CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 · model year

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500

64 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002CHEVROLETSILVERADO 3500 carries 64 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 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 3500 is service brakes, hydraulic with 7 filings, followed by service brakes (7) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (6). 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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 SILVERADO 3500, 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.

64
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

64 filings

Crashes Reported

9 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 BRAKES, HYDRAULIC7
SERVICE BRAKES7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS3
TIRES3
SUSPENSION2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
PARKING BRAKE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
ENGINE2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE1

Recalls (2)

01V22000026/06/2001

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. I

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

Recent Complaints

20180131FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL FUEL INJECTOR FAILURES AND OEM UNCOATED CARBON STEEL BRAKE LINES. *M THE CONSUMER STATED GM WITHHELD MATERIAL FACTS CONCERNING DURAMAX LB7 DIESEL FUEL INJECTOR FAILURES IN VIOLATION OF MISSOURI MERCHANDISING PRACTICES ACT AT THE TIME OF SALE AND DELIVERY. *JS

20180131SERVICE BRAKES

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL FUEL INJECTOR FAILURES AND OEM UNCOATED CARBON STEEL BRAKE LINES. *M THE CONSUMER STATED GM WITHHELD MATERIAL FACTS CONCERNING DURAMAX LB7 DIESEL FUEL INJECTOR FAILURES IN VIOLATION OF MISSOURI MERCHANDISING PRACTICES ACT AT THE TIME OF SALE AND DELIVERY. *JS

20160524SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN POSITIONING MY TRUCK TO HOOK UP MY 5TH WHEEL CAMPER I LOST MY BRAKES. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND AND I WASN'T SURE UNTIL I GOT OUT AND SAW THE PUDDLE . EVEN AFTER MOVING THE TRUCK AN LOSING MORE FLUID THERE WAS STILL NO WARNING. I HATE TO THINK IF HAD HOOKED UP AND BEEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN CORRODED METAL LINES BLEW OUT!

Mileage: 145,000

20141117CrashPOWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING & 1 YEAR LATER AND 25,000 MILES LATER & 5 ACCIDENTS THE VEHICLE STILL DOES IT NOW IT WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL ON THIS I'VE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS RECALLS ON THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL LINE, FILTER, HEADLIGHTS, TOWING PACKAGE, BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. EVERYBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE MANY TIMES AND I LOST ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE GM SHOULD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK THAT'S FOR SURE 2002 C3500 EXPRESS / CUTAWAY DURAMAX DIESEL *TR

Mileage: 40,213

20141117CrashSERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING & 1 YEAR LATER AND 25,000 MILES LATER & 5 ACCIDENTS THE VEHICLE STILL DOES IT NOW IT WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL ON THIS I'VE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS RECALLS ON THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL LINE, FILTER, HEADLIGHTS, TOWING PACKAGE, BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. EVERYBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE MANY TIMES AND I LOST ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE GM SHOULD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK THAT'S FOR SURE 2002 C3500 EXPRESS / CUTAWAY DURAMAX DIESEL *TR

Mileage: 40,213

20141117CrashFUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING & 1 YEAR LATER AND 25,000 MILES LATER & 5 ACCIDENTS THE VEHICLE STILL DOES IT NOW IT WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL ON THIS I'VE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS RECALLS ON THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL LINE, FILTER, HEADLIGHTS, TOWING PACKAGE, BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. EVERYBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE MANY TIMES AND I LOST ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE GM SHOULD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK THAT'S FOR SURE 2002 C3500 EXPRESS / CUTAWAY DURAMAX DIESEL *TR

Mileage: 40,213

20141117CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING & 1 YEAR LATER AND 25,000 MILES LATER & 5 ACCIDENTS THE VEHICLE STILL DOES IT NOW IT WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL ON THIS I'VE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS RECALLS ON THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL LINE, FILTER, HEADLIGHTS, TOWING PACKAGE, BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. EVERYBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE MANY TIMES AND I LOST ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE GM SHOULD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK THAT'S FOR SURE 2002 C3500 EXPRESS / CUTAWAY DURAMAX DIESEL *TR

Mileage: 40,213

20141117CrashENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING & 1 YEAR LATER AND 25,000 MILES LATER & 5 ACCIDENTS THE VEHICLE STILL DOES IT NOW IT WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL ON THIS I'VE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS RECALLS ON THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL LINE, FILTER, HEADLIGHTS, TOWING PACKAGE, BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. EVERYBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE MANY TIMES AND I LOST ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE GM SHOULD TAKE THIS TRUCK BACK THAT'S FOR SURE 2002 C3500 EXPRESS / CUTAWAY DURAMAX DIESEL *TR

Mileage: 40,213

20131018SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET C/K 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TRAVELING INTO THE INTERSECTION UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 22,000

20130911ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

Mileage: 500

20130708TIRES

I HAVE HAD 2 OF THEM FAIL ON MY WORK TRUCK. BOTH HAD VERY LOW MILES. TIRES COMPLETELY BLEW OUT.

20130630SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE FAILURE. COMING TO STOP LIGHT, BRAKES WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO RUN THE LIGHT ALMOST CAUSING MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED IN FEB 2013. HAD BRAKE LINE REPAIRED. IN JUNE 2013 SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN / DIFFERENT BRAKE LINE. NEED TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20121112SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE STOPPING; BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN DIVING @ HIGHWAY SPEED I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP AND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A BAD ACCIDENT. AFTER GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE, FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ON GROUND UNDER VEHICLE THAT WAS COMING FROM ABOVE LEFT FRAME MEMBER JUST TO REAR OF FIREWALL @ LOCATION WERE BRAKE LINES ALL COME TOGETHER. THERE WAS A LINE OF BRAKE FLUID ON PAVEMENT THE ENTIRE DISTANCE THAT I HAD BEEN TRYING TO STOP. BRAKE LINES APPEARED TO BE RUSTED THRU ALSO OBSERVED THAT FUEL LINES BADLY RUSTED ALSO. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TRUCKS AND THAT GM HAS MADE A KIT TO REPAIR PROBLEM. THIS IS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX @ THEIR EXPENSE. THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20121007CrashSERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE FAILED COMING INTO HOME'S DRIVEWAY WHICH RESULTED IN CRASH WITH MINOR DAMAGE. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

20110824SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET C3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 25 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT THE VEHICLE STOPPING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A CRASH. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS DEPLETED AND HE COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A RUPTURE OF ONE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,500.

Mileage: 41,500

20110720SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING -COPY OF A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT RE THE DANGERS OF RUPTURING BRAKE LINES ON A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS WHICH WERE MORE RUSTED OUT THAN WORN AND ONE CALIPER. AS THE CONSUMER WAS BLEEDING THE AIR FROM THE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT, HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT OF THREE LOCATIONS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED ON BOTH HYDRAULIC CIRCUITS DUE TO THE STEEL LINES RUSTING OUT. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL OF THE STEEL LINES, AS SOME OF THE RUST WAS HIDDEN FROM VIEW WITHIN PLASTIC RETAINERS. *JB

20110720SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING -COPY OF A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT RE THE DANGERS OF RUPTURING BRAKE LINES ON A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS WHICH WERE MORE RUSTED OUT THAN WORN AND ONE CALIPER. AS THE CONSUMER WAS BLEEDING THE AIR FROM THE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT, HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT OF THREE LOCATIONS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED ON BOTH HYDRAULIC CIRCUITS DUE TO THE STEEL LINES RUSTING OUT. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL OF THE STEEL LINES, AS SOME OF THE RUST WAS HIDDEN FROM VIEW WITHIN PLASTIC RETAINERS. *JB

20110516TIRES

ON SUNDAY MAY THE 15TH THE WALMART TLE ON BUSH RIVER RD IN COLUMBIA SC INSTALLED TWO FRONT TIRES ON A 2002 CHEVY 3500 VAN. THEY INSTALLED TWO P RATED TIRES EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE CALLS FOR LT. THEY ALL SO PUT 55PSI IN THE TIRES WHEN THE TIRES ARE ONLY RATED FOR 44PSI. THE TIRES ARE NOT RATED FOR THIS. ALSO THERE WAS NO DOT CARD GIVEN OUT. *TR

20110505SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

HUSBAND PERFORMED OIL CHANGE ON TRUCK. TRUCK IS DRIVEN INFREQUENTLY, ONLY USED FOR TOWING MY HORSE TRAILER, SO OIL IS ONLY CHANGED ABOUT ONCE A YEAR, AND TRUCK IS GARAGE KEPT. WHEN UNDERNEATH TRUCK, HUSBAND NOTICED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES FEEDING INTO THE ABS UNIT ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. BASED ON CONDITION OF BRAKE LINES, HUSBAND (A MECHANIC) FEELS ABS UNIT IS PROBABLY FULL OF RUST AS WELL. ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM MAY BE COMPROMISED AND FULL OF RUST. TRUCK WILL NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL BRAKE LINES ARE REPLACED, AND POTENTIALLY ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM IS OVERHAULED. CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET DIRECTLY AND ARE AWAITING A RETURN PHONE CALL. MY HUSBAND HAS 30 AND 40 YEAR OLD CARS AT HOME THAT HAVE CLEANER ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES THAN OUR 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK DOES.

Mileage: 80,000

20110502ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTTING OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM CHECKED, BUT NONE OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), DEALING WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FOR THE 2001 MODEL YEAR AND INDICATED THAT THE 2002 MODEL YEAR HAD THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AT HIS EXPENSE. UPDATED 06/06/11

Mileage: 34,000

Compare 2002CHEVROLETSILVERADO 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 have?
The 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 has 64 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500?
Yes, the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is INTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500?
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 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.