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 S10 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 65 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 65, in the owner's own words
MY BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS WORK; I OFTEN HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES UP JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM TO APPLY. IT IS VERY SCARY. I CAN PUT MY FOOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE TRUCK WILL BARELY SLOW DOWN. I FEEL I WILL LIKELY REAR-END SOMEBODY OR ROLL INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS MISSING THE TEETH FOR HOLDING THE BRAKE IN PLACE. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND THEY SAY IT IS THE MASTER THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT OVER $1,200. THIS IS ONLY A DANGER IF USING THE CURSOR CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT WHICH I NEVER USE DUE TO THE ABS NOT WORKING.
I WAS TURNING LEFT AND ANOTHER CAR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION MADE A RIGHT TURN IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT MY BRAKES AND TRIED TO STOP BUT MY ABS DID NOT KICK IN AND I SLID ABOUT THIRTY FEET AND HIT THERE CAR. *TR
OUR ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND WHEN IT DOES THE ABS DON'T WORK. IT COMES ON WHENEVER IT WANTS. IT IS THE SAME ISSUES AS THE 2000 ARE HAVING AND THEY HAVE A RECALL. IT RECENTLY CAUSED THE BACK WHEEL NOT TO MOVE AT ALL. WE WERE TOLD THE SPRING INSIDE THE MODULE IS GOING OUT. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE AIR BAG FROM GOING ON. ALSO, THE IGNITION WON'T WORK THE TRUCK WON'T START. IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO GET IT TO START. WE WERE JUST TOLD THAT IT'S THE STARTER. THE SEATBELT LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY AND WON'T LET ME MOVE. *TR
THE BRAKE LINES HAVE ROTTED CAUSING BRAKE TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY STOP. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME MY BRAKE LINE HAS FAILED. *TR
MY 2001 S10 CHEVROLET PICK UP ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR EVER AND THE BRAKE SHOPS AND THE TIRE STORE MECHANICS TELL ME THERE ARE A LOT OF CHEVROLET TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR ESTIMATES I HAVE RECEIVED RANGE FROM $1000.00 TO $1500.00. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND IT HAS TO DO WITH TWO SOLDER POINTS IN THE ABS CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD AT THE ABS HEAD. SOME FOLKS TAKE THIS UNIT APART AND SOLDER THESE TWO POINTS AND THEY WORK/REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, SOMETIMES NOT. .IS GENERAL MOTORS FIXING THESE PROBLEMS?? *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING I WAS APPROACHING A FOUR WAY STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES ANY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES WORKED FINE FOR THE STOP BEFORE THIS ONE. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL STILL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, I HAD TO DOWN SHIFT TO STOP IN TIME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE STATION DOWN THE STREET. THEY FOUND ONE OF THE MAIN BRAKE LINE SHAD CORROSION AND HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I WAS LUCKY. I HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. I THINK MY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE ALLOWED ME TO AVOID A SERIOUS COLLISION. THERE WAS NO WARNING ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINES. ALSO THE MECHANIC NOTICED SERIOUS RUSTING OF THE REAR DISC BACKING PLATES, THESE WILL ALSO NEED REPLACING. SO FAR THE COST IS ABOUT $500. FOR JUST THE BRAKE LINES.THE TRUCK HAS UNDER 60,000 MILES. I HARDLY DRIVE IT. *TR
THE PARKING BRAKE IS INOPERABLE. THE RACHET MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK--I.E. DOES NOT HOLD THE BRAKE IN A SET POSITION. WORKED THE PRIOR TIME SET ON A HILL 5 MONTHS EARLIER. *TR
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY BECOMES INOPERABLE AND THE LIGHT COMES ON WITH THE RED BRAKE LIGHT. THE DEALER SAYS IT TRASH IN THE SYSTEM AND DOESN'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NOW THE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME AND INSPECTION IS DUE. DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, THE PART COST $900.00 AND THEN LABOR, JOB WILL BE $1300.00. I HAVE A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR VAN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE THE MANUFACTURER PAY FOR THE REPAIR? THIS IS A CLOSED SYSTEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED OR SERVICED. *JS
PARKING BRAKE WONT STAY ENGAGED WHEN PUSHING PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION THEY FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED VERY BADLY AND HAD FALLEN APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
AT LOW SPEED AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES MAKING IT HARD TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE NOTICED AND HAPPENS EVERYTIME THIS SITUATION HAPPENS. *TR
2001 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION PARKING BRAKE FAILURE FOOT ACTIVATED PARKING / EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO STAY ENGAGED LEADING TO DANGEROUS CONDITION AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH. FOOT ACTIVATED PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE AND THEN GO OFF. AFTER BRAKING AND ROLLING OVER A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD AT STOP SIGN PEDAL LOSES PRESSURE AND STOPPING BECOMES HARD. I ROLLED PAST STOP SIGN AND WAS LIGHTLY STRUCK ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
THE FUEL LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON WON'T SHUT OFF ON MY 2001 CHEVY S10 CREW CAB.*CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES MADE A SCREECHING SOUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR FRICTION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
DURING ROUNTINE OPERATION, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE EMER AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER CHECKING WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, I EAS INFORMED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM IT WOULD COST APPX 1,200.00. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND REMAINED OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. BRAKES OPERATE NORMAL, ITS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO DETERMINE THE EXACT EXTENT OF THE FAILURE AND TO WHAT SYSTEM. ALSO CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH GM S SERIES VEHICLES ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP. *TR
ON JULY 22, 2005, I PAID THE DEALER $615.74 TO REPLACE A SHORTED AIR PUMP. I BROUGHT IT IN SINCE THE LIGHT GAUGES WERE TURNING ON. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTED ON AND OFF. ONE WEEK LATER, THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $105.19 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. ON AUG. 10, I PAID ANOTHER SHOP $852.08 TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR. ON AUG. 30, MY S-10 STALLED AND HASN'T WORKED SINCE THEN. A MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED (ANOTHER $3000 +) DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE RADIATOR. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING OR HEATING EXCEPT WHEN THE LIGHT GAUGES WERE TURNING ON IN JULY. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW IN 2000 AND HAVE SPENT OVER $7000 IN REPAIRS AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE THEN. THE BATTERY ACID HAS LEAKED. BRAKE PADS KEEP WEARING OUT. SEVERAL AIR INJECTION MALFUNCTIONS AND PUMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I'VE PURCHASED AT LEAST 2 SETS OF TIRES. IT HAS LESS THAN 72,000 MILES. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE JERKED. WHEN IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHAT THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THEY STATED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED TO SPECIFICALLY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - *NM
AS OUR SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 S-10 EXT CAB PICKUP HOME, HE CAME INTO A CURVE AND THE TRUCK HAD NO BRAKING POWER. HE SAID HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO BRAKES. HE WENT OFF THE CURVE AND HIT A TREE. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. MY SON AS WELL AS HIS TWO FRIENDS WERE TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AS THEY HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS ON AND WERE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT. I WOULD HATE TO SAY WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED. AFTER SEEING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED BY OTHER 2001 S-10 OWNERS, I'M WONDERING IF SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THEY RECTIFY THIS BRAKE PROBLEM. *JB
CONTACT STATES: LAST MONTH HUSBAND COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THEN 35 MPH IN A 55 MPH ZONE . IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING WAS STOPPING THE WHEEL BACK FROM MOVING, AND IT STARTED SMOKING FROM THE WHEEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO ZONE, AND THEY SAID THE BRAKE WAS PRESSING UP AGAINST THE WHEEL. THEY HAD THE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS CHANGED. BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY PUT ON LOADED BRAKE PADS, AND REDID THE HOSES AND THE CALIPERS . HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE HOSES. THERE WAS NO CONTAMINATED FLUID PUT IN THE CAR. INSURANCE ADJUSTERS STATED THEY DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING MECHANICAL.*AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS GET HOT SPOTS AND WEAR OUT PADS. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK THREE YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES DONE SEVEN TIMES DUE TO THESE HOT SPOTS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THREE DEALERS HERE IN TOWN AND THEY SAY "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT WE CAN DO YOUR FRONT BRAKES FOR $300", I HAVE DONE THIS THREE TIMES. WITH IN A COUPLE MONTHS IT'S BACK TO THE SAME WAY IT WAS, NOW IF I HAVE THE BRAKES DONE AGAIN, I NEED TO REPLACE THE ROTOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TURNED SO MANY TIMES.
HORRIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 6 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE BURN OUT OF THE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. SHIFTING HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE REBUILD. VEHICLE EASILY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND INCREASINGLY LOSES SPEED...NO MATTER IF THE GAS PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR OR NOT. TRUCK WILL GO 65 MPH IN 2ND GEAR WITH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND LOSE SPEED RAPIDLY STILL. SECOND, BRAKES LOCK UP GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS, AND THEN SEEM TO NOT WANT TO WORK PROPERLY ON OCCASION. LASTLY, TAILGATE CABLES HAVE SNAPPED AFTER I SAT ON THE TAILGATE (I'M 5'0" AND 100LBS!!). *AK
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.
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