CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD · model year

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD

29 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002CHEVROLETSILVERADO 1500 HD carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 SILVERADO 1500 HD is service brakes with 7 filings, followed by engine (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 SILVERADO 1500 HD, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

29
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

29 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES7
ENGINE4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
POWER TRAIN2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
PARKING BRAKE1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20180406SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION TO THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Mileage: 28,000

20180406FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION TO THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Mileage: 28,000

20161201SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE LAST WEEK I WENT TO BRAKE FOR AN EXIT ONLY TO FIND THAT I HAD NO BRAKES. IT TURNS OUT MY BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND MY BRAKE FLUID HAD BEEN DRAINING MY WHOLE TRIP DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MANAGE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PARK MY VEHICLE AND CALL AAA TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED. I AM NOW FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH GMC OLDER TRUCKS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

20150129ENGINE

3 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF MANIFOLD. *TR

Mileage: 132,000

20150109SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 02 SILVERADO BLEW OUT WHILE MOVING OUR CAMPER TRAILER INTO OUR BACK YARD FOR STORAGE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND I WAS WATCHING HER BACKING UP. SHE YELLED OUT TO ME THE "BRAKES FEEL FUNNY", WE WERE ALMOST DONE AND UNHOOKED THE TRAILER. I MOVED THE TRUCK TO THE STREET AND NOTICED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP EASILY. I NOTICED A BIG WET SPOT UNDER THE CAB, CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEVEL, EMPTY. HAD IT TOWED (AAA) TO MY MECHANIC, PAID $1,600.00 TO HAVE THE STEEL BRAKE LINES AND FLEX HOSES REPLACED. IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CAMPER WHEN THIS OCCURRED, COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG ACCIDENT OR MORE. I HAVE OVER 32 YEARS OF FIRE/ EMS EXPERIENCE - THIS WAS BAD SITUATION ! I LOVE MY 02 SILVERADO, I ALSO HAVE A 1969 CAMARO SS/RS 427 BIG BLOCK I INSTALLED STAINLESS STEEL ONES, SO I AM NOT AGAINST CHEVROLETS, JUST THE CHEAP SUPPLIER ON A VITAL SAFETY PART - BRAKE LINES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF I

Mileage: 112,000

20141219SERVICE BRAKES

APPLIED BRAKE, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES. HAD TO RUN INTO DITCH TO AVOID ACCIDENT. FOUND BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINE. NO WARNING LIGHT. INSPECT WHOLE BRAKE LINE. ALL ARE SEVERELY RUSTED., FOUND SEEPAGE NEAR FRONT FROM BRAKE LINE. BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS OVER 1/2 EMPTY WITH NO WARNING LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 149,540

20140927ENGINE

STARTED TO HEAR ENGINE EXHAUST GETTING LOUD, STARTED TO LOOK FOR EXHAUST LEAK AND FOUND THAT # 8 AND #7 PISTON LEAKING AT EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO BROKEN BOLTS AND THEN ENGINE ERROR CODE O2 SENSOR BANK 1 WILL NOT TURN OFF, CAN NOT GET TRUCK TO PASS INSPECTION HAVE FOUND OUT OTHERS TRUCK OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 149,337

20140927ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STARTED TO HEAR ENGINE EXHAUST GETTING LOUD, STARTED TO LOOK FOR EXHAUST LEAK AND FOUND THAT # 8 AND #7 PISTON LEAKING AT EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO BROKEN BOLTS AND THEN ENGINE ERROR CODE O2 SENSOR BANK 1 WILL NOT TURN OFF, CAN NOT GET TRUCK TO PASS INSPECTION HAVE FOUND OUT OTHERS TRUCK OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 149,337

20140927FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STARTED TO HEAR ENGINE EXHAUST GETTING LOUD, STARTED TO LOOK FOR EXHAUST LEAK AND FOUND THAT # 8 AND #7 PISTON LEAKING AT EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO BROKEN BOLTS AND THEN ENGINE ERROR CODE O2 SENSOR BANK 1 WILL NOT TURN OFF, CAN NOT GET TRUCK TO PASS INSPECTION HAVE FOUND OUT OTHERS TRUCK OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 149,337

20140527SERVICE BRAKES

CORRODED BRAKELINE PUMPED OUT FLUID AND LOST BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20140328SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ

Mileage: 140,000

20140125ENGINE

AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH COOLANT LOSS FROM A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD SENT A SIGNAL TO THE ECM TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE SNOW AND WIND AND I WAS FOLLOWING TWO DRY TRACKS IN THE ROAD, UPON LOSS OF POWER THE TRUCK DRIFTED ONTO AN AREA OF ROAD COVERED IN SNOW WHICH NEARLY CARRIED ME OFF INTO A DITCH. ON A DRY DAY IF THIS HAD OCCURRED INERTIA WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME ON TO A SOFT SHOULDER SO IN THIS INSTANCE THE COLD WEATHER AND SNOW ACTUALLY HELPED THE TRUCK FROM DRIFTING TOO FAR OFF THE ROAD. ONCE DISABLED ALONG SIDE THE ROAD THE WEATHER BEGAN TO DETERIORATE TO NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS, THANKFULLY ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED UP BEHIND ME ABOUT 50 YARDS BACK AND USED HIS FLASHERS TO WARN ON COMING DRIVERS. AFTER THE TRUCK COOLED A BIT IT RE-STARTED AND I TOOK FOR SERVICE. A MECHANIC NOTICED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AS THE CULPRIT. I HAVE COME TO LEARN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. MY WIFE WILL OCCASIONALLY DRIVE T

Mileage: 121,138

20140125ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH COOLANT LOSS FROM A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD SENT A SIGNAL TO THE ECM TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE SNOW AND WIND AND I WAS FOLLOWING TWO DRY TRACKS IN THE ROAD, UPON LOSS OF POWER THE TRUCK DRIFTED ONTO AN AREA OF ROAD COVERED IN SNOW WHICH NEARLY CARRIED ME OFF INTO A DITCH. ON A DRY DAY IF THIS HAD OCCURRED INERTIA WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME ON TO A SOFT SHOULDER SO IN THIS INSTANCE THE COLD WEATHER AND SNOW ACTUALLY HELPED THE TRUCK FROM DRIFTING TOO FAR OFF THE ROAD. ONCE DISABLED ALONG SIDE THE ROAD THE WEATHER BEGAN TO DETERIORATE TO NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS, THANKFULLY ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED UP BEHIND ME ABOUT 50 YARDS BACK AND USED HIS FLASHERS TO WARN ON COMING DRIVERS. AFTER THE TRUCK COOLED A BIT IT RE-STARTED AND I TOOK FOR SERVICE. A MECHANIC NOTICED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AS THE CULPRIT. I HAVE COME TO LEARN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. MY WIFE WILL OCCASIONALLY DRIVE T

Mileage: 121,138

20131204SERVICE BRAKES

MY VEHICLE WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AS I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND ENTERING A HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. I THEN PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET AND THERE WAS A NOISE AND THEN THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM STARTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS JUST ABLE TO STOP BEFORE ROLLING OUT ONTO A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE PICK-UP TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE DROVE IT, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE OWNED THIS PICK-UP SINCE THE FALL OF 2001 PURCHASING IT NEW. THIS PICK-UP MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES. I HAVE DRIVEN ALL 113,563 MILES IN THIS TRUCK AND I KNOW THE VEHICLE. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 113,563

20130205SERVICE BRAKES

TRAVELING DOWN HILL ON SNOW COVER ROADS AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE LIGHT TURNED AND I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE REAR WHEELS STARTED SLIDING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO MAKE THE LIGHT, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND COME TO A STOP. AFTER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT WERE BADLY CORRODED HAD RUPTURED. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20120805ENGINE

5 EXHAUST BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF ON MY 6.0 LITER CHEVY ENGINE. 3 ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND 2 ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE THAT CHEVY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND. THE LOCAL DEALER QUOTED ME $2,000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20120423SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUST / CORROSION. THESE BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL. THEY ARE MADE FROM LOW GRADE STEEL. IT AMAZES ME THAT SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS BRAKES WOULD BE CHOSEN AS A WAY TO LOWER COSTS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COMPANY WHICH MADE THE TRUCK WAS BAILED OUT BY THE SAME TAX PAYERS WHOSE LIVES THEY PUT AT RISK. NEXT TRUCK WILL BE A TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

20111214POWER TRAIN

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. FIRST THERE IS A CORRECTION WITH THE DATE OF INCIDENT. THE CORRECT DATE SHOULD READ 06/01/2011 NOT 2010. AFTER TALKING FURTHER WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NEVER GETTING A REASSURANCE THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING HELPING COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SPECIALIST THAT REPAIRS VEHICLES FOR THE MUNICIPALITY I WORK FOR. THEY GAVE THE SAME DIAGNOSIS WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION CODE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THIS CODE BY GM, WHICH THE DEALER AND THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. NEGLECTED TO DIVULGE. I HAVE READ THE BULLETIN AND IT CLEARLY STATES THAT TRANSMISSIONS SHOWING THIS CODE AND FALLING WITHIN A SPECIFIED BUILD DATE WHICH IS STATED ON THE BULLETIN ARE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT NO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS BE PERFORMED. THAT BEING SAID, GM STATED THAT BY TAKING THE TRUCK TO A NON GM CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION REPAIR SPECIALIST THEY ARE NO

20111118POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE TRUCK TO JUMP FORWARD. THE TRANSMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT HARD THROUGH ALL GEARS UNTIL TRUCK HAS BEEN STOPPED AND SHUT OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. IT HAS HAPPENED APPROX. 5 TIMES FROM 24000 MILES TIL NOW AT 31000 MILES OVER A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS. DEALER CHECKED TRANSMISSION AND STATES THAT FLUID IS BURNT, SLIPS IN SECOND GEAR AND RECOMMENDS A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF REPAIR. THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THE FIRST BEING THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS 9Y/O. SECOND IS THE MILEAGE WHICH IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR WAS 17000 MILES. THIRD FACTOR WOULD BE THE CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE, DRIVEN BY AN ELDERLY MAN, ALWAYS GARAGED, KEPT IN TEXAS AND NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. THIS VEHICLES CONDITION FOR IT'S AGE IS "LIKE NEW" WITH ALL MAINTENANCE BEING DONE BY THE DEALER FROM WHICH IT WAS PURCHASED. THE LOCAL DEALER WHICH DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WILL V

Mileage: 24,000

20110725PARKING BRAKE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS CORRIOSION FROM FRONT TO REAR ON ALL ABOVE. *TR

Mileage: 77,741

Compare 2002CHEVROLETSILVERADO 1500 HD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD have?
The 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD has 29 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD?
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD is SERVICE BRAKES with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.