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 #52

Jul 282012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 19,000 miles
Total brake failure due to brakelines rusted out, had to replace all brakelines. Powerplant company truck.

- Rising Sun, MD, USA

problem #51

Mar 172013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 171,000 miles
I backed down my driveway proceeded down pudding street to get on taconic parkway while drive down single line road approached a curve going down a grade tried to slow down from 40 mph pedal went to floor I put truck in low gear and was able to stop using parking brake while holding release handle to bring to stop at bottom of grade. Crawled under truck brake rusted thru under driver are location attached to frame rail.

- Carmel, NY, USA

problem #50

Oct 082012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
I was driving my 2002 Silverado on a narrow two lane road with a few steep grades and my brakes went to the floor on one of the down grades. I pumped the brakes but nothing happened. Luckily, I had enough time to react and use the emergency brake to get stopped at the bottom of the grade before running through the stop sign at the T intersection and possibly over the embankment directly across from me. Once I got home I realized that all the lines running along the frame to the ABS box were corroded as well as the ones going to the front calipers. Once I started researching this I found out that it was a known problem. Also, one that just about everone that I know with a Silverado around that same year has had. I'm just glad that my wife or my 16 year old step-daughter wasn't driving when this happened!

- Etters, PA, USA

problem #49

Feb 282013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 148,845 miles
While exiting freeway, on "off ramp" removed foot from gas pedal to start braking and pedal went to floor. Literally stopped two (2) feet from rear of already stopped car. Upon underneath inspection found leaking brake fluid at rear, severely corroded brake line.

- Lyndhurst, OH, USA

problem #48

Aug 272012

Silverado 1500

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the brakes failed and the contact was unable to decelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and was informed that the brake line had blown. The contact was also informed that all the brake lines appeared to be decaying. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 63,000.

- Arlington, MA, USA

problem #47

Feb 102009

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 124,000 miles
Brake line ruptured. Mechanic said it had rusted through. This happen in 2009 and again today 2/23/2013.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #46

Feb 122013

Silverado 1500 4WD 8-cyl Diesel

  • 109,000 miles
I was traveling southbound on ct. Rte. 8 at approx 6am at 55 miles per hour. State maintenance vehicles had partially obstructed the road as I rounded the bend approaching the trumbull town line this in turn caused an abrupt halt of traffic. I applied my brakes rather hard which did slow the vehicle but I still had to swerve into the breakdown lane in order to avoid a collision when the brake pedal went to the floor. Upon investigation I had found that the steel hard line running along the frame rail for the rear brakes was badly corroded and had bust. The rest of the steel lines which all run to and from the ABS pump are also in bad shape. It is my opinion these lines be made from stainless steel in the interest of safety. After all they make most modern exhaust in stainless and that is not as important as stopping your vehicle!!!

- Southington, CT, USA

problem #45

Jul 132011

Silverado 1500

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 3 mph, he depressed the brakes and the brakes failed to respond. The contact mentioned the emergency brakes were used in order to stop the vehicle. Also, there was brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was 60,000.

- Wallingford, CT, USA

problem #44

Jan 132013

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 175,563 miles
I was driving my 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 through a parking lot and another vehicle backed out without looking. I hit my brakes to stop and I heard a little pop and my pedal went to the floor. Luckily I hit the parking brake which stopped me which kept me from hitting the car that pulled out in front of me. I drove my vehicle home using the parking brake to stop when needed. After locating the leak, I noticed all the lines were so badly corroded, I'm going to have to replace all lines to get the right one. I have to take it to a shop because each line has to be bent in specific spots. Why GM doesn't sell pre bent lines is unbelievable. This is an expensive job costing me @ $950 which is absurd. I could do it myself if I was able to get the actual parts needed. I guess GM will still find a way to get more money from you even after you buy one of their over priced vehicles...! terrible shame..

- Ironton, OH, USA

problem #43

Dec 142012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 112,000 miles
During an unexpected stop situation, my brakes stopped working normally. The ABS system was going on and off. My pick up would not stop. Fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic and I was able to drive in the oncoming lane avoiding the vehicle in front of me and there was no accident. I took the vehicle to my repair shop and the technician showed me that the brakelines were rusting out and in two spots the lines had ruptured, probably during the event described above. Brake fluid was leaking from the lines in two spots.

- Xenia, OH, USA

problem #42

Dec 072012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 82,457 miles
Took truck in for state inspection, truck failed inspection due to rusted brake lines, power steering pump leaking, dealer said it would be $1228.43 to $1420.99 to just fixed the brake lines all lines needed replaced and calipers screws. Power steering pump cost $535 to replace. Poor quality, high cost to fix and lack of safety on GM part for not covering rubber coating or using stainless steel lines to protect our family very discouraged with service tech said these are the prices. What happened to our safety. Brake lines and gas lines should not be made of steel that can corrode and rust out and break. Power steering pump with these few miles should not have gone out. My 1988 Chevy truck never had these problems. There needs to be a recall.

- Rollinsford, NH, USA

problem #41

Dec 052012

Silverado 1500

  • 181,000 miles
Corroded fuel and brake lines resulting in perforation of metal lines and fuel and brake fluid leaks.

- Copley, OH, USA

problem #40

Oct 082012

Silverado 1500

  • 63,310 miles
Server corrosion of the brake lines caused a unexpected brake line failure with no prior warning. Loss of brake fluid caused a total loss of braking, no warning lights where displayed on the dash to let you know of a potential brake failure that was happening.

- Rahway, NJ, USA

problem #39

Nov 172012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 38,060 miles
While waiting in line at hardees drive thru, the brake pedal went all the wall to the floor. Upon inspecting the truck I found all of the brake lines underneath had rusted and one from the master cylinder had rusted all the way thru. I replaced this line with a carbon coated steel that cost only $8.99. However I do feel pretty fortunate because we were headed upon a mountain going deer hunting. I really don't want to think about what could have happened if we were comin off "high knob" and this line had blown. I also think GM is very lucky that someone hasn't gotten seriousy hurt or killed yet but I think it is only a matter of time unless they recall these vehicles and replace all the brake lines with a better grade of steel or a coated steel to protect them from corrosion. Also I read some of GM response to this issue and I would like to reply to them that once a line is blown being front or back the pedal goes to the floor and once the fluid is gone you have nothing but the park brake, if you can actually think about it during all the panic of pumpin the brake pedal trying to get a vehicle to stop. This really is a dangerous problem and these vehicles need to be recalled and all the brake lines replaced.

- Appalachia, VA, USA

problem #38

Nov 172012

Silverado 1500 6-cyl

  • 125,800 miles
Truck failed annual Maine safety inspection because of major corrosion on all brake lines run along frame underneath. (the lines are not yet leaking, but failure is imminent and vehicle is not safe to drive.) cost of repairs is estimated to be approximately $1400 by sullivan tire of scarborough Maine.

- Scarborough, ME, USA

problem #37

Nov 092012

Silverado 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
Was under the truck few days ago and noticed the brake line to the rear of the truck is seriously corroded, upon further inspection of brake lines, noticed that almost all the steel brake lines on the pickup are seriously corroded and a few under the cab connecting to the ABS module are beginning to leak, this is a serious safety concern and will not drive the truck till I have the time and money to replace them, have not been able to find a replacement part number for them from GM, however classic tube industries makes a stainless steel set that I will be purchasing when the funds allow, till that happens the pickup will not leave the driveway as it is an accident waiting to happen, other then the brake lines I also found the entire chassis to be rusted badly for a 10 year old vehicle!!

- Phillipsburg, KS, USA

problem #36

Nov 082012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 123,044 miles
As I approached a traffic light at 30 mph and attempted to stop, the brake pedal went right to the floor with no warning. I had to vigorously pump it several time to come to a stop and was lucky I was going slowly and there were no stopped cars ahead of me. No warning lights appeared on the dash and still do not if you start the truck. I was close to home and carefully managed to get to my driveway. A large puddle of brake fluid dripped from the driver side beneath the door. When I inspected it from below, I found the brake lines severely corroded where clipped to the frame and one had burst through, causing the leak and loss of stopping ability.

- Cos Cob, CT, USA

problem #35

Nov 032012

Silverado 1500

  • 166,678 miles
I was replacing left front brake caliper and started to bleed the brakes when brake peddle kept going all the way to the floor. I then looked under the truck and under driver side door was a puddle of brake fluid. I found out it was coming from the brake lines that go to the ABS controller. After further investigating brake lines they are all rusted bad, I have own this truck since new cant believe I have to replace all the brake lines on it now.

- Ticonderoga, NY, USA

problem #34

Oct 252012

Silverado 1500 8-cyl

  • 120,121 miles
Brake lines under hood at drivers side rusted hole in line caused brake failure.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #33

Aug 042012

Silverado 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
I was on my way to the autoparts store for an oil filter for my other vehicle when I came upon a light at a busy intersection. As the light changed to yellow I hit my brakes and the pedal went right to the floor. I was doing no more than 30 at this time. There was no way that I could stop, I drifted through the intersection and was able to drift to safety. I was lucky - another car was also about to turn left in front of me as I was drifting through the intersection, he stopped so an accident was avoided. Had the vehicle towed and had to have all brake lines replaced. All were rusted and pitted. Paid nearly $900 to have stainless steel brake lines installed. These (stainless steel brake lines) should have been installed by GM at the factory. Manufacturers all use stainless steel for exhaust, why not for brake lines - seems a bit more important to use stainless brake lines. What is the cost differential between cheap steel and stainless - a few extra dollars spent in manufacturing could save someone's life.

- Forest Hill, MD, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »