Most common 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD complaints by model year
Best Silverado 1500 HD years: 2001, 2002. Years to avoid: 2003, 2005. Compare all years →
What 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD owners say
Brakes
The brake lines on my 02 Silverado blew out while moving our camper trailer into our back yard for storage. My wife was driving and I was watching her backing up. She yelled out to me the "brakes feel funny", we were almost done and unhooked the trailer. I moved the truck to the street and noticed the pedal went to the floor and would not stop easily. I noticed a big wet spot under the cab, checked the brake master cylinder level, empty. Had it towed (aaa) to my mechanic, paid $1,600.00 to have the steel brake lines and flex hoses replaced. If driving on the highway with the camper when this occurred, could have been a big accident or more. I have over 32 years of fire/ ems experience - this was bad situation ! …
While driving down the interstate last week I went to brake for an exit only to find that I had no brakes. It turns out my brake line had rusted through and my brake fluid had been draining my whole trip down the interstate. I was lucky enough to manage to get off the road and park my vehicle and call aaa to have my vehicle towed. I am now finding out that this is a very common issue with GMC older trucks. This is not acceptable. Lives are at risk.
Engine & cooling
At approximately 50 MPH coolant loss from a cracked cylinder head sent a signal to the ECM to shut down the engine which caused the loss of power steering and control. Weather conditions were snow and wind and I was following two dry tracks in the road, upon loss of power the truck drifted onto an area of road covered in snow which nearly carried me off into a ditch. On a dry day if this had occurred inertia would have taken me on to a soft shoulder so in this instance the cold weather and snow actually helped the truck from drifting too far off the road. Once disabled along side the road the weather began to deteriorate to near white out conditions, thankfully another driver pulled up behind me about 50 yards back and used his flashers to warn on coming drivers. After the truck cooled a bit it re-started and I took for service. A mechanic noticed a cracked cylinder head as the culprit. …
Started to hear engine exhaust getting loud, started to look for exhaust leak and found that # 8 and #7 piston leaking at exhaust manifold due to broken bolts and then engine error code o2 sensor bank 1 will not turn off, can not get truck to pass inspection have found out others truck owners have same problem.
Fuel & propulsion system
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD. While the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that there was severe corrosion to the brake and fuel lines. The vehicle was repaired. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Tl contacts owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle hesitated when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle then surged forward. The dealer stated that the throttle body was the cause of failure. The dealer cleaned the throttle body, however, approximately three days later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the throttle body was defective and should be replaced. As of July 27, 2007, the vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 78,000 and failure mileage was 68,302.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Silverado 1500 HD rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Silverado 1500 HD at the same age. It is one of the best Silverado 1500 HD years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD?
The brakes — 14 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and fuel & propulsion system (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003 and 2005. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 110,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.