IllustrationCHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON,MECHANIC CANNOT TURN OFF..ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING..
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 reportsBRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED,FOOTPEDAL WENT DOWN FLOOR. WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA.. BRAKE FLUID FOUND LEAKING.HAD TOWED TRUCK ,BRAKE LINES RUSTED THRU AND HAD 4 COMPLETE LINES REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME ..I HAVE OWNED TRUCK SINCE 1999. LAST BRAKE LINE REPLACED IN 2015. THE OTHER ITEM WAS FUEL PUMP FAILED ON THE WAY TO WORK…
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BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED,FOOTPEDAL WENT DOWN FLOOR. WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA.. BRAKE FLUID FOUND LEAKING.HAD TOWED TRUCK ,BRAKE LINES RUSTED THRU AND HAD 4 COMPLETE LINES REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME ..I HAVE OWNED TRUCK SINCE 1999. LAST BRAKE LINE REPLACED IN 2015. THE OTHER ITEM WAS FUEL PUMP FAILED ON THE WAY TO WORK AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START.HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED AT MIDNIGHT AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED.
I HAVE 1999 GMC TRUCK FRAME RUSTED OUT. ONLY HAS 90,000 MILE'S I BELIVE GMC SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THEM.WHY DID TOYOTA HAVE TO RECALL AND GMC IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS.SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE NOW. JAY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE LATCH THAT HELD THE DRIVER SEAT IN PLACE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE LATCH THAT HELD THE DRIVER SEAT IN PLACE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,316.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAS FAILED TO LOCK ON TO THE RETRACTABLE LATCH LEAVING ME AN ILLEGAL DRIVER ON THE ROAD.I NEED YOUR HELP FOR REPAIRS AS I AM DISABLED,PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT AND OR WHERE TO GO.THANK YOU [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(…
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MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAS FAILED TO LOCK ON TO THE RETRACTABLE LATCH LEAVING ME AN ILLEGAL DRIVER ON THE ROAD.I NEED YOUR HELP FOR REPAIRS AS I AM DISABLED,PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT AND OR WHERE TO GO.THANK YOU [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN GOING AROUND LEFT CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL JUMPS TO THE LEFT AND COMES BACK. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO YEARS AND KNOW ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS TRUCK WAS BUILT IN 11/OF 1998.
FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS CORROSION FOUND WHEN HAVING CAB ROCKER PANELS REPLACED AND PREP-REPAINT CAB. BODY SHOP CALLED ASK ME TO STOP BY HAVE A LOOK AND THAT THEY HAD REMOVED THE BED. I WAS SHOCKED AT THE CROSS MEMBER TUBE THAT REAR SHOCK IS MOUNTED TO IS ALMOST CORRODED COMPLETELY AROUND OVER EXAUST MUFFLER. SHOP OWNER INFORMED …
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FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS CORROSION FOUND WHEN HAVING CAB ROCKER PANELS REPLACED AND PREP-REPAINT CAB. BODY SHOP CALLED ASK ME TO STOP BY HAVE A LOOK AND THAT THEY HAD REMOVED THE BED. I WAS SHOCKED AT THE CROSS MEMBER TUBE THAT REAR SHOCK IS MOUNTED TO IS ALMOST CORRODED COMPLETELY AROUND OVER EXAUST MUFFLER. SHOP OWNER INFORMED ME HE DID NOT HAVE ABILITY TO REPLACE CROSS MEMBER. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CORROSION OVER ALL FRAME-STRUCTURE. WE BOUGHT TRUCK NEW, 50% OF ITS TIME WAS PARKED UNDER CAR PORT. NEW CRATE MOTOR ($5000 INSTALLED) HAS 25,000 MILES. CAB REPAIRS AND PAINT $3000 >. I KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED. WE HAVE 7 GM VEHICLES, CANNOT HELP TO WONDER HOW MUCH HIDDEN SUPRISES AHEAD? I REPLACED CORRODED BRAKE LINES 2008 BRAKES WENT OUT IN DRIVEWAY STOPPED WITH PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SUBSTANDARD STEEL PROBLEM. TOYOTA I UNDERSTAND WAS RECALLED ON THIS SAME ISSUE? THE TRUCK STILL DRIVES AND FEELS LIKE THE FIRST RIDE. ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION WELCOME. THANKS'
SUBURBAN IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP OR WILL NOT STOP AT STOP SIGNS. PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR FOR EMERGENCY STOPS ON HIGHWAY AND GOING DOWN HILLS. BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT. ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR MAY PULL VEHICLE VERY HARD TO THE LEFT. NHTSA RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ONLY IN CERTAIN NORTHERN STATES BU…
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SUBURBAN IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP OR WILL NOT STOP AT STOP SIGNS. PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR FOR EMERGENCY STOPS ON HIGHWAY AND GOING DOWN HILLS. BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT. ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS AND/OR MAY PULL VEHICLE VERY HARD TO THE LEFT. NHTSA RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ONLY IN CERTAIN NORTHERN STATES BUT NOT IN WASHINGTON STATE WHERE WE HAVE HIGH CORROSION FROM NATURAL OCEAN AIR AND EXTREME WINTER MOUNTAIN DRIVING WITH DEICERS. THOUGH BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY SERVICED SINCE NEW THIS SAFETY PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IS GETTING WORSE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND COMING TO A YELLOW LIGHT I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL INSTANTLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO PUMP THE PEDAL IN A PANIC AND STILL HAD NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE TRUCK. I DOWNSHIFTED IN TO 1ST GEAR MANUALLY TO USE ENGINE BRAKING AND SLAMMED MY EMERGENCY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK …
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WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND COMING TO A YELLOW LIGHT I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL INSTANTLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO PUMP THE PEDAL IN A PANIC AND STILL HAD NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE TRUCK. I DOWNSHIFTED IN TO 1ST GEAR MANUALLY TO USE ENGINE BRAKING AND SLAMMED MY EMERGENCY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE STOP IN WHICH IN HAD MORE THAN 300 FT TO DO SO AND I PRECEDED THROUGH WHAT HAD BECOME A RED LIGHT. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED VERY LATE AT NIGHT SO THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLE GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I HAD A FRIEND ESCORT ME THE MILE LEFT TO MY HOUSE VIA HIS TRUCK AND TOW STRAP AND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AS MY ONLY BRAKE NOT TO HIT THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK. NOW UPON VISUAL INSPECTION OF ALL MY BRAKE AND FUEL LINES THEY ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AT MULTIPLE SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE FRAME CHANNEL AND REAR AXLE AREA. THE BURST LOCATION HAPPENED JUST AT THE BACK OR DRIVERS DOOR EDGE TO THE FRONT OF THE L/R WHEEL. *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.