RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Nov 25, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 509 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Nov 25, 2014

CRESTED A SMALL HILL TO SEE A RED LIGHT WITH THREE CARS IN LINE. I DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED USING THE PARKING BRAKE AFTER SWERVING INTO EMPTY LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE LINE OF CARS FROM BEHIND. UPON INSPECTION, THE FRONT BRAKE CIRCUIT WAS BLOWN IN THE PIPING JUST AFT OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP A LARGE TRUCK WITH EMPTY BED USING ONLY THE REAR BRAKES AS THEY LOCK UP EASILY. THERE SEEMED TO BE NO BRAKE POWER USING THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH IS WHY THE PARKING PEDAL WAS USED. EVEN WITH A FUNCTIONAL PARKING BRAKE, THE "FAILSAFE" OF HAVING ONLY ONE CIRCUIT IS NEARLY USELESS GIVEN AN EMPTY TRUCK BED (LOW REAR-WHEEL TRACTION) AND A LOSS OF PRESSURE ON THE FRONT CIRCUIT. IN MY OPINION, LOSING THE FRONT BRAKES ON A TRUCK IS CATASTROPHIC. IN ANY EVENT, IN MY CASE, THE SUPPOSED FAIL-SAFE EITHER DID NOT WORK OR WAS INCONSEQUENTIAL. ALL OF THE HARD LINES (FUEL AND BRAKE) ON THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AND ARE BEING REPLACED WITH STAINLESS. THIS CAR SPENT THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF ITS LIFE IN OKLAHOMA AND MISSOURI (WHERE LITTLE TO NO SALT IS USED) AND MOVED TO NH IN 2006. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ROCKER PANEL IS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH AND THE FRAME HAS VERY SIGNIFICANT RUST, ESPECIALLY ON THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I WILL NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN 4WD UNTIL I REPLACE IT. THIS VEHICLE SEEMS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUST, ESPECIALLY THE BRAKE LINES, SOME OF WHICH CRUMBLED IN MY HUSBANDS HANDS WHILE REMOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660844
Incident
Aug 9, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Jan 16, 2014

STATE INSPECTION MY TRUCK FAILED DUE TO GASOLINE RUSTED AND LEAKING GAS,REAR SHACKLES RUSTED THRU, PARKING BREAK WON'T HOLD CORROSION. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY RUSTED OUT PARTS ON MY TRUCK BEFORE, THE GAS LINE SHOULD NOT RUST THRU THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SHACKLES RUSTED THRU WHAT GIVES MY OLD 88 NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEM PLEASE DO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560309
Incident
Jan 14, 2014
Mileage
92,388 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 22, 2013

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 TRUCK, AND HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES (OEM SIZE), A NEW NAPA HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY AND A NEW NAPA INNER TIE ROD. THIS WORK WAS PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED BY A CERTIFIED ASE MECHANIC AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ON JULY 3, 2013. THE TIE ROD FAILED ON JULY 29, 2013. THE HUB BEARING AND THE INNER TIE ROD WERE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. THANKFULLY - THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT LAST WEEKEND DOING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN MY TRUCK. FAILURE OF THIS PART ON THE HIGHWAY COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIVES AND THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ELSE IN MY UNINTENDED PATH. VEHICLE WAS "REPAIRED" BY THE LOCAL SHOP IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THEY SHOWED UP WITH A REPLACEMENT NAPA INNER TIE ROD. I SEE ON THE BOX THAT THIS PART IS MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. I DID NOT WANT THAT PART ON MY VEHICLE AND TOLD THEM THEY COULD INSTALL IT FOR A ONE-TIME TRIP TO THE SHOP BUT THEN I WANT IT CHANGED TO ANOTHER BRAND. THEY OBLIGED AND FOUND ANOTHER MANUFACTURER. THE NAPA PART IS ES3478 - INNER TIE ROD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536666
Incident
Jul 29, 2013
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 12, 2013

RIGHT SIDE SPRING SHACKLE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION RIGHT SIDE OF REAR BUMPER CORRODED TO THE POINT THE MOUNT FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508054
Incident
Apr 6, 2013
Mileage
81,000 mi
Body & structureEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Sep 21, 2012

THE PART OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE GAS TANK AND CONNECTS TO THE SHOCK HAS ROTTED AWAY. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES DO TO RUST AS WELL AS THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE. THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IS RUSTING AWAY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, THERE IS A KNOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT I HAVE HAD FIXED ONCE ALREADY, THE ENGINE HAS TICKING SOUND WHEN IDLING, AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10476723
Incident
Sep 21, 2012
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 16, 2012

MOST RECENT(9/15/12),BRAKE LINE RUPTURES DO TO TONS OF RUST... . BODY MOUNTS TOTALLY RUSTED OFF , REAR BRAKE ROTOR DUST SHIELDS RUSTED OFF, LEAF SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED THRU AND FELL OFF..REAR BUMPER RUSTED THRU,TOTAL UNDER CARRIAGE RUSTED THRU, RAILSUNDER DOORS TOTALLY RUSTED THRU AND HAVE BIG HOLES IN THEM.. *TR *JS

NHTSA ID
10475524
Incident
Sep 15, 2012
Mileage
121,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 14, 2011

2002 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 LT I HAVE A POPPING OR CLUNKING NOISE THAT I CAN HEAR AND FEEL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AT THAT.THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR SOMETIME. THIS NOISE IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN BACKING UP OR MOVING FORWARD AT VERY SLOW SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10390158
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 24, 2010

HAD SHOCKS REPLACED ON MY TRUCK TODAY AND MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT BRAKE LINES ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WERE RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367804
Incident
Nov 24, 2010
Mileage
177,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 5, 2010

THE OTHER DAY I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I KNEW IT WASN'T THE BRAKE PADS SINCE I HAD CHANGED THEM A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THESE ARE A SEALED SYSTEM AND NOT ABLE TO SERVICE THEM ON EITHER SIDE. THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED THE PARTS STORE ABOUT THESE ,AND HE SAID COMMON PROBLEM AND IF NOT FIXED , THE ROTOR AND BEARING ASSEMBLY COULD SNAP OFF AND CREATE AND ACCIDENT. I HAD A 2000 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10364105
Incident
Nov 5, 2010
Mileage
133,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Oct 20, 2008

STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD KICK IN AT AROUND 3 TO 5 MILES PER HOUR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, WOULD ROLL A FEW MORE FEET. ALMOST HIT A WOMAN AND CHILD IN CROSS WALK, HAD TO STAND UP ON BRAKES. THIS NOT STOPPING HAPPENED 5 OR 6 TIMES, THIS WAS THE CAME REACTION AS IN 2005 RECALL, CALLED GM. GM CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER SAID, GO AND GET THIS PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY A GM DEALERSHIP, DID OCT. 9, '08 AND THEY SAID CORROSION BUILD IN SAME AREA, BUT BECAUSE RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS REPLACED WITH A NON GM PART (AFTER MARKET PART) THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY. THIS HUB CAME WITH THE SENSOR ATTACHED. IN 2005 MY 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR SEVERE CORROSION AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THEY FOUND THE LEFT SIDE SENSOR WAS MISSING AN O-RING, THEY INSTALLED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING AND A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THIS SAME CORROSION PROBLEM. CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER OCT 10, 08. GM CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER CALLED ME MONDAY OCT, 20, '08 AND SAID THAT ONCE THE RECALL WAS FIXED, (HOW DID THEY FIX CORROSION) THE SAME PROBLEM IS NOW MY PROBLEM. WHEN I DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE BAD, WHEN I PICKED IT UP AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WERE 10 TIME WORSE, REALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME A DIME, SAID THAT THEY WOULD WORK IT OUT WITH LOCAL REP. I WILL GET THE VEHICLE FIXED, BUT HOW DOES THIS CORRECT THE PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10246074
Incident
Oct 8, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 29, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #05V379000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE HYDRAULIC ANTI-LOCK SERVICE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE PCV VALVE AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE MACHINED, THE ROTORS WERE EVENTUALLY REPLACED, THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS DRY. UPDATED 01/09/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174659
Incident
Nov 21, 2006
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jan 30, 2006

AT 37720 MILES ON 2002 CHEVROLET 4X4 PICKUP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SAFETY INSPECTION AND SERVICE TO GM DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS BEING RUSTED AND WORN OUT. THIS WAS IN MARCH 2005. IN OCTOBER 2005 RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE RELATING TO SEVERE CORROSION BETWEEN FRONT HUB/BEARING AND SPEED SENSOR. FILLED FOR A CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT ALL PARTS WERE INTER RELATED. ALSO EVEN THE REPAIR INVOICE STATED WORN OUT/RUSTED. WAS INFORMED THAT NO REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE PAID.*AK

NHTSA ID
10148995
Incident
Mar 25, 2005
Mileage
37,720 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Aug 20, 2004

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE THROUGH INSPECTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS HAD RUSTED. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED INSTEAD OF BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS LATER AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS REPLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10083347
Incident
Jul 19, 2004
Mileage
11,627 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .