Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Redundant Silverado 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 44, in the owner's own words
Unknown Lost my truck to fire I was shopping and when I came out of the store the fire department had already put the fire out. They had said the fire started under the hood on the driver side.
THIS VEHICLE HAS ABS ACTIVATING BETWEEN 3MPH AND 10MPH WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THERE IS NO CONDITION WARRANTING THE NEED FOR ABS (E.G. WET OR ICY ROADS) WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THERE IS NO CODES OR DASHBOARD LIGHTS FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUES DOES INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON DIRT ROADS, OR WHEN HAULING HEAVY LOADS. GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND IT IS CAUSED BY RUST AROUND THE ABS SENSORS. THERE IS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000) FOR VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT DESPITE MATCHING THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND THE VERY SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME REASON. GM HAS TOLD ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND HOPE THAT MAYBE SOMEDAY THE RECALL WILL BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE.
EXTREME RUST, TAILGATE CABLES BROKE IN USE, HAD TO REPLACE. TAILGATE STILL WON'T LATCH PROPERLY, DROPPING OPEN WHILE DRIVING/HAULING FAIRLY OFTEN; BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT, REPLACED BEFORE HAD ACCIDENT; WHOLE FRAME RUSTED - UNDER CARRIAGE//TIRE WELLS/DRIVE SHAFT/AROUND REECE HITCH SO I WORRY ABOUT PULLING TRAILER/HAILING. HORN HAS RUSTED OFF. ONLY 77,000 MILES AS I DO NOT DRIVE IT DAILY, JUST TO WORK AROUND MY PLACE OR PICKUP/HAUL/TRAILER SOMETHING. GM NEEDS RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS RUST ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
RUSTED BRAKE LINES X-2 ,BRAKES FAILED AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, STOPPED IN TIME NO WRECK, HAD TO SPLICE LINE WITH COUPLINGS.
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINE. BRAKE LINES LEADING TO REAR BRAKES AND LEFT FRONT RUSTED THROUGH AND BLED OUT. I WAS TRAVELLING 55MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LINES OFTEN FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MANY TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 09/20/16*LJ *TR
THIS IS THE 5TH TIME MY BRAKES ARE HANGING UP AND OVER HEATING THE WHEEL. SMOKING SEVERLY. HAD PROBLEM WITH ABS. SYSTEM SO I UNPLUGGED SENSORS FROM FRONT WHEELS. AND ON THE 1ST THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DID IT AGAIN. DOESN'T MATTER IF ON STATE HWY OR CITY STREETS. ALWAYS STARTS WHEN MOVING. A WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL. THEN PULLING RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING ON WHICH WHEEL IS LOCKING.
BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO CURRY AUTO IN BLOOMINGTON, IN FOR REPLACEMENT OF RUSTED BRAKE LINES. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER WHEN ANOTHER ORIGINAL SET OF BRAKE LINES UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVING IN HILLY COUNTRY AND WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO CRASH INTO SOMETHING. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SILVERADO TRUCKS OF BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT. I HAVE A 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER THAT HAS RUSTED OUT QUARTER PANELS AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE ORIGINAL.THIS TRUCK IS RUST FREE EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LINES. GM SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THESE TRUCKS. *TR
DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I USE MY BRAKES THEY FELT SOFT THE NEXT TIME I USED THEM THE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER STOPPING MY TRUCK I SEE A RUSTY BRAKE LINE UNDER MY TRUCK HAD A HOLE IN IT AND FLUID WAS POURING OUT. *TR
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AFTER LAUNCHING MY BOAT. FOUND THAT A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD WITH THE BOAT IN TOW. ALL BRAKES LINES WERE RUSTED AND I HAD THEM REPLACED FOLLOWING WEEK. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES. GM REALLY NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
ON THE WAY TO PICK UP SOME ITEMS FROM A RELATIVE THAT LIVED 42 MILES, APPROXIMATELY 32 MILES INTO THE TRIP IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, WITHIN 4 MILES OF OUR DESTINATION, THE BRAKES WERE ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. FORTUNATELY, WE MADE IT, HOWEVER AS SOON AS WE PARKED AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WE HEARD A POP AND LIQUID BEGAN SPRAYING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT GRILL NEAR THE HEADLIGHT. A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF LIQUID THEN BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE BY THE BUMPER AS WELL. ORIGINALLY WE BELIEVED IT TO BE COOLANT AS IT HAD A GREEN TINT TO IT, HOWEVER THIS DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE POOR BRAKE RESPONSE. WE THOUGHT PERHAPS THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW, AND CHECKED THE RESERVOIR. THE RESERVOIR HAD SOME STILL, BUT SHOWED LOW. WE ADDED SOME, BUT IT POURED OUT ALMOST AS FAST AS IT WENT IN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE FOUND THE LEAK NOT TO BE COOLANT, BUT THE ACTUAL BRAKE LINES HAD BLOWN OUT DUE TO RUST, AND WHAT SPRAYED OUT WAS BRAKE FLUID MIXED WITH RUST. HAD THIS HAPPENED 20 MINUTES LATER, AFTER WE WOULD HAVE LOADED A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRICKS IN THE BED, AND WE HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS AND EVEN DEADLY. WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS SITE BY LOOKING ONLINE AND SEEING THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING - CHEVROLET SAVING A FEW DOLLARS AND USING STEEL FOR BRAKE LINES INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL - A COST OF LESS THAN $40 PER VEHICLE (WE PRICED REPLACEMENTS AND THE STEEL WAS $195, WHILE STAINLESS STEEL WAS $233), AND NO WARNING TO CONSUMERS GIVEN EVEN AFTER THEY ACKNOWLEDGED PUBLICLY AND THE NHTSA INVESTIGATED, BUT DID NOTHING...SO MUCH FOR PROTECTING THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR HOME. HOPEFULLY, NO ONE HAS TO DIE BEFORE THEY'RE FORCED TO INFORM ALL CURRENT OWNERS TO CHECK THEIR BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY CHOSE TO USE STEEL IN AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY KNOWN FOR STEEL RUSTING! *TR
I HAD JUST REPLACED THE HUB AND BEARING HOUSING ON THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ON MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE 2001 CHEVROLET HD2500 SILVERADO PICKUP AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REFILLING AND BLEEDING THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES. DURING THIS PROCESS IT APPEARED AS IF IT WAS REQUIRING MORE FLUID THAN I HAD REMOVED IT WAS THEN THAT I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. TO MY SURPRISE AFTER REMOVING THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES AT WHAT I SAW, THERE WERE THE BRAKE LINES EITHER RUSTED AWAY OR DELAMINATED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN OVER FIFTY YEARS OF REPAIRING MY OWN VEHICLES, I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT I WASN'T ON THE ROAD TOWING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WHEN THE BRAKE LINES FAILED IN SUCH A CATASTROPHIC MANNER. SINCE THIS HAPPENED LATE IN OCTOBER OF 2013 I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES, IF YOU NEED PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM I CAN PROVIDE THEM TO YOU. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON US 41 WHEN THE LIGHT STARTED TO CHANGED I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST, THIS FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN SEPT 2012, THEN THIS NOVEMBER THE SAME THING OCCURRED ACCEPT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE BURST. BOTH TIMES I HAD THE CHEVROLET DEALER PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE SECOND REPAIR ,I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT THIS OCCURS WITH TRUCKS THAT ARE IN THE NORTHERN STATES QUITE OFTEN AND IS DUE TO CORROSION THAT ATTACKS THE CARBON STEEL BRAKE LINES. I WAS VERY LUCKY IN BOTH BRAKE FAILURES THAT NOBODY WAS IN FRONT OF ME, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE INJURIES.. *TR
BRAKE LINE CORROSION CAUSED TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR
WHILE BACKING UP THE TRUCK TO HOOK UP TO A TRAILER, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES FAILED. I PRESSED THE PEDAL A FEW MORE TIMES AND HEARD BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM OUTSIDE THE CAB SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. AFTER LOOKING AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND FIREWALL I TRACED THE LINES ALONG THE FRAME AND FOUND THAT ALL FOUR LINES ALONG THE FRAME RAIL WERE SEVERELY RUSTED/CORRODED. AT LEAST ONE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOST PRESSURE AND THE TRUCK CAN ONLY BE SLOWED BY USING THE PARKING BRAKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE BRAKE LINES BECAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 11/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND IT TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO STOP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES. UPDATED 11/29/12
I NOTICED MY BRAKES STARTING TO FEEL SOFT AFTER A PANIC STOP AND A LEAK UNDER MY TRUCK. THE LEAK WAS TRACED TO THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE TRUCK CAB LEADING TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKE VALVE. ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS EXTENSIVE CORROSION TO THE BRAKE LINES. ALL BRAKE LINES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK. *TR
COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKING SYSTEM. AS I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT (AT ABOUT 5 MPH) THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AS I APPLIED THE SERVICE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO BRAKING CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AS IT ROLLED ACROSS THE STREET BY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE AND BUMPING IT AGAINST THE CURB. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE DAMAGE OR OCCUPANT INJURY. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT SHOWED EITHER BEFORE THE EVENT OR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND I REAPPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP AND WE ARE WAITING TO GET THE PARTS TO REPAIR. THERE IS A POOL OF BRAKE FLUID LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHICH IS WHERE THE BRAKE LINE HAS CORRODED AND FAILED. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES AS THEY ARE ALSO CORRODED, AS WELL AS ALL THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS BECAUSE OF CORROSION. I WILL RETAIN THE CORRODED PARTS FOR FUTURE INSPECTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS ON LOW, FLAT SURFACES, THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE ABS SENSOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 06/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS FOR HIS MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE HUB ASSEMBLY, ABS, SENSOR, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/16/11*JB
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON THE 2001 CHEVROLET PICKUP,THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEM FROM 1999 AND UP TO THE LAST YEAR OR SO. THE EMERGENCY /PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD AND IF IT DOES WORK IT IS A ONE TIME USE ONLY DUE TO POOR DESIGN.THE BRAKE IS A SINGLE PIECE THAT HAS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE SHOE ON IT AND WHEN APPLIED IT SIMPLY BENDS THE SHOE OUT TO MAKE CONTACT AND THEN IT CAN NOT COME BACK IN SO THE BRAKE STAYS PARTLY ON UNTIL IT BURNS UP LEAVING THE PICKUP WITH NO PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE . I HAVE HAD MINE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE LEARNED TO NEVER SET IT UNLESS IT IS A EMERGENCY UNLESS I WISH TO SPEND 100 REPLACING THE SHOE. THIS I FEEL IS A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX. *TR
SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE ON 2001 CHEVY 2500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH 70K MILES - HAD DEALER REPLACE RUSTED LINES OVER FUEL TANK TWO MONTHS AGO, CHECKED ALL BRAKE SYSTEMS AND DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLE ABOUT 250 MILES SINCE REPAIRED. TODAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING AT A 4-WAY STOP DOWNTOWN. ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIANS ON SIDE WALK. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT IS NORMAL LEVEL. WILL HAVE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. NO OBVIOUS LEAKS OR DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEMS. *TR
RUSTED BRAKELINES HAVE RENDERED MY TRUCK USELESS UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE AFFORDED BECAUSE I SURE CANT GET TO THE ABS TO UNSCREW THE BACK BRAKE LINE ! BESIDE THE FACT THAT ONE WOULD THINK A 9 YEAR OLD TRUCK'S BRAKE LINE WOULD BE THE LAST THING TO WORRY ABOUT, THE ROCKER PANELS THAT WILL COST 5-6 THOUSAND TO FIX ACCORDING TO MACO HAVE ALSO FAILED AND HAVE RUSTED AWAY TO NEAR NOTHING. SO FOR THE SECOND TIME IN MY LIFE, I AM LEFT WITH A BEAUTIFUL TRUCK I HAVE TO CRUSH. PERHAPS IF I COULD AFFORD TO BE THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR ONCE, THIS SORT OF THING WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO ME. GOOD LOOKING TRUCK, AWESOME ENGINE DESIGN, LOUSY METAL AND HARD TO SERVICE MAJOR COMPONENTS. I PAID $2500 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TRUCK ONLY TO HAVE MY 2001 2500 SILVERADO KILLED BY A BRAKELINE. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW TRUCK EVERY 5 YEARS TO AVOID THIS SORT OF NONSENSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 TRUCK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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