Most common 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
Share of the 351 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 2500 years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2022, 2020, 2015, 2025. Compare all years →
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 recalls (1)
Interior lighting
Vehicle description: certain pickup trucks equipped with 6.6l diesel engines fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." these vehicles have a brake system warning light in the instrument cluster that May not illuminate when the brake fluid is low.
Remedy: Dealers will change the location of a wire connection in the underhood bussed electrical center. Owner notification began July 9, 2001.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500:
Trailer hitch receiver failure
GM provided additional data regarding allegations of failure of the trailer hitch.odi reviewed that as well as other data provided by peer manufacturers.based on our review, odi finds the need to further investigate this issue.this preliminary evaluation is upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea07-013) for further assessment and study of this issue.
Hydraulic pump shaft failures
The preliminary evaulation is being upgraded.during the ea odi will limitits investigation to only those vehicles equipped with a hydro-boost system, which provides power assist to the braking and steering sytems.vaccuum brake booster vehicles are excluded.odi hasexpanded the scope of the ea to include model years2003 and 2004, asduring the pe, odi learned that the hydroboast pumps were modified in febraury…
Trailer hitch receiver failure
Complaint reports allege poor weld quality and/or bending of the subject vehicle original equipment trailer hitch receiver.the agency's investigation included analysis of manufacturer and agency incident reports, review of police reports, analysis of the agency's fatal analysis reporting system, a vehicle owner survey, inspection of tow vehicles/hitches and analysis of failed parts.incidents of weld failure were…
Hydraulic pump failres
GM is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between May 1999 and October 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early October 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes.
What 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 owners say
Brakes all 212 →
While driving on US60 East of Lexington Kentucky I was preparing to turn left using the left turn lane. There was another car in front of mine and as I approached it I began to lightly apply the brakes. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor with no decrease in speed. Fortunately I was able to switch back to the through lane and avoid an accident. While I was able to avoid an accident there was definitely a risk of injury to myself and the occupants of the other vehicle. When I was able to inspect the vehicle I found that the brakeline adjacent to the fuel tank was rusted through which caused a complete brake failure. I do the vehicle maintenance personally and have since made necessary repairs to the brake system. I was aware of problems with the brakelines on this vintage truck being prone to failure due to rusting. …
I pulled the truck out of the garage in working condition, left it running while parked in the driveway. It emptied the entire brake fluid reservoir through a leak in the distribution junction on the rear axle, leaving the truck with no brake function whatsoever. Had I not parked the truck in the driveway, I would have been involved in a serious collision due to sudden complete brake failure.
Engine & cooling all 56 →
As I was driving at 75 MPH, the indicator light said, engine overheated. I then noticed white smoke coming from the hood. The white smoke turned black. I pulled over to the side of the road and before I could shut the engine off, the engine shut off on its own. Fire began coming up where the windshield wipers are located and proceeded through the dashboard. I tried to unlatch my seat belt but it would not release. After several tries it released. I attempted to open the door; however, I had the same problem. The door did not open. After bumping the door forcibly many times, it also came open. Mind you, all the while the flames are coming inside the cab. I called 911 and the county fire department was dispatched, but not before it was fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle was well maintained. I want to know what steps to take to prevent this from ever happening again?
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 hd. While driving approximately 75 MPH, a message indicating that the engine overheated displayed and smoke appeared under the hood of the vehicle. The flames quickly spread to the cabin of the vehicle. While the flames were inside the cabin, the contact attempted to exit the vehicle but the driver side seat belt would not immediately unlock. The seat belt finally unlocked, but the driver side door would not unlock. The door eventually unlocked and the contact was able to exit the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 247,433.
Fuel & propulsion system all 30 →
As I was driving at 75 MPH, the indicator light said, engine overheated. I then noticed white smoke coming from the hood. The white smoke turned black. I pulled over to the side of the road and before I could shut the engine off, the engine shut off on its own. Fire began coming up where the windshield wipers are located and proceeded through the dashboard. I tried to unlatch my seat belt but it would not release. After several tries it released. I attempted to open the door; however, I had the same problem. The door did not open. After bumping the door forcibly many times, it also came open. Mind you, all the while the flames are coming inside the cab. I called 911 and the county fire department was dispatched, but not before it was fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle was well maintained. I want to know what steps to take to prevent this from ever happening again?
My ABS speed sensor got sheared by back of my front drivers side tire in which I have seen on multiple sights a defect that was deemed a recall for being poorly set up on the assembly line. Secondly, ive spent thousands and looking online for a vary serious issue ive been having with my vehicle due to intermediate stalling, backfiring, and vehicle dieing due to what has finally been found to be the infamous crankshaft sensor. Replaced my computer, all 02 sensors, EGR valve exc... Than upon looking and researching, I find it was a major one on recall as well for failing all the time. I just feel if these are factory errors and been on the recall, and my woman who travels with me that is paralyzed due to an accident, I should be entitiled to the recalls giving they were known flaws on the asssembly line and a danger to others. …
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 2WD | 10 / 13 / 11 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 a good car?
Based on 351 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Silverado 2500 rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Silverado 2500 at the same age. It is one of the Silverado 2500 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2500?
The brakes — 212 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (56) and fuel & propulsion system (30).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, the most recent from June 26, 2001 (interior lighting). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2022, 2020, 2015 and 2025. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 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.