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2002 Chevrolet SilveradoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 710 owner complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

2002 Chevrolet Silverado
20
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.9× the Silverado median · #4 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints710111 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage42kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 22, 2016. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado has problems

710 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic24529
Power train702
Service brakes706
Engine and engine cooling581
Steering390
Structure364
Air bags3028
Parking brake302
Suspension292
20 other systems19920

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2002 Chevrolet Silverado recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 05V-379 · Aug 29, 2005 · 1,353,718 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Parking brake

Recall 05V-161 · Apr 22, 2005 · 90,242 vehicles

Risk. IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Tailgate: hinge and attachments

Recall 04V-129 · Mar 17, 2004 · 3,662,211 vehicles

Risk. ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, other: delivery

Recall 03V-435 · Nov 3, 2003 · 395 vehicles

Risk. A STRONG ODOR OF NATURAL GAS MAY BE DETECTED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY ACCOMPANIED BY A HISSING NOISE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

42kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 198 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
55under 30k miles175under 100k miles23100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Service brakes, hydraulic

17 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $800 – $1,300

Power train

10 owners mentioned a cost

$1,982median

Middle half: $1,500 – $2,788

Service brakes

8 owners mentioned a cost

$1,450median

Middle half: $988 – $2,116

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other Silverado year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silverado median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2002 Chevrolet Silverado safety ratings

2002 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2002 Chevrolet Silverado frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
12 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, and the recalls they led to.

  1. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREDP05009 · closed May 31, 2006
    No recall
  2. THROTTLE STICKING CLOSEDEA02015 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  3. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEEA04005 · closed Sep 28, 2004
    Led to recall 04E-067
  4. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  5. HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRESEA04012 · closed Feb 28, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-005
  6. Brake line corrosion failureEA11001 · closed Apr 8, 2015
    No recall
  7. STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTUREPE03026 · closed Nov 3, 2003
    No recall
  8. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEPE03049 · closed Feb 19, 2004
    No recall
  9. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE03057 · closed Apr 9, 2004
    No recall
  10. UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONPE05020 · closed Sep 13, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-379
  11. CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALLPE06016 · closed Sep 14, 2006
    No recall
  12. Brake line corrosion failurePE10010 · closed Jan 5, 2011
    No recall
In owners' words

What Silverado owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING REAL SLOW OR PARKING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICK IN MAKING I DIFFICULT TO STOP. I TALKED TO CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME. ALTHOUGH IT IS THE SAME DESIGN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED ON RECALL #05V37900, THE SAY MY TRUCK IS NOT COVERED. *TR
Complaint 10705633 · Apr 14, 2015 · 96,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE LINE FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE UNKNOWN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN…
Complaint 10669666 · Jan 2, 2015 · 137,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND…
Complaint 10653471 · Nov 7, 2014 · 115,000 miles

Own a 2002 Silverado?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.