NHTSA Defect Investigation List for the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is an office within the NHTSA which investigates serious safety problems in the design, construction or performance of vehicles. The NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles, if the ODI finds a safety issue. NHTSA investigations for the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, both ongoing and closed, are listed below:
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TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ04010
Component: Latches/Locks/Linkages:Tailgate:Latch*
Summary: ODI is upgrading RQ04-010 and opening an engineering analysis to further investigate the tailgate support cables installed in 1998, 1999, and partial year 2000 Silverados and Sierras (C/K models). General Motors is conducting recall campaign 04V-129 to replace the tailgate support cables originally installed in certain model year 2000 - 2004 Sierras and Silverados. General Motors has advised ODI that the materials used for the tailgate cable sheathing installed in C/K models had inadvertently changed in October 1999, increasing the propensity for voids in and around the galvanized steel cable strands which can allow moisture to wick among the strands, leading to oxidation and weakening of the strands. Since ODI initiated RQ04-010 in September 2004, ODI has received 10 additonal non-injury complaints on MY 1998-99 C/K vehicles, but no additional injury complaints. During this same period, GM has received 564 non-injury and 35 injury complaints. ODI has received 6 injury complaints and 38 non-injury complaints from owners of model year 2000 C/K vehicles and requires further investigation to determine whether these incidents occurred in vehicles within the scope of campaign 04V-129 or should be added to the injury summary for RQ04-010.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ04010 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA04005
Component: Latches/Locks/Linkages:Tailgate:Latch*
Summary: General Motors filed a defect notice 04V-129 on March 17, 2004, which outlines a program to replace the tailgate cables installed in affected model year 2000-2004 vehicles. Refer to ODI's closing report for EA04-005 for additional information. ODI is aware of reports of tailgate cable breakage occurring in model year 1999 and earlier vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with similar tailgate cables as addressed by 04V-129, but are not being addressed by campaign O4V-129. ODI is initiating a separate investigation to address these vehicles. The complaint-injury-fatality statistics summarized above pertain to model year 2000-2004 vehicles. The complaint-injury statistics for model year 1999 and earlier vehicles are summarized on the opening resume for that investigation.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA04005 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 6 related vehicle components.
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TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE03049
Component: Latches/Locks/Linkages:Tailgate:Latch
Summary: During the PE, odidiscovered that one or both of the tailgate support cables can break due to the effects of metal fatigue at the point where the cable flexes when the lift gate is opened and closed. Concurrently, the strength of the cable degrades over time due to corrosion of the wire strands in the support cables. When the vehicle is stationary and cargo is being loaded or unloaded, the tailgate can tip downward displacing cargo and/or people to the ground without warning. ODI is also aware of one total separation of the tailgate from the vehicle. Owners cannot easily detect whether the support cabes are damaged or corroded because they are covered by a protective sheath. ODI is upgrading this preliminary evaluation for further appropriate action. Model year 2003 vehicles will be added to the investigation. Further, we will incude additional vehicles, those being the Avalanche and Cadillac ext, model years 2002-2003, and the Sierra, model years 1999-2003.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE03049 »
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PARKING BRAKE FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #DP05009
Component: Parking Brake*
Summary: 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.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #DP05009 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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PARKING BRAKE FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE03057
Component: Parking Brake
Summary: 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 system's torque below that needed to immobilize the vehicle. GM has attributed this accelerated wear to foreign material intrusion and a failure of the brake shoe to properly self-center within its brake drum. Effective with the start of MY 2003 production, a newer reduced force hold-down clip was introduced to facilitate brake shoe disengagement from the drum surface. This part is also available at the service level for the MY 1999-2002 vehicles. GM has indicated that the paking brake is intended to operate in conjunction with the transmission to immobilze parked vehicles, and that in many cases, accelerated parking brake lining wear is caused by rough use, vehicle modifications, and driving with the parking engaged. ODI has upgraded the preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis to gather further information concerning parking brake usage factors and the circumstances surrounding the seventeen reported vehicle crashes.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE03057 »
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PARKING BRAKE FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA04011
Component: Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical*
Summary: 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 extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle. GM's action covers an estimated total of 142,585 vehicles. Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with the PBR parking brake system and install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly on vehicles equipped with the TRW parking brake system. A total of 58 non-duplicative complaints were received by ODI and GM concerning the approximately 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 series pickup trucks with the PBR parking brake system. These included 22 alleged rollaway incidents, resulting in a rate of 38.5 rollaway incidents per 100,000 vehicles. ODI is aware of 24 complaints regarding the MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 and 3500 series manual transmission trucks recalled by GM, including 5 alleging rollaway incidents. Though the conditions described in GM's letter are also present in the C/K trucks with automatic transmissions, the rollaway rate in those vehicles was similar to those observed in peer vehicles studied by ODI in this investigation. This engineering analysis is closed. For additional information, see the attached closing report.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA04011 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 4 related vehicle components.
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UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE05020
Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock:Control Unit/Module *
Summary: 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 registered in the following 14 "salt-belt" states:Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. The recall procedure will involve removing the sensor, cleaning the mounting surface, applying a rust inhibitor (zinc-X) to the surface, and reinstalling the sensor. If necessary, the sensor will be replaced. The population and failure report data given in this resume are for the full region that has been considered by ODI as the "salt-belt."that includes Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia in addition to the 14 states included in 05V-379. The states covered by GM's recall have the highest incident rates for the subject condition, accounting for 91% of the incidents, but only 24% of subject vehicle sales in the United States. ODI's analysis determined that 840 of the complaints, 244 of the crashes, and 16 of the injuries identified in this investigation occurred in those states. The resulting incident and crash rates are 96.2 and 28.0 per 100,000 vehicles respectively (note:rates are based on vehicle sales, not registered vehicles). The corresponding numbers in the excluded portions of the "salt-belt" are 399,000 vehicles, 81 incidents (20.3 per 100,000 vehicles), 3 crashes, and no injuries. The statistics in the remaining 30 states are 2,406,000 vehicles, 168 incidents (7.0 per 100,000 vehicles), 31 crashes, and one injury. GM and ODI are continuing to monitor the problem experience in states that are not included in the recall. GM will provide ODI with updated complaint, field report, and warranty data in November 2005. ODI and GM will review that data and assess the appropriateness of the current scope of the recall at that time.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE05020 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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Brake line corrosion failure NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA11001
Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings*
Summary: 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 vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors corporation (GM). On July 2, 2010, ODI received GM's response to an information request, which included GM's assessment of the frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect. GM stated that:(1) the brake system of the subject vehicles is split front/rear and should a brake pipe suddenly fail for any reason, the affected vehicle would be capable of stopping with the pressure supplied by the remaining circuit; (2) the subject vehicles were designed to meet the hydraulic circuit partial failure requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 105 and 135, light vehicle brake systems; and (3) should a brake fluid leak occur for any reason, the brake system malfunction indicator lamp (mil) would illuminate and warn the driver before the brake fluid level was low enough to cause a loss of line pressure. Of the890 total complaints for brake pipe corrosion identified, 761 were located in salt belt states (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin). The complaint rate per 100,000 vehicles sold is significantly higher in the salt belt, 43.0, compared with 3.0 for the remaining states. In approximately 25 percent of the complaints, the brake pipe failure has allegedly occurred suddenly, with no warning to the driver (I. e., no brake warning light), and resulted in extended stopping distances. In 26 of these incidents, the increase in stopping distance that resulted was alleged as a factor in a crash and in 10 others the vehicle was intentionally steered off the road or into another lane of travel in order to avoid a crash. An engineering analysis has been opened for subject vehicles sold or currently registered in salt belt states to further assess the scope, frequency and safety risks associated with sudden failures of corroded brake pipes that can result in decreased brake effectiveness. ODI will continue to gather information on subject vehicles outside the salt belt as well.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA11001 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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Brake line corrosion failure NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE10010
Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings*
Summary: 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 vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors corporation (GM). On July 2, 2010, ODI received GM's response to an information request, which included GM's assessment of the frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect. GM stated that:(1) the brake system of the subject vehicles is split front/rear and should a brake pipe suddenly fail for any reason, the affected vehicle would be capable of stopping with the pressure supplied by the remaining circuit; (2) the subject vehicles were designed to meet the hydraulic circuit partial failure requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 105 and 135, light vehicle brake systems; and (3) should a brake fluid leak occur for any reason, the brake system malfunction indicator lamp (mil) would illuminate and warn the driver before the brake fluid level was low enough to cause a loss of line pressure. ODI's and GM's analysis indicates that 85 percent of the complaints occurred on vehicles used primarily in states that use salt on the roads during winter months (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin). Overall the complaint rates per 100,000 vehicles for salt belt states is 43.0 and non-salt belt is 3.0. in approximately 25 percent of the complaints the brake pipe failure occurred suddenly, with no warning (I. e., no mil, brake fluid loss warning), and resulted in extended stopping distances. In 30 of these the increase in stopping distance that resulted was a factor in the crash and in 10 others the vehicle was intentionally steered off the road or into another lane of travel in order to avoid a crash. This investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (EA11-001) for subject vehicles sold or currently registered in salt belt states to further assess the scope, frequency and safety risks associated with sudden failures of corroded brake pipes that can result in decreased brake effectiveness. ODI will continue to gather information on subject vehicles outside the salt belt as well.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE10010 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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STEERING GEAR/GRAME ATTACHING BOLTS NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ99005
Component: Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
Summary: These vehicles may have lower than specified torque on the three steering gear to frame attachment bolts. These bolts may loosen causing unresponsive steering and eventually the bolts may back out or fracture, resulting in loss of steering control
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ99005 »
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TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA05007
Component: Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments*
Summary: General Motors is conducting a safety recall to remove and replace the tailgate support cables installed in 805,368 model year 1999 and 2000 gmt 800 model vehicles. The model year 1999 and 2000 gmt-800 series vehicles that will be campaigned had contributed a significant majority of the total complaints (87%) and injuries (79%) associated with the tailgate support cable breakage in the model year 1998 - 2000 C/K series vehicles addressed by this investigation.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA05007 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA02015
Component: Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Summary: This investigation involves the General Motors corporation (GM)throttle body (TB) utilized in model year (MY) 1999-2002 Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche and Yukon (subject vehicle(s)) with 4.8L, 5.3L, and 6.0L engines. The TB valve may intermittently stick in a closed position. In such a situation, an operator may apply additional accelerator pedal force to increase engine speed. The application of additional accelerator pedal force, to open a stuck throttle valve, may open the throttle valve more than intended and, in turn, accelerate the engine and vehicle more than intended and reasonably expected by the driver. On August 1, 2002, the Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI), of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened this engineering analysis. The investigation revealed that two factors may cause the defect: 1) TB manufacturing process problems; and 2) accumulation of deposits (a PCV system by-product) on or around the TB throttle valve and bore. ODI concludes that the TB performs in a defective manner after analyzing GM's data submissions, and test data collected by the Vehicle Research And Test Center (VRTC). Fifty-nine crashes are alleged to have occurred as a result of GM's TB defect. The majority of the crashes involve a single vehicle, engaging in a close quarter vehicle maneuver (or low speed), and causing only minor property damage. Four out of the fifty-nine crashes involve injury, and those injuries were minor. Although GM's TB is defective, based on the evidence gathered, ODI has found that the accelerator pedal force required to open a stuck throttle valve is negligible, and the throttle valve does not stick in the open position. Therefore this engineering analysis (EA02-015) will be closed at this time. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. For a detailed discussion of the TB component and testing, please see the attached report.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA02015 »
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THROTTLE STICKING NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE02021
Component: Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Summary: Allege the blade in the throttle body allegedly can stick in the closed position or less frequently in a partially open position
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE02021 »
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STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE03026
Component: Wheels*
Summary: There have been less than 2 complaints per 100,000 subject vehicles related to the alleged defect. The oldest vehicles (MY 1999) have only 2 complaints in over 140 thousand vehicles after over 4 years in service. The rate of warranty claims potentially related to the alleged defect is less than 0.1%. there are no known incidents involving rapid loss of tire pressure or loss of vehicle control. A defect trend has not been identified at this time. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The Agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE03026 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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