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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,756 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2002 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments

problem #8

Aug 152005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ABS failure at low speed, ABS activates at low speed on dry pavement under normal braking situations. First had problem at approx. 38,000 miles. Repaired by dealership at 47,00 miles by removal and cleaning of wheel speed sensor.. same problem at approx. 64,000 miles, has not been repaired. Ref.NHTSA PE05020.

- Export, PA, USA

problem #7

Jul 162005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,040 miles
When slowing down to stop, the anti-lock brakes take over and the vehicle will slide or become unable to be stopped. On more than one occasion, I have nearly hit someone or a parked vehicle, as I am unable to control the braking mechanism of my vehicle. It is only a matter of time before I cause an accident or become involved in an accident due to this problem. At this time, there does not appear to be a formal recall, but only an investigation. On a daily basis, I Transport my family, and fear that I will have an auto accident that may cause them or someone else harm. I am looking into having the sensors replaced, and awaiting an estimate to do so. I would appreciate anything that could be done to rectify, what I and many others feel is a vehicle defect.

- Hastings, NY, USA

problem #6

Feb 052005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5 miles
Defective ABS wheel sensor causing ABS to activate at when applies brakes at slow speeds. This has occurs daily with the vehicle causing potential accidents.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #5

May 282005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When I press the brake to stop the vechile at unpredictable times the ABS kicks in and the truck does not stop. It has casued several close calls and 1 smack into a garage door. I took to my mechanic and he said this was a common problem on this truck and it was the wheel speed sensors. This truck has only 24,000 miles on it but is out of warr due to age. Dealer wants $400 to fix, but it appears based on my mechanic and reports read on internet this is a big problem and GM should do something about it.

- Owensburg, IN, USA

problem #4

Mar 172005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles
I have a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 extended cab, currently the ABS breaks are going into ABS mode when I try to stop on any surface including dry at low speeds (under 10mph). This is causing my breaking distance at low speeds to increase as to correct the problem I have to let off the breaks and then mash them. Exactly the behaviour that ABS is supposed to negate. I haven't done anything to correct the issue yet but since it seems to be getting worse, will pull the ABS fuse to disable that function.

- Norfolk, MA, USA

problem #3

Aug 202004

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
On a couple of previous occasions, the ABS system in my 2002 Chevy Silverado 4X4 extended cab engaged on me at while braking at stop lights on my way to work. This caused my braking distance to double or even triple on hill stops. I was very upset at these faliures in the braking system and immediately took it to the closest service station to be looked at. Because they were not a GM service center, they had no knowledge of this known problem with the ABS speed sensors in the Silverado's so there was nothing they could do to fix this. I then set out to my Chevy dealership after work to get this looked at. On my trip to forest city Chevrolet in portland, Maine I was exiting the highway and making my way down the twisting offramp to the stop light when I applied the brakes, the ABS system kicked in at about 20 mph! (not the 5 to 10 mph as officially suggested by GM) I did everthing in my power and reach to stop the vehicle before crashing into stopped traffic ahead of me including applying the parking brake. This was the scariest moment in my 14 years of driving. I immediately pulled the ABS system fuse to disable this disaster of a braking system and continued to the dealership. From there I was charged 70 dollars for a "diagnoses" of faulty ABS speed sensors and another 400+ dollars to replace them. What really hurts me is that they have known technical bulletins about this known dangerous problem and do not notify the owners like myself to warn us of possible brake failure!! then to charge me almost 500 dollars to fix the problem although my vehicle was barely 2000 miles out of warranty!! and they had a ton of these speed sensors in stock so whatever GM is claiming this issue as being extremely widespread is false, it is happening a lot. I was so frightened that this would happen to me again, I traded in my truck.

- Topsham, ME, USA

problem #2

Apr 012005

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
1.I own a 2002 Chevy Silverado. The antilock brakes were coming on when I would come to a slow stop or the end of a stop. Most of the time they would just grind but a couple of times the brakes failed. 2. the first time they failed I ran into my garage door and just dented it a little. The second time I was in a parking lot and smashed into a parked car. I did do a police report on that one. Through the fenton police department (2005-001636). 3. I took the truck to the dealer who told me the antilock brake sensor had corrosion on it and was cleaned for $250 bucks. That is all they did.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #1

Feb 222005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles
The ABS system on Chevy trucks can create an unsafe operating condition. During a slow stop, below 5mph, the ABS activates and does not allow the vehicle to stop. Especially dangerous when stopping in parking lots where people may be in front of the vehicle. The fault is caused by either 1) failure of whell speed sensor or 2) rust build up on the wheel speed sensor mounting. There are no warnings from the vehicle when the fault will occcur or does occur. Thus, there is not way to adequaltely predict when to service the system and avoid the potential fault. It is a common problem. I know this by visiting the chevytruck.com forums where many people are discussing the issue. Many people have reported near disasters due to the issue. In my opinion, there is a high probability of someone being seriously injured or killed due to this failure. If you replace the defective wheel speed sensor or clean te mounting flange, you may resolve the short term problem. My issue is with the design because if you correct the problem, you have no warning device to inform you when the fault will reinitiate. You only learn of the fault when it actually happens. By then you could have seriously injurred or killed someone. I have reported this problem to Chevrolet customer service on 2-25-05. It is a problem on both of my Chevy trucks. A 99 Suburban and a 2002 Silverado. Both have approximately 65,000 miles.

- New Hudson, MI, USA

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