RoadVitals

2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
84
Latest Oct 30, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 300 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 84 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.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 84, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Oct 30, 2025

I was driving down the road and I heard a clunk. I lost all power and coasted into a farmers field. The dash board said lost power, nothing else. I had no warning. Oil pressure was where it should be until is quit. Keller Chevrolet contacted us and told us the engine blew. The connecting rod broke and the piston come apart. I had service done on my truck 4 days prior. I always service my vehicle every 3,000 miles or 3 months which ever comes first. I have about 121,000 miles on my 2001 pickup. It has always been serviced at either Bob Schmidt Chevrolet or Keller Chevrolet. We are in the process of getting a new engine from GM and having it installed at Keller Chevrolet. You can contact them for more information.

NHTSA ID
11696603
Incident
Oct 4, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 18, 2019

TRUCK JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. AS IF THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN WON'T TURN BACK ON. IT HAS HAPPEND 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS WHERE I AM DRIVING AND IT COMPLETELY JUST SHUTS OFF. CAN'T GET IT TO START BACK UP AND HAVE TO TOW IT HOME, IT WILL THEN TURN ON AND RUN FOR A FEW DAYS AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID
11289779
Incident
Dec 17, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO RECOMMENDED SOLUTION OTHER THAN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10967695
Incident
Mar 21, 2017
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2017

CRANKSHAFT POSITION FAILED COMPLETELY.. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS, WOULD NOT RE-START UNTIL AFTER IT COOLED DOWN. NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES WERE AVAILABLE DURING THIS TIME DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. SAME ISSUE AS YOUR RECALL CAMPAIGN #07V521000 AND THE GM RECALL CAMPAIGN #06083

NHTSA ID
10966544
Incident
Mar 13, 2007
Mileage
36,041 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2017

THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH. THE ENGINE STALLS, MAY RE-START IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER A COOL DOWN PERIOD.

NHTSA ID
10966088
Incident
Mar 11, 2017
Mileage
83,500 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL DOWN BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
10894991
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2016

ENGINE STOPS RUNNING IN ALL KIND OF TRAFFIC AND SPEEDS, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKES AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT TAKES MANY TRIES TO RESTART. I HAVE FOUND THAT NHTSAEA06016 HAS CALLED FOR RECALL, BUT DEALERS WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS SAFETY PROBLEM.THIS VEHICLE HAS THE 8.1 ENGINE THAT IS NAMED IN YOUR WRITE-UP.12

NHTSA ID
10846013
Incident
Aug 12, 2015
Mileage
66,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10734046
Incident
Nov 30, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 18, 2015

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY @ 75MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE IN TRAFFIC VEHICLES ARE HAVING TO MAKE QUICK ADJUSTMENTS TO AVOID HITTING MY VEHICLE AND FOR THEIR SAFETY. I CALLED THIS INTO OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP HERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS CO ALONG WITH CALLING CHEVROLET RECALL CENTER TO BE TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THEIR LIST. WELL APPARENTLY IT SHOULD BE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER 2001 2500 HD SILVERADO'S THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10717209
Incident
Feb 6, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2014

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE 6 BROKEN BOLTS CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF EMISSIONS CONTROL. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY CHEVY OWNERS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE OUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THIS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SUIT FOR GM/CHEVY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS.I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WOULD LIKE SOME FEED BACK AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10658788
Incident
Dec 13, 2011
Mileage
89,696 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 29, 2014

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, REQUIRING ME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD (WITHOUT THE USE OF THE POWER STEERING) AND TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HAD ONE CLOSE CALL, AS SOMEONE BEHIND ME HAD NOT NOTICED MY TRUCK SLOWING SUDDENLY. THEY HAD TO MAKE A QUICK ADJUSTMENT TO AVOID ME. THIS ENGINE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 OR TWELVE TIMES. DOING RESEARCH HAS FOUND THE PROBLEM TO ALMOST CERTAINLY BE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. CHEVROLET TELLS ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. AS THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, WHY WOULD ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TRUCKS BE RECALLED TO BE FIXED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10651094
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 27, 2014
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK WOULD EXPERIENCE A SHUT DOWN AND LOSS OF POWER.MEROLLLIS CHEVROLET IN EAST PT., MICHIGAN, BECAME VERY DEFIANT,AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.BEFORE [XXX] BECAME CEO, [XXX] CONTACTED HER OFFICE VIA HANDWRITTEN COMMUNIQUE.IRIS CONTACT [XXX] IN DEC,2013,AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS TO BE ARRANGE W/ENGINEER BUT NEVER HAPPENED. [XXX] STOPPED DRIVING VEHICLE,EXCELLENT CONDITION W/19000 MILES.[XXX] WAS IN FEAR OF LIFE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE..UPDATED 10/22/14 -BF INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) UPDATED 4/8/2015*JS *TR

NHTSA ID
10639583
Incident
Nov 5, 2008
Mileage
8,000 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Sep 3, 2014

MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD WITH THE 8.1 ENGINE WILL STALL AT ANYTIME. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN SITTING IDLE, TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT, AND I'VE EVEN HAD IT HAPPEN DOING 50 MPH. I REFUSE TO LET SOMEONE BORROW MY TRUCK BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THEY WILL PANIC AND GET IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND BASICALLY HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES I CAN DRIVE FOR 50 MILES AND NOT HAVE A PROBLEM AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL STALL TWICE IN 30 MINUTES. SO THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10630462
Incident
Sep 25, 2012
Mileage
55,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jun 24, 2014

GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 60 MILES PER HOUR. TRUCK TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ALL ELECTRICAL APPEARS TO BE WORKING. OTHER TRUCKS WITH SAME MODEL YEAR HAD A RECALL UNDER GM RECALL NO. 06083. I HAVE THE SAME ENGINE BUT THEY SAY MINE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605522
Incident
Jun 11, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2014

MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER COMPLAINED OF HEADACHES. AFTER NARROWING IT DOWN WE REALIZED IT ONLY HAPPENED AFTER RIDING IN MY 2001 SILVERADO. ON INVESTIGATION FOUND EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF, EXHAUST MANIFOLD WARPED AND SEVERELY LEAKING EXHAUST INTO CAB. MANUFACTURER IS NO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575862
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000 AND THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 08/27/13*LJ

NHTSA ID
10532358
Incident
May 22, 2011
Mileage
78,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 7, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID
10491731
Incident
Jul 7, 2012
Mileage
102,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2012

BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478530
Incident
Oct 4, 2010
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 19, 2012

1. BRAKE LINE (REAR) CORRODED AT PLASTIC RETAINING CLIP LOCATED APPROX HALFWAY TOWARD THE REAR AXLE, LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS NO ACCIDENT 2. TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE CORRODED AT PLASTIC RETAINING CLIP, LEAKED FLUID, WAS REPAIRED WITHOUT CAUSING ANY OTHER DAMAGE WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF INCIDENT (1) ABOVE. 3. BRAKE LINE (FRONT LEFT) CORRODED AT PLASTIC RETAINING CLIP CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AT 30 MPH, NO ACCIDENT, DATE OF OCCURRENCE 9/18/2012 MILEAGE 110K. *TR

NHTSA ID
10475963
Incident
Jun 26, 2010
Mileage
107,895 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2012

THE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN ON MY TRUCK. FROM A FEW SHOPS I TALKED TO THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF GM V8'S LIKE MY 6.0L. ONE EXHAUST SHOP TOLD ME EVERY "SILVERADO/SEIRRA" WITH A V8 AROUND 1999-2002 HAS ONE OR MORE MANIFOLD BOLT BROKE OFF. I JUST CANT IMAGINE THAT GM CAN SEND OUT VEHICLES THAT THEY KNOW ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY FIXED THIS ON LATER MODELS WITH LARGER MANIFOLD BOLTS. BUT SCREW THE GUY WHO HAS AN OLDER TRUCK, RIGHT? THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AND GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THIS AT NO COST OR A DISCOUNTED COST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463496
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2012

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE DIED. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE DIED TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES. RESTARTED AND RAN TROUBLE FREE FOR A FEW DAYS. A WEEK OR TWO LATER IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE. IT FINALLY STARTED AND RAN TROUBLE FREE FOR A WEEK OR SO. THIS CYCLE HAS REPEATED OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ON YOUR WEB SIGHT AND NOTED A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10462982
Incident
May 5, 2011
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 31, 2012

4 BOLTS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHEARED ( BROKEN). *TR

NHTSA ID
10460142
Incident
Apr 26, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 21, 2012

FOUND 4 OUT OF 12 EXHAUST MANIFOLD MOUNTING BOLTS BROKEN. *TT

NHTSA ID
10459196
Incident
Feb 15, 2012
Mileage
190,251 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 21, 2011

MY VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT ON ME AT ANY TIME FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED I WAS DOING OR WHERE I WAS IT WOULD STALL OUT SO I WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING AND WAIT TO CRANK THE VEHICLE BACK UP. THEN DECEMBER 23 2008 I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND IT COMPLETELY STOPPED I COULDN'T GET IT TO CRANK BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND IT WAS AT NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO EVERY DEALER SHIP AND EVERY MECHANIC AND NOONE COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. FINALLY I LOOKED ONLINE AT RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE BUT WHEN I CALLED GMC THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE SO I WENT AND PAID OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE FOUND BUT AREN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT FOR ME I MEAN IF THEY HAVE THE RECALL ALREADY FOR THE SAME VEHICLE THEN WHY ISN'T MY VEHICLE INCLUDED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10440906
Incident
Dec 23, 2008
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2011

BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424487
Incident
Sep 9, 2011

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .