Is the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado a bad year?
710 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Silverado years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado are in line with other Silverado years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Silverado owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 51,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 328 (46%) | 35k–97k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 70 (10%) | 23k–60k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 39 (5%) | 20k–51k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 36 (5%) | 32k–59k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 30 (4%) | 12k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Parking brake | 30 (4%) | 36k–61k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 29 (4%) | 14k–66k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 25 (4%) | 38k–90k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 23 (3%) | 36k–85k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 22 (3%) | 20k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 19 (3%) | 18k–61k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 9 (1%) | 27k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 56 (8%) | 8k–48k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 27 (4%) | 18k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 51,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 710 complaints: 75 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 31 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Feb 2016.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My 2002 Chevrolet Silverado Z-71 transmission went out with only 45,000 miles on the truck. I had it repaired and was told it is a very common problem with chevrolets and GMC trucks.
On the way to my doctor's appt, I noticed that my truck did not shift to 2nd very well, but I parked, and when I was attempting to back out of parking space, the truck would not go into reverse.
Many of the problems took several times in the shop to fix. The castrophic failures in the engine & transmission have never been fixed.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 51,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado: 15
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.
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.
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.
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. Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
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.
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. Too much light in certain points of the headlamp could create a distraction, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
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
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. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
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.
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
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 can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed brake applications, which could result in a crash.
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 the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle. If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
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 the truck bed is not engaging fully in the stake pocket of the pickup truck. The bedliner can become detached from the pickup while it is motion, possibly endangering following motorists or pedestrians.
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 fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper. Anyone sitting or standing on the horizontal surface of the tailgate when both cables fractured could be injured by falling from the tailgate. On vehicles that have had the bumper removed, the tailgate may drop even lower.
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 pressurized fuel line creating a pinhole leak of natural gas to the atmosphere. A strong odor of natural gas may be detected from inside the vehicle, possibly accompanied by a hissing noise. If the natural gas were accidentally ignited, serious injury could result.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 26
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Gmc/chevrolet: engines, with EGR system, has leakage from EGR cooler engine coolant into the combustion chamber
Not engagement into drive, delayed, no engagement into reverse, and or a range inhibit
Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on, engine misfire, and/or engine noise
Planetary gear whine noise in first and second gear
NHTSA defect investigations: 12
Brake line corrosion failure
Brake line corrosion failure
Crank position sensor failure - stall
Parking brake failure
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
Neighbouring years
2001 Silverado: 876 complaints, keep it · 2003 Silverado: 694 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Silverado year
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Questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado a bad year?
710 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Silverado years. At 51,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (328), transmission and drivetrain (70), steering (39), body structure (36), air bags (30).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado have?
15 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 08E050000), Wheels (NHTSA 07E106000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.