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2002 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

153 reports with mileage · 13 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 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

Parking Brake complaints

8 reports
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83,000 miles · Jun 6, 2008
Parking Brake

SIMILAR TO NHTSA: 05V161000 MY 2002 GMC SIERRA WITH AUTOMATIC TRANNY EXPERIENCES THE VERY SAME PREMATURE PARKING BRAKE WEAR. WEAR IS UNEVEN AND JUST IN 2 LITTLE PLACES INSTEAD OF EVEN WEAR ON WHOLE SHOE. BRAKE WEARS VERY QUICKLY THEN WILL NOT HOLD PUTTING UNDUE STRESS AND CAUSING FAILURE OF PARKING PAWL IN AUTOMATIC TRANNY. G…

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SIMILAR TO NHTSA: 05V161000 MY 2002 GMC SIERRA WITH AUTOMATIC TRANNY EXPERIENCES THE VERY SAME PREMATURE PARKING BRAKE WEAR. WEAR IS UNEVEN AND JUST IN 2 LITTLE PLACES INSTEAD OF EVEN WEAR ON WHOLE SHOE. BRAKE WEARS VERY QUICKLY THEN WILL NOT HOLD PUTTING UNDUE STRESS AND CAUSING FAILURE OF PARKING PAWL IN AUTOMATIC TRANNY. GM REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. GM WILL NOT FIX MY VEHICLE OR APPLY RECALL SINCE I DO NOT HAVE MANUAL TRANNY. IF ANYTHING, AUTOMATIC TRANNY IS WORSE SINCE IT DAMAGES TRANNY DUE TO STRESS ON PAWL SINCE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKE SHOES WERE REPLACED, THEY WORKED FOR VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. $250 TO REPLACE AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I WOULD BE WASTING MY MONEY BECAUSE THEY WOULD WEAR OUT QUICKLY AGAIN. ODD THAT SHOES WEAR WHEN VEHICLE TYPICALLY IS NOT MOVING WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED OR RELEASED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230138

250 miles · May 10, 2008
Parking Brake

2002 GMC SIERRA WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BOTH THE ABS PROBLEMS THAT HAVE A RECALL ONLY ALONG EAST COAST STATES AND THE PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227223

24,000 miles · Apr 16, 2008
Parking BrakeService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 FOR THE ABS. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ROLL BACK WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED; HOWEVER, IT ROLLS BACK ON LEV…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 FOR THE ABS. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ROLL BACK WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED; HOWEVER, IT ROLLS BACK ON LEVEL GROUND. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM HIMSELF IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE CORRODING, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO PULSATE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT STATE WHETHER THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V161000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,503. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO HIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/19/08

NHTSA ODI #10224676

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2008
Parking Brake

NOTICED THAT PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. (LOOKED ON LINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION BUT NOT FOR AUTOMATIC. ALSO NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN WITH AN AUTOMATIC SINCE PEOPLE PULL TRAILERS AND PARK ON INCLINES SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE…

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NOTICED THAT PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. (LOOKED ON LINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION BUT NOT FOR AUTOMATIC. ALSO NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN WITH AN AUTOMATIC SINCE PEOPLE PULL TRAILERS AND PARK ON INCLINES SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220467

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2007
Parking Brake

COMPLETE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. THE E-BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD ON EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT BY GMC TRUCK OWNERS ON THE INTERNET. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, BUT NOT VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10198011

10,000 miles · May 17, 2007
Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE ON 2002 GMC FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. FIRST TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. SECOND COMPLAINT BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED. THIRD COMPLAINT CAUSE WAS FOUND. THE BRAKE FAILED TO COMPLETELY RELEASE. THE BRAKE WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND OVERHEATED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO R…

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PARKING BRAKE ON 2002 GMC FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. FIRST TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. SECOND COMPLAINT BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED. THIRD COMPLAINT CAUSE WAS FOUND. THE BRAKE FAILED TO COMPLETELY RELEASE. THE BRAKE WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND OVERHEATED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR. THE REAR AXLES NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO OVERHEATING/DAMAGE TO SEALS AND BEARINGS. USE OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH REAR BRAKES LOCKED TRANSFERRED TORQUE TO FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. A WARPED REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS 70,000 MILES. THE PARKING BRAKES DID NOT WORK AGAIN AND NEED REPAIR WITH THE OUTCOME UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10190989

87,000 miles · Mar 8, 2007
Parking Brake

FAILURE OF PARKING BRAKE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA PICKUP. DURING STATE INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND TO BE UNABLE TO HOLD. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ADJUSTMENTS SCREWS ON BOTH REAR EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE FULLY DISENGAGED, SO THIS MEANT THAT THEY HAD BACKED OFF. THEY WERE AGAINST THE STOPS. THEY WERE ADJUSTED BACK UP, BUT THIS WILL MOST LIKELY …

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FAILURE OF PARKING BRAKE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA PICKUP. DURING STATE INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND TO BE UNABLE TO HOLD. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ADJUSTMENTS SCREWS ON BOTH REAR EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE FULLY DISENGAGED, SO THIS MEANT THAT THEY HAD BACKED OFF. THEY WERE AGAINST THE STOPS. THEY WERE ADJUSTED BACK UP, BUT THIS WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM A MECHANIC AND KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE DEATHS IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. THE CAR INSPECTION CENTER WHERE THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED SAID THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THE DEALERS KNOW IS BAD, BUT THEY DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. HE SAID THEY SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF GMC TRUCK THAT THE PARKING BRAKES IS DEFECTIVE. (MANY OF THE PEOPLE ALSO SAY THEY NEVER USE THE PARKING BRAKE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184581

42,000 miles · Mar 8, 2007
Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 2WD 4DR EXT CAB W/ AUTOMATIC TRANS. DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRICTION LININGS DUE TO DEFECT IN RELEASE MECHANISM. HAVE 50K MILES ON VEHICLE & EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES HAVE WORN INTO ROTORS. THE LACK OF A WORKING PARKING BRAKE HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN PARK WHEN ON AN INCLIN…

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PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 2WD 4DR EXT CAB W/ AUTOMATIC TRANS. DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRICTION LININGS DUE TO DEFECT IN RELEASE MECHANISM. HAVE 50K MILES ON VEHICLE & EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES HAVE WORN INTO ROTORS. THE LACK OF A WORKING PARKING BRAKE HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN PARK WHEN ON AN INCLINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS. REFERENCE NHTSA #PE03057, #EA04011.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10184539

Official recalls

1

04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility

Nov 26, 2004

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

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

2

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.