RoadVitals

2002 GMC Silverado

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
9
Latest May 5, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 23, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 GMC Silverado, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags222.2%
  • Brakes222.2%
  • Engine222.2%
  • Tires & wheels222.2%
  • Other / unspecified111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP05009ClosedDefect Petition

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Dec 20, 2005
Closed May 31, 2006

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PE05020ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

Opened Apr 28, 2005
Closed Sep 13, 2005

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WEST VIRGINIA.THE RECALL PROCEDURE WILL INVOLVE REMOVING THE SENSOR, CLEANING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, APPLYING A RUST INHIBITOR (ZINC-X) TO THE SURFACE, AND REINSTALLING THE SENSOR.IF NECESSARY, THE SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE POPULATION AND FAILURE REPORT DATA GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE FOR THE FULL REGION THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY ODI AS THE SALT-BELT.THAT INCLUDES DELAWARE, IOWA, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ADDITION TO THE 14 STATES INCLUDED IN 05V-379.THE STATES COVERED BY GM'S RECALL HAVE THE HIGHEST INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT CONDITION, ACCOUNTING FOR 91% OF THE INCIDENTS, BUT ONLY 24% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.ODI'S ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 840 OF THE COMPLAINTS, 244 OF THE CRASHES, AND 16 OF THE INJURIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS INVESTIGATION OCCURRED IN THOSE STATES.THE RESULTING INCIDENT AND CRASH RATES ARE 96.2 AND 28.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES RESPECTIVELY (NOTE:RATES ARE BASED ON VEHICLE SALES, NOT REGISTERED VEHICLES). THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IN THE EXCLUDED PORTIONS OF THE SALT-BELT ARE 399,000 VEHICLES, 81 INCIDENTS (20.3 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 3 CRASHES, AND NO INJURIES.THE STATISTICS IN THE REMAINING 30 STATES ARE 2,406,000 VEHICLES, 168 INCIDENTS (7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 31 CRASHES, AND ONE INJURY.GM AND ODI ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE IN STATES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM WILL PROVIDE ODI WITH UPDATED COMPLAINT, FIELD REPORT, AND WARRANTY DATA IN NOVEMBER 2005.ODI AND GM WILL REVIEW THAT DATA AND ASSESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE RECALL AT THAT TIME.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULELed to recall 05V379000
EA04011ClosedEngineering Analysis

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Apr 9, 2004
Closed May 10, 2005

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:CONVENTIONALLed to recall 05V161000
PE03057ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Dec 8, 2003
Closed Apr 9, 2004

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.

PARKING BRAKE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed May 5, 2014

MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF AND CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586544
Incident
May 5, 2014
Mileage
96,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 6, 2014

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK. I HEAVILY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. ALL BRAKE FLUID DUMP OUT AND THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF INTO THE WOODS. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME I DISCOVERED THE "HARD" BRAKE LINES HAD HEAVY RUST AND CORROSION AND HAD DEVELOPED A PIN LEAK WHICH RUPTURED UPON PRESSING. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES LIKE THIS TRUCK. I ORDERED THE PARTS AND WAS TOLD BY A FACTORY GM MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577740
Incident
Oct 14, 2013
Mileage
109,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 28, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SILVERADO 2500. THE VEHICLE HAS TELSTAR WEATHERIZER TIRES, SIZE 265/75/R16. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM HIS GARAGE. HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED BULGES ON THE EXTERIOR SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE DEALER AND HAD A TIRE REPLACED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. HE REPLACED THE TIRE BUT, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10240122
Incident
Jul 28, 2008
Mileage
20,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 16, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SILVERADO GMC WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 111,000. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN THREE AND TEN MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND THE BRAKES LOCK. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAS ALL OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE CURRENT RECALL #05V379. THE RECALL DETAILS INDICATES: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODA ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE SENSORS WERE NOT TESTED FOR CORROSION ON THE NEW MODELS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 70,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS AND OVER TIME HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CONTACT CALLED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DISAGREES WITH GENERAL MOTORS DECISION NOT TO HONOR THE RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10178857
Incident
Jan 16, 2007
Mileage
111,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10115197
Incident
Mar 14, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE, AND DRIVE TO GOODYEAR. MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER, P235/75R16 R. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081406
Incident
Jul 6, 2004
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 26, 2004

PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE JACK, AFTER EXPERIENCING A TIRE BLOW OUT. (NAR) *PH *CB

NHTSA ID
10071644
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2004

THERE IS BLACK SOOT IN THE TAIL PIPE FROM VEHICLE RUNNING RICH. *PH AND THE CONSUMER FEARS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL BE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7700 MILES. *CB

NHTSA ID
10055572

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-10-08-50-003B

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

GENERAL MOTORS: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BULLETIN FOR ALL 2012 AND PRIOR GENERAL MOTOR TRUCKS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES REGARDING THE ADJUSTABLE COMFORT AND CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY OF THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINT. *PE

010864014

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SUBJECT ON DOOR MANUAL LOCK LEVER DISENGAGES FROM DOOR TRIM PANEL. *YH

010864014

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

SUBJECT REGARDING DOOR MANUAL LOCK LEVER DISENGAGES FROM DOOR TRIM PANEL (REPAIR LOCK LEVER) *JG

010864015

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT AND REAR SIDE ACCESS DOOR NOISE. *YH

270901

SUSPENSION

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE EXTENDED CAB AND SHORT BED MAY EXPERIENCE A BUMP OR CLUNK ON STOP OR ACCELERATION. *SLC

100901

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING. *SLC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Silverado by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007302
2006000
2005200
2004200
2003100
2002Viewing914
2001914
2000141549.2
1999151654.3

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.