Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Chevrolet Silverado owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 2002 Chevy Silverado, and I have had the brakes fail on me multiple times the first time I encountered this issue was in early January when I was driving to school and I approached a stop sign and when I went to slow down I had no brakes and my vehicle rolled into the street luckily I wasn't go very fast and there were no cars coming so I didn't get hit. The repairs cost me 175$, that was repairing the problem to bare minimum (single brake line replacement). After I fixed that issue I ran into another problem, the ABS brake system will now spontaneously turn on when I come to a stop, it resulted in a three car crash, I was going to back into a parking spot and when I pulled my truck forward I tried to stop and the ABS locked up my trucks brakes (not slippery out) and forced me to hit two other vehicles, one was majorly damaged and another with minor yet still severe damage, this …
Prior to the crash I'll describe, I noticed that the antilock brakes on my truck would engage randomly at low speeds, even though the road was clear and dry. I never received any indication from indicator lights or the truck's status display that there was a malfunction in progress. Until the incident below, braking control always returned within a few seconds and seemed to pose no safety threat. On this particular evening, they had performed without incident all the way home from work. I pulled into my driveway and into my garage. Upon entering the garage proper, the antilock brakes engaged. The garage floors (and driveway) were both clear of any snow, ice, or liquids. When the antilock brakes took control, it released the brakes and locked the brake pedal in such a way that I could not regain control. This time, I was unable to push the pedal down. …
Driving through heavy traffic on an interstate highway doing approx 45 MPH traffic was starting and stopping frequently when the traffic came to a sudden stop I put on my brakes and the pedal went to the floor wth no warning what so ever and I struck the rear of one vehicle , and that driver had injuries which I do not know the full extent of. After my vehicle was towed to the body shop which I had $3,252 of damage the vehicle is repaired however in the process of this they noticed I still do not have brakes and after the mechanic investigated it it was noticed a brake line corroded through causing my brake failure and all my brake lines need to be replaced at a cost of a minimum of $1600.00 but probably closert to $2000.00 I have owned this truck from new and find it hard to fathom that GM does nothing for safety with an issue as this. …
I have a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. The ABS system fails to stop my vehicle in all types of normal situations which has already LED to one accident. This was my first accident ever and thanks to my dealer who said there was no problem with my brakes I am sure this wont be the last accident. The vehicle brake system will freeze up if so much as a pebble vibration is felt, or stopping on a completely smooth and clean road normally. The scary thing is, I never know when my brakes are going to fail, and since there is no difference in between a smooth road or a pothole disabling the brakes I do not feel comfortable in my own vehicle. I have rolled through intersections, rolled through stop signs, and had one accident in this vehicle. I beleive that the Chevrolet company needs to correct this problem immediatly, for the liability and safty of all consumers. …
Dt: caller said that brakes failed often , and he did not know what to do with the vehicle. The caller had a problem with the brakes since after he purchasing the vehicle. The brakes faiedl at all speeds and under any driving condition. He said the brakes failed about 50 times. The caller's wife hit a deer when there was only 300 miles on the vehicle, she could not stop the vehicle. The caller was involved had a collision due to brake failure while driving at 25 MPH with 8000 miles no vehicle. No one was hurt, but the vehicle sustained damage. He said the vehicle has been sitting since November. Dealer told the caller he could not drive a vehicle with anti lock brakes. The dealer could not duplicate the problem or what wrong with it. They refused to work on it anymore. …
As I was driving I approached a traffic light and applied the brakes. As I applied them, the pedal never offered much resistance and eventually went to the floor. I suspected that a flexible brake line had ruptured so I got off the street as quickly as I could. I examined the inside of all of the wheels where I thought that brake fluid might be evident. There was none to be seen. I limped home with the vehicle and examined it more closely. There was a major leak under the floor of the vehicle in a rigid brake line leading to the anti-lock brake controller. I researched the issue on the internet and found that GM has refused to issue a recall for rusted brake lines. In my opinion these lines should be of the highest quality material to be found. …
I purchased a 2002 Chevy Silverado ext cab 4wd (z71) in October of 2003. The truck had 23000 (+) miles on the odometer when purchased. On December 13 of 2003 while on my way to work and traveling at a speed of approximately 30 MPH in a 45 MPH zone, traffic began coming to a stop at a traffic stop. When I tried to apply the brakes there was a loud "grinding" noise and I was unable to depress the brake pedal. As I continued to apply manimum pressure to the brake pedal the pedal suddenly went straight to the floor accompanied only by a loud "vacuum" sound. This brake failure resulted in a six car collision with four injuries. Despite numerous similar complaints from other consumers, the manufacturer's representatives continue to claim that there is nothing wrong with the brake system and the "problem" does not require a recall - what a joke. …
1) approaching a stop sign at 20 MPH. Applied brakes with 100 ft to go to stop sign. Pavement dry under drivers side wheels. Pavement less than 20% snow/ice covered under passeanger wheels. Temperature 0 degrees f. 3:00 pm 2) I applied the brakes 100 feet from the stop sign. The ABS fired preventing the brakes from engaging. Transmisson did did not disengage. Tried releasing brakes and reapplying, but ABS continued to fire. Pickup did not slow at all due to transmisson continuing to be engaged at throttle idle. Car ahead of me at stop sign was damaged considerably in right rear quater. My pickup received minor damage to front. 3) corrective action not taken yet. Looking into options for replacement of ABS. Recall exists in other northern states for this defect, but not in minnesota.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. While slowing down at a stop light at approximately 5 MPH, the brake pedal failed to respond and the contact had to depress the brake pedal several times to stop the vehicle. Once the vehicle stopped, the ABS and brake warning indicators illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. However, the brakes were replaced and the failure persisted. The failure recurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000. Updated 04/06/15 updated 9/27/2017
I own a 2002 Chevy Silverado k-1500 with 64,000 miles. Last week I was pulling into a parking space at 2-3 MPH, and all of a sudden my brakes failed ( pedal to the floor) and it felt like the truck accelerated (my foot was off the gas pedal. I ran into a brick wall, cracking some plastic on the front bumper, and denting the bumper itself. Luckily, I hit the brick wall with the front tow hook. The next day I took my truck to stanley Chevrolet and had them look for any problems. The truck was taken there earlier in the fall, to correct the ABS recall. Stanley, could not find any problem. I would also like to submit that my emergency brake system is completely worn out. Which is odd since I have never used them.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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.
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
Parking brake
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings May wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable…
NHTSA investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Defect Petition DP10-003 on March 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (MY) 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.DP10-003 was granted and on March 30, 2010, Preliminary Evaluation PE10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility…
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
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…
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…
Brake line corrosion failure
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,…
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.
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…
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.
Brake complaints in other Silverado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado?
NHTSA has 350 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, 49% of the model year's 710 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (133 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Silverado brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-379 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Aug 29, 2005); NHTSA recall 05V-161 (parking brake, Apr 22, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Silverado brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 39 crashes, 0 fires and 11 injuries to brakes 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.