10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
21 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,453 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #72

Jul 202013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 112,500 miles
While towing my boat I was approaching a stop sign while pressing my brake pedal it went completely to the floor. I was barely able to get out of the way of the other stopped cars at the stop sign I had just enough pressure to stop in the oncoming traffic lane just past the cars in my lane which I was lucky enough to avoid hitting. Thankfully also there was no cars coming in the other direction. I then pulled over and got out of my truck and noticed brake fluid leaking from under my truck under the drivers side door entrance. I then looked under and noticed the rusted lines the fluid was coming from as it was dripping out. This could of been a disaster because if I had made it to the interstate and got on the highway to head home I surely would of not been as lucky. So far my towing cost me $298 to get my truck home and to my mechanic where it sits in their lot until Monday morning. Luckily my fishing partner was not far behind me and saw me pulled over and then pulled over to see what was wrong. He has a truck and towed my boat all the way home for me which was 60 miles. This was by far the scariest event I ever have had in my truck while towing but do realize that it could of been much worst. After reading all the countless issues that most have had with this I cannot imagine why GM has not stepped up to fix the problem through a recall.

- Stratford , CT, USA

problem #71

Jun 072013

Silverado 1500

  • miles
My girlfriend was driving my truck went to pull in to a parking spot when she hit the brakes ABS kicked in and would not stop the truck causing her to hit a parked car with a good amount of damage to the other car the brakes have never giving me problems and now its got no brakes 2002 Chevy Silverado.

- Wayland , OH, USA

problem #70

Jul 112013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 88,000 miles
2002 Chevy Silverado 4X4 ext cab truck was recalled in 2005 for anti lock brake activation at low speeds the dealer cleaned put on anti corrosive material on sensor (after truck was in a accident I got the notice in the mail 3 days later) now 7/11/2013 its happening again, they will not fix it again only once, cost for new hub and sensor I about $700 per side $1,400 total to fix problem, this is a safety issue GM, Chevy should fix not put a band aid on the fix. Also the Chevy dealer said to me its a lifetime warranty on parts and labor wow that's great at my expense. Why didn't they put the lifetime warranty when its new, now I have to pay twice some deal.

- Rollinsford, NH, USA

problem #69

Jun 272013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 111,238 miles
Lost most of my braking as a result of heavy rust on brake lines and other brake parts. Mechanic said this was way more rust than there should of been in these areas.

- St. Charles , MO, USA

problem #68

May 082013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the brakes were applied and the anti lock brake system engaged independently. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was repaired previously under NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 93,000.

- Arnold, MO, USA

problem #67

Jun 212013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 82,766 miles
Went to stop for a red light and the drive side rear brake line blew, I went through the intersection with no brakes. That was a thrill.

- Grand Blanc, MI, USA

problem #66

Jun 252013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 251,100 miles
I was coming to a normal stop at the traffic light, I was slowing down normally then began to press the brake pedal. About half-way of pedal travel, the brake pedal suddenly went all the way down with no resistance and I could not stop my Chevy Silverado 2002. I had to suddenly veer into the next lane to avoid hitting the car that was in front of me that already had stopped at the traffic light. I then had to quickly shift down through the gears to get the truck to slow down, then after the truck had slowed down a lot, I shifted into park to force the truck to come to a stop. After I was able to slowly pull into a parking lot and stop the truck, I existed the truck and looked underneath the wheels and saw brake fluid sprayed all over the driverside front wheel well. The brake line had burst. I took it to the mechanic to fix it and he confirmed that the brake line had burst. He also inspected the brake lines for the other three wheels and recommended all of them get replaced. After doing some research, I have found out that this is a common problem with the Chevy Silverado gmt800 trucks from model years 1999 and up.

- Madison Heights, MI, USA

problem #65

Jun 062011

Silverado 1500

  • miles
Sometimes when I apply the brakes at low speed 5 -10 mph on dry pavement the ABS will start to cycle making the stopping distance extremely long.

- Sherwood, AR, USA

problem #64

Jun 032013

Silverado 1500

  • miles
The emergency brakes have never worked, the pedal goes to the floor and will not hold the truck. I have a 4 wheel drive with an automatic transmission. When on an incline in park the truck will sometimes start to roll down hill.

- Sherwood, AR, USA

problem #63

Jun 132013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
While bleeding brake system after changing rear calipers found a rupture in the brake line on the frame by the front tire. The line was completely rusted and failed. Luckily in the driveway and not the highway.

- Fernandina , FL, USA

problem #62

Jun 062013

Silverado 1500 6-cyl

  • 53,817 miles
I had traveled approximately 1/2 mile from my house when I applied the brakes to slow down. The pedal had barely any pressure as I applied the brake, fortunately I had a little bit of pressure and I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop, by a combination of downshifting and using what little brakes that I had left. The brake warning light on the panel came on at that time. The vehicle was taken to a local shop to have the problem checked out. I was told that my brake lines were completely rusted out and that they all had to be replaced. I was approximately 1/8 of a mile from my entrance to the highway, and I was fortunate that this happened before I got on the highway. I would have been in congested morning traffic traveling at a speed of 60mph. I had no prior warning. I was told by the repair shop that the lines were rusted so bad that it was senseless to try to fix just one section, and that if they did that I would be returning shortly to repair additional parts of the lines. They told me that this was a very labor intensive repair and that it could cost approximately $1000 dollars. I was also told that this was a common problem with many Chevrolet manufactured in the 2000 years. This is a very dangerous situation and their should have been a recall on this issue.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #61

May 202013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 51,700 miles
Leaking fluid found to be brake fluid coming from rust ruptured brake lines, all lines rusted and deemed by dealership to require replacement of lines and front brake calipers.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #60

May 182013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 199,830 miles
Upon requiring an emergency stop from 50 mph approaching a stop light at a busy intersection, one of the brake lines burst. The brake pedal went to the floor. (no brake warning light, no low brake fluid light, and no loss of ABS light). I pumped the brakes and dropped the transmission into 1st gear in hopes of slowing down before a crash. I made the right turn at the intersection, which was up hill and eventually brought the vehicle to a complete stop. I put the truck in park and applied the emergency brake. Fortunately, the light just changed so the intersection was still clear. The vehicle was towed after confirmation of the damaged brake line. Further inspection has revealed that all the steel brake lines are heavily corroded and are in need of replacement. This issue seems pretty frequent with this particular year and model. A weak or poorly designed brake line should be the responsibility of the manufacturer. Proof of fault is indicated in GM's decision to change the brake lines to stainless steel in newer models. If no recall is issued at least a warning should be given to current owners!!!

- Nothbridge, MA, USA

problem #59

Jun 122012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 116,302 miles
My antilock brakes kicked in when I was going 5 mph. I drifted right into a road that I was about to enter. I could not stop the vehicle at low speeds.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #58

May 112013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 124,352 miles
My brake lines rusted through and burst when I used my brakes. Could not keep my truck from moving when stopped at an intersection.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #57

May 122013

Silverado 1500

  • 105,000 miles
Brake pedal went to floor while shifting out of park (luckily).brake line rusted through. All 4 brake lines to the ABS are rusted and all must be replaced. Also parking brake does not work even though all parts have been replaced.

- Milford, CT, USA

problem #56

Nov 052012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Catastrophic front brake failure on interstate highway. No accident or injuries, but repairs included brake lines, calipers and pads due to corrosion of said lines and caliper assemblies. Shop said this is a common occurrence for GM products regardless of age of the vehicle.

- Oregonia, OH, USA

problem #55

Feb 082013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
Service brakes failed due to corroded brake line above rear axle. Park brake failed to slow the vehicle due to the rear brake dustshield being corroded to the point is was completely gone. The lack of a dust shield allowed the park brake shoe and linkage corrode and become inoperative.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #54

Mar 222012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
I was quite fortunate to have been leaving a parking spot and had just left "park" shifted into drive and applied the brake because a pedestrian stepped out. At that time the pedal hit the floor, I steered the truck in the opposite direction from the person, headed for a part of the lot where there were no cars, applied the parking brake, it did'nt work either, so I put it into park. All this and I hadnt applied the gas to the vehicle. Only moments before I parked, I had been traveling on the expressway at 70 mph. When I got out of the truck, all the brake fluid was on the ground. Upon closer investigation, we noticed the brake lines were rotted out completely. We feel lucky that no one was injured or killed. Very angry at Chevrolet.

- Independence, KY, USA

problem #53

Jul 102007

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 46,000 miles
This vehicle, at 46,000 miles had to have all the rotors and brake pads and two calipers replaced because they rusted up and locked up. Had to do it again about 65,000 miles, then had a back caliper seize up and replaced both rotors and one caliper along with new pads. I then had to have all the rotors replaced, both front hubs, one new caliper and pads again at beck Chevrolet a year ago. On my way down to fl this past fall, with about 84,000 on the truck, another caliper seized up and had to replace the caliper, both back rotors and brake pads. Yesterday, 3/27/13, on my way home from town, with 85,000 miles on the truck, the pedal went to the floor and no brakes. Inspection showed a ruptured brake line on the driver's side. My repairman said every brake line is swiss cheese and need to be replaced. This is ridiculous. I've spent several thousand dollars and have replaced brakes 3 times, all rotors, most calipers and two front hubs because of rust. The frame and everything under my truck is rusted very badly. I've owned this truck since 2004, and bought it when it had 26,000 miles on it. It drives beautiful and is like new, but it's going to rot right out from under me. Please help!

- Salt Springs, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »