND IF THE TIMING IS BAD IT COULD CAUSE A DEATH. I'M SURE THAT THE NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED ARE ONLY A FRACTION OF THE INCIDENTS. I LOOKED AT THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2004 FREESTAR AND THEY'RE IN GREAT CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524039

83,359 miles · Jul 2, 2013
Service Brakes

HIT BRAKES AS ATTEMPTED TO STOP AFTER TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. BRAKES FELT SOFT AS BEING APPLIED. APPLY PRESSURE TO STOP, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DID MANGE TO STOP BY SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. AFTER STOPPING LARGE OIL POOL UNDER CAR. BOTH BRAKES LINES TO FRONT ANT REAR BRAKES WERE RUSTED AND HAD RUPTURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522846

68,507 miles · Jun 29, 2013
Service Brakes

I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS BEHIND 2 CARS IN FRONT OF ME. CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY IMMEDIATELY FAILED. SWERVED HARD INTO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID COLLISION. CHECKED THE BRAKE LINES AND THEY ARE CORRODED AND BURST AT THE POINT OF CO…

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I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS BEHIND 2 CARS IN FRONT OF ME. CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY IMMEDIATELY FAILED. SWERVED HARD INTO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID COLLISION. CHECKED THE BRAKE LINES AND THEY ARE CORRODED AND BURST AT THE POINT OF CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522404

81,232 miles · Jun 25, 2013
Service BrakesStructureCrash

IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC FOR APROX 4 MINS AND STOPPING AND STARTING HIT THE BRAKES , PEDDLE GOES TO FLOOR HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE NO BRAKES. AFTER ACCIDENT POLICE OFFICERS NOTICED FLUID COMING FROM UNDER TRUCK, CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE NO BRAKES AT ALL, WHEN ON TOW TRUCK{ FLAT BED} THEY SAW THAT BRAKES LINES …

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IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC FOR APROX 4 MINS AND STOPPING AND STARTING HIT THE BRAKES , PEDDLE GOES TO FLOOR HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE NO BRAKES. AFTER ACCIDENT POLICE OFFICERS NOTICED FLUID COMING FROM UNDER TRUCK, CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE NO BRAKES AT ALL, WHEN ON TOW TRUCK{ FLAT BED} THEY SAW THAT BRAKES LINES THAT RUN ALONG FRAME WERE TOTALLY ROTTED OUT AND POPPED CAUSING THIS ACCIDENT. TRUCK AT THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK GETTING ALL NEW LINES INSTALLED AT THE COST OF 1000.00. ALWAYS BOUGHT A AMERICAN VEHICLE ALL MY LIFE 55YRS BUT WHEN I GET THIS BACK IT WILL BE FOR SALE....NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A CHEVY OR ANY OTHER AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE.....I BEEN A UNION PIPEFITTER 40 YRS 3RD GENERATION,,,,,AND WILL BE SPREADING THE WORD..................... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521731

66,000 miles · Jun 21, 2013
Service Brakes

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED 2,000.00 REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521073

85,000 miles · Jun 9, 2013
Service Brakes

BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PRESSED BRAKE TO STOP AND PEDAL WAS SUDDENLY EXTREMELY SOFT AND WENT VERY FAR DOWN. I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL AT THIS POINT. I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP WHILE ONLY GOING A FEW MILES AN HOUR. I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS EARLIER AND HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO COMPLETELY FAIL, NO …

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BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PRESSED BRAKE TO STOP AND PEDAL WAS SUDDENLY EXTREMELY SOFT AND WENT VERY FAR DOWN. I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL AT THIS POINT. I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP WHILE ONLY GOING A FEW MILES AN HOUR. I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS EARLIER AND HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO COMPLETELY FAIL, NO AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING FROM INSTRUMENTATION AT ALL, AND NO PRIOR SOFT PEDAL OR POOR STOPPING CAPABILITY. I WANT GM TO PAY FOR ALL NEW BRAKE LINES FOR THIS TRUCK NOW! UPON INSPECTION, ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515857

115,000 miles · May 25, 2013
Service Brakes

STOPPED TO GET GAS. AS I WAS PULLING OUT THE LOT, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED TO PUMP BRAKES TO PRESSURIZE. I DECIDED TO PULL OVER. AS I WAS TURNING OFF ROAD TO INVESTIGATE I HEARD A LOUD POP. CHECK BRAKE LIGHT AND AUDIBLE CAME ON. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY ONLY TO DISCOVER BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEAL…

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STOPPED TO GET GAS. AS I WAS PULLING OUT THE LOT, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED TO PUMP BRAKES TO PRESSURIZE. I DECIDED TO PULL OVER. AS I WAS TURNING OFF ROAD TO INVESTIGATE I HEARD A LOUD POP. CHECK BRAKE LIGHT AND AUDIBLE CAME ON. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY ONLY TO DISCOVER BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED ALL BRAKE LINE TUBINGS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. CHEVY HAD FINALLY MADE WISE DECISION TO GO STAINLESS STEEL FOR EXHAUST SYSTEM. PUZZLING WHY THEY DID NOT MAKE SAME DECISION FOR THE BRAKE LINES. BRAKE SYSTEM IS CRITICAL SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD MANDATE HIGHEST SAFETY MEASURES. NOT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM! I WAS FORTUNATE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING STALL AT THE DEALER, I HEARD ANOTHER LOUD POP. AND EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKES, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK TO STOP. IT APPEAR THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH STOPPING POWER TO GET OFF THE ROAD. MUST ADVISE ANYONE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE HOME! NO MATTER HOW CLOSE. I WAS CONSIDERING THIS OPTION. GOOD THING MY GOOD SENSE PREVAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513542

6,000 miles · May 24, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513375

111,000 miles · May 20, 2013
Service Brakes

SLOWING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I NOTICED THE PEDAL DEPRESSING MORE THAN NORMAL. AT LIGHT THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. UNSAFE RIDE HOME WITH ALMOST ZERO BRAKING. LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512817

Official recalls

0

No 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

3

EA11001 · Brake Line Corrosion Failure

Opened Jan 5, 2011 · Closed Apr 8, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t

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.