Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The anti-lock brake system engages at slow speeds causing inability to stop. The road surface does not matter, wet, dry, dirt or paved, it is a failing system. This was a random problem, now it happens all the time. The system will make a ratcheting sound then a grinding before as you come to a stop. You have to be ready to let off the brake and reapply pressure hoping it works. I live in a neighborhood with small children running around everywhere. I would hate to think what would happen if these brakes failed me when I really needed them.
I pulled into driveway and put car in park, left engine running. Went to door of residence to get my kids. Kids went out to the car and were yelling fire! I seen the inside up in smoke. I reached inside to turn engine off. We then started pouring buckets of water into seat and on floor around the seat to try to prevent spread of the fire. I luckily put the fire out. Fire dept unhooked battery and removed melted plastic around seat. It seems a wire somehow shorted out beneath seat and caught the seat and floor on fire.
While driving vehicle began to smoke from engine compartment, noise came from engine compartment, vehicle significantly lost power. Driver could not shut off engine....starter was trying to crank engine-even when ignition was in shut off position. Engine suddenly did not have full power. Smoke and burning smell continued to increase from engine compartment with no way to shut off engine. GM relay #12193614 was replaced, as well as burnt out starter. Relay is available to NHTSA. GM was not interested accessing part when offered to them.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the engine compartment caught on fire and burned the vehicle and the garage doors. The fire department and police responded to the emergency call. The fire department determined the fuse box caused the fire. The reports were prepared by both the fire department and police department. Pictures were taken at the scene. The manufacturer was notified. Updated 9/27/2006 -
Using the key the ignition turns on and truck starts as it should, anytime the key then could be taken out of the ignition at anytime. Ignition can be clicked back to accessory and the key can fall out when driving. Note changing from run to accessory it easily done.
On December 19th 2013 was at a class for work about 65 miles from home, when came out of class and truck would not start keep getting security light flashing in the information window. Later found out this cut the gas of from someone stealing the vehicle, but I had the original key to the truck. Had to have vehicle towed back to my home 65 miles away. A certified mechanic looked at the truck for me and said he believed he had fixed it by replacing the ignition wiring harness. Truck worked great until recent I was traveling down a the highway at 65mph and the key to the vehicle fell out of the ignition onto the floor, lucky for me the vehicle stayed running. I have recently been looking at the ignition and have found that any position that the key is in rather it be running or auxiliary the key can be removed from the ignition. …
Odometer, and shift indicator goes out, and you cannot tell what gear you are in or your mileage. Warrenty replaced instrument cluster a couple of years ago. But now it is happening again. I was told the cluster was bad again and needed replacing. But it goes off and stays off for a week or longer and the next thing you know its back on again.I have unplugged the connecor from the cluster and replugged it in and the cluster would work again, only for a short while. Local repair shops has told me they have been regularly replacing these clusters. This could cause accidentally placing transmission in wrong gears, causing injury and accidents.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the security system warning indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. When the contact restarted the engine the headlights and instrument panel lighting became dim. The vehicle was repaired by a certified mechanic with the replacement of the battery. The alternator was diagnosed and was functioning properly. The failure occurred repeatedly. The contact detected that the failures were contributed to the body control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
My car is old but it has been running fine, and I keep up with regular maintenance and oil change appointments. I came out of walmart after buying groceries and when I tried to start the car it sounded like it was trying to turn over, but it wouldn't actually start. After 30 minutes of sitting in the car trying to get it to start it finally started. I took the car to my regular mechanic and they could not find anything wrong with it. They cleaned the battery cables in hopes of relieving the problem. Now a week later it did it again 2 times in the same day.
Electrical complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 4% of the model year's 509 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › fuses and circuit breakers (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries and 1 death to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.