2002 Chevrolet Silverado

Typical pattern

13.6% of complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (267 complaints), typically at 3.8 yr or about 42,279 miles.

Complaints: 789
Median age at failure: 3.5 yr
Median mileage: 47,000 n=566
Crash / fire / tow: 11.2% of reports
Safety recalls: 10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Service brakes, hydraulic

267 reports · 42,279 mi

3.8 yr

11.2%

Service brakes

70 reports · 103,000 mi

11.8 yr

8.6%

Power train

65 reports · 46,928 mi

2.8 yr

3.1%

Engine cooling

52 reports · 24,000 mi

1.7 yr

1.9%

Steering

36 reports · 25,000 mi

2.3 yr

Structure

34 reports · 49,950 mi

2.5 yr

11.8%

Parking brake

30 reports · 50,000 mi

3.7 yr

6.7%

Suspension

27 reports · 35,094 mi

2.5 yr

7.4%

Air bags

25 reports · 40,000 mi

1.0 yr

96%

Tires

23 reports · 32,142 mi

2.3 yr

4.3%

Electrical system

22 reports · 80,000 mi

3.8 yr

9.1%

Visibility

19 reports · 40,000 mi

1.5 yr

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11

Exterior lighting:headlights

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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E012000 2009-04-07

Exterior lighting

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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E050000 2008-08-11

Exterior lighting:headlights

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 THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E106000 2007-12-17

Wheels:hub

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 DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28

Equipment:electrical

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 TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

06E075000 2006-08-28

Exterior lighting:headlights

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 COMPLY WITH THE PHOTOMETRY REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

TOO MUCH LIGHT IN CERTAIN POINTS OF THE HEADLAMP COULD CREATE A DISTRACTION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29

Exterior lighting

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 REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E057000 2006-06-23

Exterior lighting:headlights

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 THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E042000 2006-05-22

Exterior lighting:headlights

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 REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

THE HEADLAMPS HAVE DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E026000 2006-03-23

Exterior lighting

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 SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 2 mo in service crash / fire / tow

AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAONSUME R SAW A LIGHT IN DASHBOARD. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

Electrical system mileage not reported 4 mo in service

WHEN DRIVING IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND OPERATE HORN AT THE SAME TIME.*AK

Electrical system mileage not reported 4 mo in service

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUNG WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START, POSSIBLY DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALSO THE PASSENGER SPEAKER IN THE DOOR WAS BLOWN.*AK *JG

Seat belts mileage not reported 2 mo in service

*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS TOO TIGHT CAUSING EXTREME PAIN IN SHOULDER, UNABLE TO USE AS DESIGNED. *YD

Other Silverado model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.