Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2002 GMC Silverado with NHTSA between 2002 and 2014.
The largest single group is the tires.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 34
Against the median year of the GMC Silverado. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
30% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 GMC Silverado
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
330.0%
Median failure at 20,000 miles
Brakes
220.0%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
Airbags
220.0%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
Median failure at 96,000 miles
Equipment & Accessories
110.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
125.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
125.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
250.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2002peak 2May 2014
NHTSA investigations into the 2002 GMC Silverado
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP05009Opened 20 Dec 2005Closed 31 May 2006PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
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.
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, V...
EA04011Opened 9 Apr 2004Closed 10 May 2005PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
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...
PE03057Opened 8 Dec 2003Closed 9 Apr 2004PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
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-CENT...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Rockwood, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10115197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ypsilanti, MICrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8002746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 96,000 milesActon, ME
ENGINE
MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF AND CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #10586544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,000 milesToms River, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
NHTSA complaint #10577740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesHaslet, TX
TIRES
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 complaint #10240122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 111,000 milesDayton, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #10178857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockwood, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10115197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE JACK, AFTER EXPERIENCING A TIRE BLOW OUT. (NAR) *PH
NHTSA complaint #10071644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daleville, AL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10081406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daleville, AL
TIRES:SIDEWALL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10081406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mayer, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10055572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ypsilanti, MICrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8002746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.