Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 17 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 DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON US ROUTE 15 THE TRANSMISSION LET LOOSE. DOING 55MPH AND LOST DRIVE AND 3RD GEARS. FLUID AND PARTS WERE SPREAD ALL BEHIND MY TRUCK CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS FRACTURED AROUND TRANSFER CASE HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
I STARTED NOTICING RUST SPOTS ON THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. THEN I REALIZED IT WAS RUSTING OUT HOLES IN THE TRUCK IN CERTAIN AREAS. AFTER I STARTED NOTICING THESE SPOTS, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TOWING MY LAWN EQUIPMENT AND HEADING TO MY NEXT JOBSITE. WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN I WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AT ALL AND COURSE I WAS GOING DOWN HILL. SO I STARTED TO TRY AND SLOW DOWN THE TRUCK BY DOWNSHIFTING TO A LOWER GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN A FEW MILES PER HOUR BUT NOT NEAR ENOUGH. AS I WAS COMING AROUND A CURVE NOT LONG AFTER THE BRAKES STARTED FAILING. NOT TO FAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS STOPPED TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO STOP BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH. I ONLY SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH BEFORE I WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE BACK OF A CAR HEAD ON. SO I DID THE ONLY OTHER THING I COULD TO MAYBE MAKE IT OUT WITHOUT A FATAL CRASH. I WENT OFF THE ROAD AROUND THE CAR AND HIT THE PARKING BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE IT FAILED AS WELL. SO I TURNED THE TRUCK REAL SHARP TO DODGE THE TREES AND SLID SIDEWAYS FOR A WHILE AND THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AND I WAS SO SICK I HAD A BAD PANIC ATTACK AND STARTED THROWING UP AND MY HEART FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING HIT BY A HAMMER AND MY BODY HURT SO BAD FROM THE TRUCK COMING TO A STOP AND ME SLAMMING INTO THE ARM REST AND THE SEAT BELT CUT MY NECK STOMACH AND CHEST. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY TRUCK AND NOTICED I HIT A PILE OF LOGS AND DAMAGED MY TIRES AND THE BODY OF MY TRUCK IN THE SEVERAL PLACES. THEN I TOOK IT TO A AUTO SHOP AND THEY FOUND OUT CHEVY DIDN'T PUT ANY CORROSIVE PROTECTION UNDER THE TRUCK OR ON PARTS. THE BRAKE LINES HAD BLEW OUT CAUSE OF THE RUST. ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE SHOT ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER BRAKE PARTS AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER THE TRUCK AND OUTSIDE THE TRUCK IS SOLID RUST. I COULD HAVE GOT KILLED IF I DIDN'T REACT WELL. NOW I PAY FOR A TRUCK I CAN'T DRIVE. *TR
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM THIRD TO FOURTH THE ENGINE APPEARED TO HAVE A STUCK THROTTLE CABLE. PULLED THE TRUCK SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND CHECK THE THROTTLE CABLE MAKING SURE IT WAS NOT BROKEN OR KINKED. I RESTARTED THE TRUCK AND THE RPMS AT IDOL WERE AT 2000 AND THEN I PLACED THE TRUCK INTO FIRST GEAR AND BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS MY HOME. AS I SHIFTED FROM 1 TO SECOND THE RPMS BEGAN TO RISE. AS I PLACED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN RPMS TO 3000 AND THEN ONTO 4000. I PLACED THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND ALLOW THE MOTION OF THE ENGINE TO PUSH THE TRUCK FORWARD AND USING THE BRAKES I WAS ABLE TO KEEP SPEEDS BELOW 45 AND WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RISE ABOVE 4000. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK HOME AND INSPECTION OF THE THROTTLE BODY, A HALF CUP MOVABLE PLATE WAS FOUND ATTACHED TO THE BUTTERFLY..THIS HAD PREVENTED THE BUTTERFLY TO CLOSE AND HAD TORN FROM THE BUTTERFLY PLATE. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY DOCUMENTATION ON THIS PLATE OR CUP ON ANY SITES NOR IS IT MENTIONED IN ANY OWNER MANUALS. I WAS LUCKY, BUT OTHERS WHO ARE NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED MAY NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR EVEN AN INCREASE CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DEATH OR INJURY. *TR
TRANSMISSION LOST 1ST AND REVERSE. SPOKE WITH TRANSMISSION MECHANIC AND LEARNED THAT THE GM 4L60E USES "PRESSED POWDERED METAL" TO MANUFACTURE THE SUNSHELL IN THE 4L60E. LEARNED THAT MECHANICS REFER TO THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION AS A "140 THOUSAND TO 160 THOUSAND MILE PART" REQUIRING A VERY EXPENSE REBUILD OR REPLACE. ALSO LEARNED THAT AFTERMARKET SUNSHELLS ARE AVAILABLE IN CASE HARDENED STEEL FOR ABOUT $50.00 USD. *JS
THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE CONCERNING ALL ASPECTS OF BRAKING SYSTEM. FIRST AT 44,000 ABS SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEN AT 53,400 ALL 4 NEW ROTORS AND PADS ALL THE WAY AROUND, 82,000 MILES PARKING BRAKE NEEDS REPLACED, 81,000 FRONT AXLE SEAL LEAKING, THEN AT APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES BRAKE LINES POPS WITH TRAILER ATTACHED. TRUCK IS TOWED TO GARAGE ONLY TO FIND THAT BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTY AND POPPED. ALL LINES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED TOTAL COST OVER $1,000. AT 96,600 NEED FRONT ROTORS AND REAR BRAKES, AT 126,00 NEED REAR ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES AND 1 ORIGINAL BRAKE LINE FROM REAR TO FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT THAT NEVER WAS REPLACED. COST 268.00. USED DIFFERENT GARAGES FOR WORK AND BOTH HAVE HAD TROUBLE REPLACING HYDRAULIC LINES AND ONE IS A STATE INSPECTION STATION. BRAKING SYSTEM HAS COST ME A FORTUNE AND I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER CHEVY DUE TO HIGH REPAIR COST. TRUCK WAS NOT NEGLECTED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 114,000 MILES WHICH LEFT ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN. *TR
WHILE IN MOTION, A COMPONENT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, CREATING AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION LOCKING UP MY REAR END. LUCKILY I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND WAS JUST AROUND TOWN, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF PARTS FAILING. THERE WAS AMPLE GEAR OIL IN THE REAR END, AND MAINTENANCE WAS NOT A FACTOR AS I DID A GEAR OIL CHANGE THIS PAST SUMMER. I SELDOM USE THIS VEHICLE TO TOW AND IT HAS NEVER SEEN A PLOW OR OVERLY ROUGH DRIVING CONDITIONS. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM TWO WHEEL TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSFER CASE DETACHED FROM THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT AND LOCKED UP THE VEHICLE. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TRUCK AND WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE HE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO STOP FOR A STOP SIGN BUT COULD NOT STOP. THE SERVICE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AT 4,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOTH FRONT BEARINGS AND ABS SENSORS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS TIME THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED RIGHT AND LEFT HUB AND THE ABS SENSOR.*AK THE ABS ACTIVATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AT 4000 MILES. *NM
DT THE DEALERSHIP CAME ON JUNE 27TH, 2005. THE DIFFERENTIAL THAT DRIVES THE WHEELS IN THE BACK ON THE VAN MADE A NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 5 OR 6 TIMES, THEY REBUILT IT TWICE, AND KEPT SAYING IT WAS ALRIGHT TO DRIVE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING , AND IT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
CLUNG NOISE IN DRIVELINE LIKE SLOOP. *AK
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
PARKING BRAKE HASN'T WORKED SINCE AROUND 20000 MILES, BRAKE WILL DEPRESS, BUT WON'T KEEP TRUCK FROM ROLLING. LOUD PISTON SLAP, KNOCKING FROM ENGINE MOSTLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, GOES AWAY AFTER WARMED UP. THIS IS A Z71 AND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUTTONS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO PUT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. POWER MIRRORS DON'T WORK A LOT OF THE TIME. AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS STAY BURNED OUT MOST OF THE TIME. TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW BUT THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME. A LOT OF OTHER TRUCKS OF THIS SAME MODEL HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. GM SHOULD ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE THEM RIGHT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.*AK
WHILE MAKING A TURN REAR END LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD, SKID, AND COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE.*AK
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.
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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