Most common 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Share of the 509 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022, 2024. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500:
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…
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…
What 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say
Brakes all 363 →
ABS kicks in constantly at low speeds in dry conditions. This causes longer stopping distances. The ABS grinds or vibrates interfering with normal braking situations. Many near miss collisions at low speeds. The manufacturer should be responsible and replace all the ABS sensors. I purchased this truck brand new in 2002.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to stop the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown independent mechanic who informed the contact that the ABS control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to stewart Chevrolet (780 serramonte blvd, colma, ca 94014) where the contact was informed about an unknown manufacturer recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not being repaired per the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 133,475. Consumer stated he had a numerous close calls with the brakes. Had one accident where they failed to do their jobs. Updated 8/7/18
Body & structure all 30 →
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud cracking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact noticed the loud cracking sound while driving over a pothole in the road. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact completed a thorough inspection of the vehicle and noticed a fracture behind the cab of the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed corrosion of the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact stated that the corrosion extended from the front passenger's side to the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
I was driving on hwy 495 which is a city road towards hwy 19 driving approx 53 MPH in crystal river, fl. The vechile ahead of my mine was 3 car lengths ahead when I saw there brake lights on, I applied the usual appropriate brake pressure which is no harder or softer then any other time. Once I slowed down to 40 MPH in the back passenger side rear tire felt like it exploded and heard a huge explosive type sound and actually felt the entire back end of my Silverado lift up and shift leftwards into the opposite lane causing my truck to also get struck by another truck causing what was a extremely well maintained truck without a single ding or mechanical issues until this occurred. I am a engineer and have never witnessed a tire that looked the way this did , by simply driving . I have all records for maintaince,rotations etc.. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 26 →
I was driving today and my truck started making a strange noise(like something was loose). I stop the truck to see what was loose, I found nothing. I got back in the truck driving about 20 mph the truck started making the noise again and the truck started dragging( like it wouldn't go faster). I then stop and pulled in a church parking lot where the truck was not drivable. I was told by a concern passerby( mechanic, which happen to be) it's has something to do with the rest axle. The truck gave me no warning whatever. I was told I could have had a major accident and I had NO!!! warning. Please, fix. I have nothing but, issues with this truck.
my truck won't pick up speed when trying to accelerate. I don't know what it is. I know it's a problem and it's a hazard and accident waiting to happen!!!! Please, fix. I have had nothing but, issues with this Chevy Silverado.
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good car?
Based on 509 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Silverado 1500 rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Silverado 1500 at the same age. 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?
The brakes — 363 complaints, 71% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the body & structure (30) and transmission & drivetrain (26).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022 and 2024. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 88,000 miles; 19% 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.