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 Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 307 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 307, in the owner's own words
ABS locks up because of faulty wheel speed sensors known problem locking up brake pedal resulting in loss of control of vehicle causing collisions and dangerous situations.
The gm/gmc trucks with abs are unsafe and dangerous to the drivers and other pedestrians and vehicles on all roads. The Abs module light comes on and the brake warning light after driving normally and occasionally on its own and after a bump in the road. The abs system is unavailable/disabled when the light is on, the abs system has stopped and the light turned on when applying the brakes hard to avoid other vehicles and other actions such as steering away to avoid an accident arenecessary. While doing research on this problem I discovered that many gm/gmc pickup trucks have this problem with abs failure and the only sure repair being to replace the abs/ebcm module, there are codes stored for the abs system showing it has failed and stopped working. This problem is so large that an aftermarket industry has grown to address this issue providing rebuilt modules. I worked for a chevrolet dealership for 19 years and am an ase master technician and tested my own silverado and have had to replace my abs module, at my own cost as nearly all other owners, to ensure that I and my wife will be safe while driving. Please make the manufacturers responsible and liable for repairs/replacement so that the truck owners and others sharing the roads stay safe and alive.
Break line and break system has been giving issues and failure has occur. To the point of almost causing an accident. Steering issues several times. Pick-up truck suspension since newer truck has had big issues. Please remediate.
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light, low fuel warning light, and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The parking brake will fail without warning. The only way that it will work is with continuous adjustment. It has been repaired by a mechanic only to fail again. This has been a recurring problem since I purchased the vehicle in 2011.
THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON MY 2001 CHEVT 1500 SILVERADO RUSTED INTO. IS WAS NOT A SALT CORRISON. MANY TRUCKS HAVE THIS ISSUE. I WORK IN A PARTS STORE AND A MAN CAME IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS KNOW THESE CHECY TRUCKS IN THIS YEAR DO THIS. I HOPE U CAN TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND HAVE GM TO CORRECT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. I RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO IT BREAKING AND SLIDE UPON A FENCE. WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE . I HAD NOTHING NO BRAKES AT ALL. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 REAR BRAKE LINE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKING. OWNER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH ON DIRT ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE USING 4WHEEL DRIVE LOW. BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED 9/18/2018 AND THE MECHANIC NOTED HE'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SNAP LIKE THAT BEFORE WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF DIRECT DAMAGE. ON INSPECTION BRAKE FLUID WAS CORRODED DESPITE HAVING BEEN RECENTLY CHANGED OUT. BRAKE SYSTEM SECOND FAILURE: ON APRIL 16, 2019 VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A STOP WHILE OWNER WAS BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN. VEHICLE SLOWED BUT DIDN'T STOP DESPITE BRAKES APPLIED. OWNER WAS TICKETED FOR FAILURE TO STOP. OWNER ON TURNING VEHICLE ON AFTER TRAFFIC STOP SAW ABS LIGHT NOW ON (WASN'T ON PRIOR TO THIS) AND ON BRAKING TO TURN VEHICLE THEN FAILED TO BRAKE COMPLETELY AT WHICH POINT BOTH ABS DASH LIGHT AND RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. OWNER AGAIN STOPPED VEHICLE USING 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW. OWNER IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED VEHICLE'S BRAKE FLUID LEVELS AND FOUND FLUID WAS AGAIN LOW DESPITE HAVING JUST BEEN SERVICED ON APRIL 10, 2019 WITH ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND BRAKE INSPECTION. OWNER ADDED FLUID, LOOKED FOR LEAKS AND ON "PUMPING UP THE BRAKES" FELT SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO THEN TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE AND INSPECTED BRAKES 6 DAYS PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED BY LICENSED MECHANICS AND DETERMINED TO HAVE HAD ABS MODULE FAILURE, BRAKE FLUID FAILURE (AGAIN) AND COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPAIRED/REPLACED, BRAKE FLUID WAS EVACUATED, FLUSHED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR BRAKE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR SUBJECT TO ANY CONDITIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE TYPE OF BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES THAT IT IS EXPERIENCING. BECAUSE OF VIN FOR THIS VEHICLE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GM RECALL FOR VEHICLES HAVING THESE PROBLEMS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES SLIPPED AND THE PEDAL WAS STIFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED PARAMUS CHEVROLET (94 NJ-17, PARAMUS, NJ 07652, (201) 261-7100) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
I'VE HAD MULTIPLE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER 2 YEARS. ONE OF THE FIRST CONCERN WAS MY HEADLIGHT DAYTIME BULBS MELTED TO THE HARNESS AND THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MELTED THRU THE NUMBER SO I STARTED CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT. BUT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INDECENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY WHEEL BEARING HUB GAVE OUT N THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO SUPPORT THE TIRE ONTO THE TRUCK SO MY FRONT DRIVER TIRE WENT FLYING OFF N MY TRUCK COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP INTO THE GROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY SELF, MY FINDER, THE WHEEL SENSOR, N THE DRIVER DOOR. AFTER GETTING ALL THAT FIXED I'M AFRAID OF THE OTHER HUBS GIVING OUT. ALSO WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AIR IN THE PEDAL N THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BC THE SENSOR GOT DAMAGED OR IF THE ABS BOX IS DAMAGE FROM CORROSION AND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER SEEM TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE REPLACED MANY OF PARTS ON THIS TRUCK N WHEN I DO IT SEEMS LIKE ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.
THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE OF BRAKE LINES. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT.
BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING LINE TO RUPTURE WHILE IN OPERATION, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN LAST 9 MONTHS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE AND BRAKE LINE WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE HIMSELF. THE CONTACT CALLED MCCARTHY CHEVROLET LEE'S SUMMIT (945 SE OLDHAM PKWY, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64081, (816) 356-6610) AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.
PARKING BRAKE NOT WORKING ON 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. HAS ROLLED WHEN PARKED AND IN GEAR. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED APPROX. ON 10/2016. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS. I FOUND THE FUEL LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL LINES FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE. LAST WEEK A BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO RUST PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT. THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. A LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED FROM THE ABS PUMP TO THE REAR AXEL. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE IN VERY POOR CONDITION. THE COST TO REPAIR WILL EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE TRUCK.
ANTI-LOCK ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING A NO BRAKE SITUATION. ALMOST HIT CAR IN FRONT AND STATIONARY OBJECTS.
WHILE DRIVING I LOST BRAKE PEDAL. ALL THE LINES HAD SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE STEEL LINES CAUSING A FAILURE AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. I SUGGEST TO MAKE IT MANDATORY TO HAVE ONLY STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES ON ALL VEHICLES.
I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY, THEN IN FRONT OF ME WAS A YELLOW LIGHT ABOUT TO TURN RED. I WAS FAR AWAY SO I DIDINT BOTHER TO SPEED UP AND I WAS ONLY GOING 45 MPH. THEN I SLIGHTLY PRESS THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AND I FIND OUT THAT MY BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING.
LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING ON DRY PAVEMENT. NOT ALLOWING TRUCK TO STOP SAFELY WHILE TRYING TO PARK. HIT A CONCRETE WALL TODAY. CHEVY CLAIMS TO HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED THIS IN 2006 BUT APPARENTLY NOT. IF IT WERE FIXED THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. JUST THANKFUL NO ONE WAS HURT.
ABS ACTIVATES SPORADICALLY WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS, BOTH IN FORWARD AND BACKWARD MOTION. THIS INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE DRAMATICALLY. PREVIOUS RECALLS WERE ISSUED IN 2006 (CLEAN SENSORS) AND 2009 (REPLACE SENSORS). APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOW SAFETY ISSUE! LOCAL DEALER REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS WITHOUT CHARGE AND REFERS ME TO GM.
DROVE TRUCK TO GO FISHING, PARKED, FINISHED FISHING AND WENT TO TAKE TRUCK OUT OF PARK AN PUT INTO GEAR AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. POPPED HOOD TO CHECK MASTER CYLINDER, NO VISIBLE PROBLEM, LOOKED UNDER TRUCK, SEEN FLUOD DRIPPING. WENT TO DRIVERS SIDE WHERE FLUID WAS DRIPPING AND SEEN ALL BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND RUSTY AND A BISTED LINE. HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOPING THE E BRAKE WOULD SLOW MY SPEED, IT DID NOT, SO HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES AND HAD TO DRIVE THRU TOWN UP AND DOWN HILLS PUMPING THE PEDAL HOPING THEIR WAS ENOUGH FLUID LEFT TO CREATE PRESSURE. HAD TO ROLL THRU 3 STOP SIGNS AND A RED LIGHT, WITH HAZARDS ON HONKING TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS
EXTREMELY RUSTY BRAKE LINES, RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH DUE TO NO PROTECTION FROM ELEMENTS. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET.
HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. LOOKS VERY RUSTY. FRONT SEATBELT FAILED, DOESN'T RETRACT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO MASSIVE, SYSTEM WIDE, CORROSION. ALL LINES SHOW EVIDENCE OF DETERIORATION. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR DURING A NORMAL, IN TOWN STOP. WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. *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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