2002 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
351 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
84,235 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 307 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 88 of 351 complaints (25.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 223 | 63.5% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 18 | 5.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 88 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 81 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 26 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 20 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 11 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 9 |
| Steering | 9 |
Service Brakes: 88; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 81; Engine And Engine Cooling: 26; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 20; Engine: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 11; Fuel System, Diesel: 9; Steering: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 43 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 74 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 61 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 72 |
| 150,000 and above | 42 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 74; 75,000 to 99,999: 61; 100,000 to 149,999: 72; 150,000 and above: 42
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (74). 44 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 28 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 43 |
| 2011 | 56 |
| 2012 | 30 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 10; 2003: 10; 2004: 8; 2005: 15; 2006: 13; 2007: 15; 2008: 28; 2009: 19; 2010: 43; 2011: 56; 2012: 30; 2013: 37; 2014: 24; 2015: 21; 2016: 7; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 223 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10017549 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 3,948 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039676 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH AND UPON COMING TO A THREE WAY STOP SIGN BRAKES FAILED, AND CONSUMER COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE IMPACT CAUSED SEAT BELTS TO BECOME UNDONE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND FACIAL FRACTURES. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214638 · 2008-01-13 (January 13, 2008)
VEHICLE STALLS SUDDNLY WHILE DRIVING. NO DEFINITE PATTERN TO THE STALLING. STALLS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. WILL PULL OVER, WAIT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5-20MIN AND THE VEHICLE WIL START AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223047 · 2008-04-01 (April 1, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. AT THIS POINT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF OF THE ROAD, AS IT HAS NOT OCCURRED DURING CONGESTED TRAFFIC. WHILE SEARCHING THE DATABASE I FOUND SIMILAR FAILURES OF 2001 8.1L ENGINES THAT WERE RECALLED TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048467 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)
THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT HAS FAILED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED AND STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096104 · 2004-10-20 (October 20, 2004)
I DROVE MY TRUCK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; PRIMARILY COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK (HIGHWAY MILES). AT ~ 66,000 MILES, FRONT LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY STARTED MAKING INTERMITTENT NOISE AND NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. THE HUB/TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF PLAY WHEN I INSPECTED IT DURING A RECENT TIRE CHANGEOUT. ULTIMATELY, THE HUB ASSEMBLY INTERNALS FAILED AND THE LUBRICATION ESCAPED FROM THE SEAL. IT IS MY OPINION THAT IF LEFT UNCHECKED, THE HUB COULD LOSE ALL LUBRICATION AND EITHER FREEZE UP, FALL APART OR CATCH FIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042621 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK ON 2002 K2500 SUBURBAN.*MR THE FUEL TANK SEAL SEPARATED FROM THE TANK WHICH CAUSED THE TANK TO LEAK. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091552 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING INJECTOR PUT FUEL INTO THE OIL PAN. THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT.CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH COLLATERAL DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073183 · 2004-05-26 (May 26, 2004)
VEHICLE CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND WILL JUMP BETWEEN GEARS. WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE UNTIL 65MPH OR A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES. LOSS OF REVERSE. HAS BEEN TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY TWICE AT MILEAGE OF 25,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,198 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156608 · 2006-05-02 (May 2, 2006)
2002 CHEVY HD EXT CAB. I TOOK MY PICKUP TO A GM DEALER BECAUSE I KNEW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY PICKUP WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE BRAKES SHIFT INTO ABS WHEN COMING TO A STOP ALL THE TIME. IT IS CLEAR THAT THEIR IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEMS IN PICKUPS IN THE NORTHERN REGIONS DUE TO SALT, STATED IN THE RECALL FOR NEWER MODELS. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2002 PICKUPS ARE NOT YET INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY CHEVROLET. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129475 · 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
SOME TIMES WHEN I START MY 2500 HD CHEVROLET SILVERODO 4WD EXTENDED CAB TRUCK THE SERVICE 4WD INDICATER COMES ON AND WHEN I GO TO THE DEALER THEY TELL ME THEY DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS. IM THINKIN THAT ITS FALTY WIRING. IT ALSO MAKES AN AWFULE TICKING SOUND RIGHT WHEN I START IT TOO. ALL THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132114 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)
I OWN A 2002 CHEV K2500HD. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS, BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SITE TO REPORT THESE PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. FIRST, THE DRYER SWITCH ON THE AC WENT BAD @ 34K. SECOND,@ 65K I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AS TALKED ABOUT IN ONE OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I READ. THIRD, @ 95K MY TRANSFER CASE DEVELOPED A LEAK AND I LOST ALL THE FLUID. A CHEVROLET MECHANIC SHOWED ME A TRANSFER CASE THAT HAD GONE BAD DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD BEEN USED IN 4WD W/OUT FLUID IN IT. ANOTHER CHEVROLET MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132114 at NHTSA ↗