MYRModel Year Report

2002 Chevrolet Silverado

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Chevrolet Silverado
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
710
Recalls
15

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
12

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

51% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 15 complaints 1988 1989: 22 complaints 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1992: 40 complaints 1993: 69 complaints 1993 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1998: 279 complaints 1998 1999: 1,660 complaints 2000: 1,305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2002: 710 complaints 2002 710 2003: 695 complaints 2004: 622 complaints 2005: 316 complaints 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2008: 162 complaints 2008 2009: 76 complaints 2010: 62 complaints 2011: 75 complaints 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2016: 5 complaints 2017: 125 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1985 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 15 complaints 1989: 22 complaints 1989 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1992: 40 complaints 1992 1993: 69 complaints 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1995 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1998: 279 complaints 1998 1999: 1,660 complaints 2000: 1,305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2002: 710 complaints 2002 710 2003: 695 complaints 2004: 622 complaints 2004 2005: 316 complaints 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2007 2008: 162 complaints 2009: 76 complaints 2010: 62 complaints 2010 2011: 75 complaints 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2016: 5 complaints 2016 2017: 125 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1984 1985: 3 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1987 1988: 15 complaints 1989: 22 complaints 1989 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1991 1992: 40 complaints 1993: 69 complaints 1993 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1995 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1997 1998: 279 complaints 1999: 1,660 complaints 1999 2000: 1,305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2002: 710 complaints 2002 710 2003: 695 complaints 2004: 622 complaints 2005: 316 complaints 2005 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2007 2008: 162 complaints 2009: 76 complaints 2009 2010: 62 complaints 2011: 75 complaints 2011 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2015 2016: 5 complaints 2017: 125 complaints 2017

2002: 710 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19822
19845
19853
19872
198815
198922
199025
199117
199240
199369
1994210
1995263
1996186
1997272
1998279
19991,660
20001,305
2001877
2002710
2003695
2004622
2005316
2006182
2007183
2008162
200976
201062
201175
201268
201364
2014124
201576
20165
2017125

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

51% · 361 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Rusted out brake lines caused a leak leading to ABS problems and increased stopping distance.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-11-04

Driving through heavy traffic on an interstate highway doing approx 45 MPH traffic was starting and stopping frequently when the traffic came to a sudden stop I put on my brakes and the pedal went to the floor wth no warning what so ever and I...

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-10-29

Power train

10% · 72 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and transfer case (4-wheel drive).

CRASHINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

8% · 58 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

FIRE

Steering

6% · 40 reports

Most commonly citing column and shaft sector.

Structure

5% · 36 reports

Most commonly citing hinge and attachments and body.

INJURYDEATH

Safety timeline

15 recalls · 12 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 710 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2002-08-01Engineering analysisClosed 2004-01-12 Throttle sticking closed
  3. I
    2003-06-12Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-11-03 Steel wheel rim fracture
  4. I
    2003-10-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-02-19 Tailgate cable breakage
  5. R
    2003-12-03Fuel system, other03V435000 Some 2WD and 4WD pickup trucks, converted to either dedicated or bi-fuel compressed natural gas (Cng) fuel usage, were assembled with a throttle cable that can contact and rub through the flexible…

    Remedy: Dealers will secure the throttle cable to eliminate the possibility of contact with the cng fuel line. The cng fuel line, throttle cable, and cruise control cable are also to be inspected and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2003-12-08Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-04-09 Parking brake failure
  7. I
    2004-02-19Engineering analysisClosed 2004-09-28 Tailgate cable breakage
  8. R
    2004-03-31Equipment04E022000 Aftermarket pickup truck over-the-rail bedliners manufactured for installation on 1999-2004 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC sierra pickup trucks. The toggle wing assembly used to attach the bedliner to…

    Remedy: Durakon will issue a press release in attempt to notify customers that could have purchased the defective bedliner. If you purchased either a durakon allstar of patriot overrail bedliner since…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2004-04-09Engineering analysisClosed 2005-05-10 Parking brake failure
  10. I
    2004-04-30Engineering analysisClosed 2005-02-28 Hydraulic pump failres
  11. R
    2004-09-18Structure04V129000 On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (Horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on April 7, 20004. The recall began on September 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. I
    2005-04-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-09-13 Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
  13. R
    2005-07-29Parking brake05V161000 On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings may wear to an extent…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2005-09-22Service brakes, hydraulic05V379000 Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas. This…

    Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. I
    2005-12-20Defect petitionClosed 2006-05-31 Parking brake failure
  16. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. I
    2006-05-04Preliminary evaluationClosed 2006-09-14 Crank position sensor failure - stall
  18. R
    2006-05-10Exterior lighting06E042000 Certain eagle eyes replacement headlamps, model nos. GM159-B001L and GM159-B001R, sold for use on 1999-2002 Chevrolet Silverado model vehicles. The headlamps fail to conform to the photometric…

    Remedy: Sabry lee will notify owners and issue full credit. The recall began on May 10, 2006. Owners may contact sabry lee at 1-866-467-2279.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  19. R
    2006-07-10Exterior lighting06E057000 Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 332-1182L-as and 332-1182R-as, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for 1999-2000 Chevrolet silverados. These headlamps fail to conform to…

    Remedy: Maxzone will notify owners and offer for reimbursement any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on July 10, 2006. Owners may contact maxzone at 909-822-3288.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  20. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  21. R
    2006-08-31Exterior lighting06E075000 Certain guide replacement headlamps, p/nos. 16526133 and 16526134, manufactured from January 1 to July 11, 2006, sold for use on my 1999-2002 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup trucks. The headlamp fail to…

    Remedy: Guide corporation will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2006. Owners may contact guide at 248-874-0355.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  22. R
    2007-09-05Equipment07E066000 Certain cequent 90 degree 7-way right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5TH wheel rv travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the…

    Remedy: All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  23. R
    2008-02-07Wheels07E106000 Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between January 23, 2006…

    Remedy: Federal-mogul will notify customers and will replace the hub assembly free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2008. Owners can contact federal-mogul toll-free at 877-489-6659.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  24. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform…

    Remedy: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact K2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  25. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  26. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  27. I
    2010-03-30Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-01-05 Brake line corrosion failure
  28. I
    2011-01-05Engineering analysisClosed 2015-04-08 Brake line corrosion failure

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Chevrolet Silverado — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 361 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 72 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 58 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 03V435000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 04E022000 · Equipment
  • Recall 04V129000 · Structure
  • Recall 05V161000 · Parking brake
  • Recall 05V379000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E042000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E057000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E075000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E066000 · Equipment
  • Recall 07E106000 · Wheels
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 51% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado have?
15 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.