2002 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
44,844 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 50 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 48.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
Service Brakes: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 3; Tires: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 6; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10073176 · 2004-05-26 (May 26, 2004)
ON OUR 2002 CHEVROLET C3500 LIGHT TRUCK I NOTICED A DETERIORATION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE OVER TIME. WE PULLED THE REAR WHEELS AT 37,000 MILES AND FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE NOT BEEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE PADS WITH THE REAR ROTORS. THE REAR ROTORS HAVE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NOW THE CORROSION IS TEARING THE PADS APART. WE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE AND SAFETY.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095421 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS TO INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TRANSMISSION AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL OFF THE HILL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED 15000.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND CONTACTED CHEVROLET BUT TO NO AVAIL BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGES. THE MECHANICS AT CHEVROLET STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS DEFECTIVE BUT NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS UNDR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059341 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO MOTORIST DRIVING BEHIND HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON IT'S FOURTH REPAIR. *NM THE FUEL LEAK COULD CAUSE TO PUSHED PAST THE PISTON RINGS INTO THE CRANKCASE, AND A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL RAIL ALSO CAUSED FUEL INTO THE CRANKCASE. ALSO, THE LEAK OF FUEL AND OIL HAS CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON. GENERAL MOTORS WON'T REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR OR FUEL RAIL …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,688 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186553 · 2007-03-30 (March 30, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS RISING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,927.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 152,927 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215834 · 2008-01-24 (January 24, 2008)
I HAVE A 2002 SILVERADO 3500 8.1 LITER AND THE TRUCK WILL JUST TURN OFF WITH NO NOTICE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ALSO IN TRAFFIC STARTED AT 60,000 MILES GM WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLOM ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT FOR WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN WILL GO OUT AND THE TRUCK WILL GO IN NEUTRAL OR STOP SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334547 · 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 60 MPH SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING POWER AS HE WOULD COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ON OCCASION, IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A CLAIM FOR THE CONTACT BUT WOULD NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10543046 · 2013-09-11 (September 11, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313032 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS THE BRAKES PUSH BACK AND DON'T NOT STOP THE TRUCK THE POWER STEERING ALSO CUTS OUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10313032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10658664 · 2014-11-17 (November 17, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING & 1 YEAR LATER AND 25,000 MILES LATER & 5 ACCIDENTS THE VEHICLE STILL DOES IT NOW IT WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE-CALL ON THIS I'VE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS RECALLS ON THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION, FUEL LINE, FILTER, HEADLIGHTS, TOWING PACKAGE, BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE LIGHTS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. EVERYBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,213 miles reported. Look up ODI 10658664 at NHTSA ↗