Chevrolet Silverado Parking Brake Problems
Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about parking brake problems on the Chevrolet Silverado across 9 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (58). The words owners use most often: “emergency brake” (30% of reports).
- 196parking brake complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $710typical repair cost reported by owners
- 8%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Emergency brake: mentioned in 59 of 196 complaints (30%)
- Manual transmission: mentioned in 15 of 196 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical parking brake repair on the Chevrolet Silverado at $710, and half of them between $360 and $990.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2010), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do parking brake problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 196 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury.
Chevrolet Silverado parking brake complaints by model year
| Model year | Parking Brake complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Silverado | 1 | 1% | 31,000 |
| 2007 Silverado | 1 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2004 Silverado | 4 | 1% | 24,943 |
| 2003 Silverado | 6 | 1% | 43,500 |
| 2002 Silverado | 30 | 4% | 50,000 |
| 2001 Silverado | 51 | 6% | 38,500 |
| 2000 Silverado | 58 | 4% | 46,500 |
| 1999 Silverado | 43 | 3% | 67,967 |
| 1998 Silverado | 2 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Parking brake
Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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 parking brake cable assembly. The recall began on july 29, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 chevrolet silverado. While the vehicle was parked on a sloped driveway without the emergency brake engaged, it rolled out of the driveway. The contact found the vehicle in the middle of the street still locked and engaged in park. The contact parked the vehicle back in…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 chevrolet silverado. While parked, the vehicle rolled away. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the emergency brake fractured and multiple warning lights were illuminated. The contact also stated that there were multiple messages displayed across the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet silverado. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic that the rear rotors were worn out, which caused the parking brake to malfunction. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet silver ado. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that all the brake lines were severely corroded. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer…
Brake line failure due to excessive corrosion. Was able to apply emergency brake and come to a safe stop. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Silverados have parking brake problems?
No. NHTSA has 196 owner complaints about parking brake for the Chevrolet Silverado. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Silverado parking brake?
Yes: 1 safety recall list parking brake. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix parking brake problems on the Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners report a typical cost of $710 (half paid between $360 and $990), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about parking brake problems on the Chevrolet Silverado?
The most frequent phrase is “emergency brake”, in 59 of 196 complaints, followed by “manual transmission” (15).
Other Chevrolet Silverado problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (2,302)
- Power Train problems (743)
- Electrical System problems (711)
- Service Brakes problems (706)
- Steering problems (533)
- Structure problems (490)
- Visibility problems (486)
- Air Bags problems (478)
See all Chevrolet Silverado problems.