2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
The 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 620 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (62%) concerns brakes. Next are body & structure (5%) and steering (4%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 620 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 62% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 60 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 46 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 534 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 33 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 38 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 63 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 74 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 112 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 66 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 66 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 28 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 26 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 9 |
| 200k+ miles | 19 |
What the data shows
Of the 534 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 90,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (346 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 60 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 46 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 27th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with enough data (148 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact stated that the ignition switch was loose. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, she ran off the road and crashed into a tree. The vehicle caught fire. The driver sustained burns and injuries to her ribs, sternum, and pelvic. The injuries were fatal. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact stated that another vehicle in front was making a left, the driver slammed on the brake pedal but the latch failed causing the passenger to go through the windshield during the impact. The driver proceeded to hit a third vehicle that was at a stop sign. The other driver was found at fault by the police. The front passenger seat belt latch failed to restrain and caused the front passenger injuries at the face, arm, and left wrist.
As I approached a traffic light at 30 MPH and attempted to stop, the brake pedal went right to the floor with no warning. I had to vigorously pump it several time to come to a stop and was lucky I was going slowly and there were no stopped cars ahead of me. No warning lights appeared on the dash and still do not if you start the truck. I was close to home and carefully managed to get to my driveway. A large puddle of brake fluid dripped from the driver side beneath the door.
Takata recall - have been stranded numerous times as it has appeared to be the fuel pump not getting gas to start the car. Sometime can hear pump running as I have replace 3-4 pumps since 2012 or 13. Some time beating under tank helps. There seem to be numerous complaints about this problem. Security light flashing and start sometime when it is reset. Sounds wonderful when it runs. Can it be the computer? Towed to a safe location after not starting and diagnostic technician show 10% fuel pressure.