2002 Chevrolet Silverado
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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 2 |
| 1982 | 2 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 15 |
| 1989 | 22 |
| 1990 | 25 |
| 1991 | 17 |
| 1992 | 40 |
| 1993 | 69 |
| 1994 | 210 |
| 1995 | 263 |
| 1996 | 186 |
| 1997 | 272 |
| 1998 | 279 |
| 1999 | 1660 |
| 2000 | 1305 |
| 2001 | 877 |
| 2002 | 710 |
| 2003 | 695 |
| 2004 | 622 |
| 2005 | 316 |
| 2006 | 182 |
| 2007 | 183 |
| 2008 | 162 |
| 2009 | 76 |
| 2010 | 62 |
| 2011 | 75 |
| 2012 | 68 |
| 2013 | 64 |
| 2014 | 124 |
| 2015 | 76 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 125 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
19% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 133 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY10% of complaints: service brakes — 70 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES CAUSED A LEAK LEADING TO ABS PROBLEMS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI report, 20131104
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, 20131029
8% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 57 distinct reports on file.
CRASHShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND IT FELL TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACTS GARAGE DOOR.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120402
7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 47 distinct reports on file.
6% of complaints: power train — 43 distinct reports on file.
CRASHSAFETY TIMELINE
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTURE
TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE
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 PRE
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 REPLACE
Campaign 03V435000 — check if this car was fixed
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE
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 T
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 AU
Campaign 04E022000 — check if this car was fixed
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES
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 FR
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 OCTOBER
Campaign 04V129000 — check if this car was fixed
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
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 WHERE
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 REDESIGNED
Campaign 05V161000 — check if this car was fixed
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 RECA
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, REIN
Campaign 05V379000 — check if this car was fixed
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
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 S
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.
Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed
CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALL
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 REQUIR
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.
Campaign 06E042000 — check if this car was fixed
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 TH
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.
Campaign 06E057000 — check if this car was fixed
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 RE
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.
Campaign 06E060000 — check if this car was fixed
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 C
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.
Campaign 06E075000 — check if this car was fixed
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 TRAILE
Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
Campaign 07E066000 — check if this car was fixed
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, AND
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.
Campaign 07E106000 — check if this car was fixed
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 WITH
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.
Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed
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 CONF
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.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
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 CONF
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.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
Brake line corrosion failure
Brake line corrosion failure
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2002 Chevrolet Silverado — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (133 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes issues (70 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (57 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 03V435000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
- Verify recall 04E022000 (equipment) has been completed.
- Verify recall 04V129000 (structure) has been completed.
- Verify recall 05V161000 (parking brake) has been completed.
- Verify recall 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E042000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E057000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E060000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E075000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07E066000 (equipment) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07E106000 (wheels) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST 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, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 19% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado have?
15 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.