Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 22 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WHILE FRIVING ON A STREET I 8NSERTED A CIG LIGHTER IN TO CIG LIGHGER SOCKET. AND PULLED IT OUT RIGHT AWAY. SMOKE STARTED.COMING OUG FROM DASH AND VENTS. I PULLED 9VER AND POURED WATER INTO SOCKET DUE TO FIRE .N9 MY BATTERY LIGHT AND ODOMETER LIGHTS DO JOT TURN 9FF WHEB KEY IS OFF. AND NOW I START IT AND IT KEEPS STALLING. WHERE DO I START?
EMERGENCY LIGHT SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF. I NOTICED IT WAS BROKEN AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON CRAIG'S LIST. THE SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR YEARS.
EVAPORATED SYSTEM.
TRANNY, ABS, COOLING SYSTEM, TAILGATE, ETC. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK 2003 DIDN'T EXCHANGE TITLE UNTIL LATER RECALL WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT UNDER 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I FILE AN COMPLAIN RECALL REPAIR STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SAD THING MY FATHER IS AN RETIRED EMPLOYEE IN DALLAS LOCATION. RESEARCHED THE RECALLS FROM PREVIOUSLY AND PRESENT SAME RESULTS. THEY HAVE UNTIL 2 DAYS TO CONTACT ME @ [XXX] IN GOING TO THE WAREHOUSE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE OWNER, CFO, CEO WHOMEVER AND ASK FOR A FULL REFUND OR I'M FILING AN COMPLAINT AND SMALL CLAMS FOR 30 YRS WORTH. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IN ABOUT 2006, THE FUEL GAUGE IN MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT SHOWED EMPTY WHEN TANK WAS FULL. NO RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED TO US. WHEN HE HAD DIAGNOSED, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD CHIP OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, OR SWITCH. IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX.AT THIS TIME I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER & UNDERWENT SURGERY $ MOS. OF CHEMO. MY HUSBAND,MILITARY RETIREE, STAYED WITH ME IN HOSPITAL. AFTER MY CHEMO, HE HAD BOTH HIPS REPLACED AND WAS BEING TREATED UNTIL 2013 FOR SPINAL INJECTIONS. IN JULY 2013, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE 4 CANCER & PASSED AWAY IN AUGUST. IN THE MEANTIME, WHEN HE DROVE THE TRUCK HE RECORDED MILEAGE AFTER A FILL IN ORDER TO KEEP TRACK OF AMT. OF FUEL.I ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THIS AS BEING NON-SAFE, BUT HE COULD ONLY GET INTO A TRUCK BECAUSE OF HIS MEDICAL CONDITION, SO OUR CHOICES WERE LIMITED.NOW AFTER HIS PASSING, THE TRUCK IS IN MY NAME BUT I DO NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT.I AM STILL UNDER THE CARE OF AN ONCOLOGIST AND NEED THE TRUCK AT THIS TIME. ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM? IT WOULD RELIEVE THE STRESS & GIVE ME PEACE OF MIND REGARDING MY SAFETY. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. I WAS REFERRED TO YOU BY THE NHTSA. *TR
I PURCHASE MY CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP NEW IN 2001 AND HAVE MAINTAINED WELL. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE ON BOARD COMPUTER WARNING LIGHT WILL INDICATE MY FUEL TANK IS EMPTY AND THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WILL GO TO EMPTY. THE LIGHT AND GAUGE WILL REMAIN THIS WAY UNTIL I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. AT THAT TIME IT MAY WORK OR IT MAY NOT. I CURRENTLY HAVE 72,300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRENCE BEGAN AROUND 35,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN IT IS IN THE SHOP SO THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERN WITH THE CURRENT SAFETY RECALLS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE IMPACT BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT MAY ALSO BE AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE RECENT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC. *TR
RAN OUT OF FUEL ON HIGHWAY,FUEL GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN DROP TO EMPTY TRUCK STALLED OUT,JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED TRUCK.PREVIOUS CAR 2000 BUICK LESABRE HAD SAME ISSUE COST ABOUT $500.00 TO REPAIR,ALSO HAVE A 1996 CHEVY VAN THAT DOES THE SAME THING GM CAN NOT TELL ME THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE,THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF FUEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
PARKING BRAKE IS NOT HOLDING AND WE HAVE USED IT MAYBE 2 OR 3 TIMES. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE ITERNET. CAN YOU NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS. *TT
WIRES THAT ARE IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HOOK UP TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BREAK DO TO USE OF THE TILT-STEERING. THEY CAN BREAK AND SHORT OUT CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION OR NOT WORK AT ALL. OR TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY LIKE IN MY CASE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS ONE NIGHT AROUND 10.00 PM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS QUIT WORKING. *TR
WE OWN A 2001 CHEVY Z71 PICKUP. WE ARE HAVING A RECURRING AND POSSIBLE COMMON CHEVY PROBLEM OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON AND THE TRUCK FAILING TO START UNLESS THE SECURITY SYSTEM IS RESET. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY UNHOOKED THE AFTER MARKET REMOTE START A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SAYING THAT IT WAS CONFUSING THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT HELP. WE DESPERATELY NEED A RECALL ISSUED BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED OTHERWISE. THIS HAS BEEN ROUGH ON MY HUSBAND, BECAUSE HE WORKS AWAY FROM HOME AND I HAVE HAD TO PICK HIM UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MANY TIMES. *TR
GAS GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY, WHETHER VEHICLE IS FULL OR NOT. SWINGS BACK AND FORTH OCCASIONALLY. WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF TOO. ABS AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON WITH NO DETECTED REASON FOUND. *TR
AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK BEFORE DAYLIGHT, THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. I WOULD THEN ADJUST THE TILT STEERING AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE TILT A LITTLE MORE THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON AND I WOULD DRIVE AWAY. UNTIL ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THERE OWN. ALSO THE WIPERS WOULD FLINCH WHEN I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH. *TR
THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IN MY TRUCK FAILED AT ~ 41K MILES AND SENDS FAULTY SIGNALS TO THE GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE LEVEL INDICATED ON THE GAUGE FLUCTUATES BUT USUALLY READS EMPTY WHICH LEADS TO A VERY BRIGHT YELLOW "LOW FUEL" INDICATOR IN MY MESSAGE CENTER. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THE SAME MAKE/MODEL FROM 1999-2001 THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE 1) I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS REALLY IN MY TRUCKS GAS TANK AND COULD BE LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF ANY HIGHWAY AT ANY TIME, AND 2) THE BRIGHT YELLOW "LOW FUEL" INDICATOR IN THE MESSAGE CENTER THAT STAYS ON NEARLY CONSTANTLY IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. MY ACQUAINTANCES AND I HAVE ALL NOTIFIED THE CHEVROLET DEALER OF OUR PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD "CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL" (PARAPHRASING). *TR
ERATIC FUEL GUAGE. *TR
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE - DESIGN FAULT. PER CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THE PARKING BRAKE FAILURE TO ENGAGE IS DUE TO NOT USING THE PARKING BRAKE EACH TIME THE TRUCK IS PARKED. THIS IS A DESIGN FAULT AS A PART SHOULD NOT FAIL IF YOU USE IT ONLY AS NEEDED. CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 SILVERADO MANUAL TRANSMISSION BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. ABS BRAKES: ABS LIGHT GENERALLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK. CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL FOR THE ABS SYSTEM FAILURE ON THE 2001 SILVERADO BUT HAS LIMITED THE RECALL TO STATES WITH MORE EROSION (SALT) AND THEREFORE IS NOT FIXING THIS ISSUE IN TEXAS. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - INSTRUMENT PANEL: THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYS WARNING LIGHTS, E.G. ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ETC. INTERMITTENTLY. CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL ON THE 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER NOT FOR THIS VIN NUMBER. *TR
FUEL GAUGE MOVES FROM EMPTY TO FULL AND BACK AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, AND AT TIMES FAILS TO WORK AT ALL. AFTER TAKING IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO SAVE MY MONEY THAT IT WOULD ONLY GO OUT AGIN, THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL THAT GM HAS JUST IGNORDED. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN WITH OTHER CHEVY OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO GAS GAUGE IS ERRATIC. GOES BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY OR NOT WORK AT ALL. RAN OUT OF GAS AND ENGINE STALLED , LOST POWER BRAKES TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM STARTED LESS THAN 1000 MILES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AS THERE ARE FORUMS ON INTERNET WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS IT IS BAD SENDING UNIT AND WILL REPLACE FOR $800. *JB
BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED COMPLETELY , EMERGENCY BRAKE RUSTED COMPLETELY , MASSIVE RUST UNDER TRUCK , BRAKE CALIPERS RUSTED , POWER STEERING WENT OUT ,A.C. FAN WENT OUT, SHORT IN WIRING IN DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS, THIS A 2001, 56,000, MILES, LOW MILEAGE TRUCK TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, I LOOKED IT UP, THERE IS RUSTING AND TOTAL CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS IN MANY DIFFERENT STATES, OVER ALONG PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN WHEN THE ROTORS ARE REPLACED THEY ARE RUSTING COMPLETELY AGAIN. CHEVY IS SELLING AN EXPENSIVE TRUCK, AND THEN PROFITING AGAIN ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, AND MAKING A PREMIUM PROFIT ON THAT TOO.! THEY ARE NOT BOTHERING TO FIX A DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE CHEVY SILVERADO, MY FIRST AND LAST CHEVY. *NM
THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FOR 15 FAILURES AND OR PROBLEMS WITH GM 2001 CHEVY TRUCK. *BF THE STEERING ROD ASSEMBLY WOULD POP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, THE SHIFTER BOOT RIPPED IMMEDIATELY, THE TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE AND BENT THE TAILGATE, THE PCV VALVE WAS USING 4 QUARTS OF OIL AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THE BATTERY EXPLODED AT 40K MILES, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ON THE INSIDE HAD WORN DOWN THE METAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE STEREO BURNED OUT, THE LIGHTS HAD BURNED OUT, THE VALVE COVER WERE LEAKING OIL BEFORE 100K MILES, THE FUR WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH HAD BROKEN AT 50K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT AT 1K MILES AND THE DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PRE-IGNITION KNOCK AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROLS RIPPED AT 60K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETE GONE OUT AT 118K MILES AND THE SEAT BELTS LATCH SYSTEM HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. *SC
WE PURCHASED A 2001 SILVERADO EXT IN 7-01. TRUCK HAD ABOUT 16,000 MILES ON IT, WHEN WE BOUGHT IT NEW/USED. PARKING BRAKE SEEMED TO BE REALLY SOFT, BUT LOT ASSURED US, NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THAT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY WE HAD WITH VEHICLE'S, MADE IT EASIER FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE AND SUCH. YES THE BRAKE WORKS GREAT ON LEVEL GROUND, BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU REALLY NEED IT LIKE ON A SLOPED DRIVEWAY............. OR GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED! THIS IS WHEN THEY REALLY GIVE YOU THE WORKS!!DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE US ALMOST $200 TO FIX A 15 MINUTE JOB, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAD AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF ANOTHER PERSON. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I FEEL IT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, IF THESE(SO CALLED) GREAT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON GM VEHICLES DID WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR, GET REALLY SPONGY, EVEN WHEN CONSTANT PRESSURE ON PEDAL IS MAINTAINED, AND THE RESULT IS ERRATIC! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GMC/CHEVROLET BRAND?! ----P.S.- WE WERE TOLD THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT YET THERE IS NO RECALL ON A SAFETY DEFECT?! BY THE WAY, GM THIS IS THE LAST VEHICLE PURCHASE WE WILL MAKE FROM YOU. IT SEEMS THE QUALITY AND SAFETY FACTOR MEAN NOTHING TO YOUR COMPANY ANYMORE, WITHOUT TRYING TO MAKE MORE MONEY FROM THE CONSUMER...OH WELL, JUST ONE LESS CUSTOMER!! *CB
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH TRUCK. FIRST WAS THE SLIP YOKE IN THE DRIVE SHAFT, FELT LIKE TRANNY WAS SLIPPING FROM TAKE OFF AT START POSITION. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD COME ON WITH EVERY STOP. USUALLY AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, CAUSING TRUCK TO EXCEED 5-10 FT FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE. HAD FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED, FIXED FOR SOME TIME DOING IT AGAIN. ALSO IN THE MEAN TIME, HAD TO HAVE ALL BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. BRAKE SYSTEM IS AWFUL. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. ALSO, HAS COLD ENGINE KNOCK, VERY LOUD KNOCK, NOT A NORMAL KNOCK. SOMETHING ISNT RIGHT WITH THIS. DONE THIS SINCE A LITTLE OVER 20,000 MILES, WORSE WHEN TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE ARE LOW. HAD TO HAVE 4X4 SWITCH ON DASH REPLACED. KEPT GETTING SERVICE 4WD UNIT. OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER WITH ALL SAME PROBLEMS. STILL NOTHING DONE WITH GM, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SAFETY HAZARD.
MY 2001 CHEVROLET 1500 TRUCK WILL NOT START ALL THE TIME. *NLM
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