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 Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 178 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 178, in the owner's own words
The ABS and Brake lights illuminate as per GM recall 05v379000. This occurs each time the vehicle is driven. I purchased this vehicle on 12/6/2023 from Kyle's Kars which is a used car dealership in Slatington, PA. A warranty was not offered due to the age, however I did purchase a warranty from Car Shield. This repair would not fall under the warranty guidelines.
this vehicle has a non-functioning parking brake. There was a recall in 2004 for 880,000 trucks and suv's. I have taken it to my garage twice but they cannot fix this problem because it is not fixable
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BEHIND HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE, THEY HAD APPROACHED A STOP AND ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS HIS FOOT WAS ON THE PEDAL, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE ABS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HIT THE BACK OF HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE LOW IMPACT OF THE CRASH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.*DT*JB
FUEL PUMP MAY FALTER OR FAIL; FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL, REPLACED IT; OTHER FUSES PASSED TESTING WITH METER; VEHICLE STARTED, WOULD NOT RUN MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES. NEW FUEL FILTER. GUY AT SERVICE STATION BANGED ON GAS TANK, AND IT WOULD START THEN RUN GREAT FOR A MINUTE, THEN WILL NOT RESTART. ORDERING A REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 ABOUT THE TIME OF GM RECALL 05027. IN DOING ONLINE TROUBLE-SHOOTING TODAY, I DISCOVERED THE 2001 GM RECALL 05027. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. FUEL FILTER WAS LAST CHANGED IN JULY 2009. COMPLETE FAILURE WHEN IN MOTION, BACKING OUT OF SERVICE STATION ONTO MAIN STREET (US 64 BUS), JUST INCHES FROM LANE OF TRAVEL (6.14.19).WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING LUNCH HOUR? GRATEFUL IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE, OR GET HIT. AS THE SERVICE ATTENDANT TRIED TO RESTART IT, OVER AND OVER, THE RELAY IN THE ECU MAY HAVE FAILED AT THAT TIME. IN THE INTERIM, MY HUSBAND DIED. I REPLACED RELAY/FUSES TODAY 9/14/19, AND VEHICLE STARTED, BUT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. ANOTHER MECHANIC BANGED ON FUEL TANK, IT RAN FOR A WHILE, SO HE ADVISED REPLACING PUMP, WHICH IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE AFTER VIEWING YOUTUBE HOW-TO VIDEOS. WITH THE PUMP FAILING SPORADICALLY, AND RESPONDING TO THE VIBRATION OF BEING BANGED, IT SEEMS LIKE FAULTY WIRING OR CONNECTION PROBLEM, OR THAT SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR NOT FULLY SEATED ANYMORE. LOTS OF FOLKS SAY THE CHEVY 1500 IS WIDELY KNOWN FOR FUEL SUPPLY PROBLEMS. GAS GAUGE HAS NOT BEEN ACCURATE EVER. WHEN FULL, IT MAY SHOW EMPTY WHEN TURNING OR HITTING A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD. (TRACK BY COMPUTING MPG AND MILEAGE, TO DETERMINE RANGE). IN SHORT DISTANCES, IT SWINGS FULL-> EMPTY->FULL. WIRING DIAGRAM SHOWS TINY FUSE LABELED PRIME, NONE THERE. ABS INDICATOR LIGHTS UP BECAUSE SENSOR CABLE AT RIGHT FRONT TIRE MAY FAIL ON LEFT TURN, OR HARD RIGHT TURN, YET BRAKES ARE FINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH CHEVROLET (155 MARSTON ST, LAWRENCE, MA 01841, (978) 687-3000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
WHILE THANKFULLY DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WITH NO WARNING..PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR, I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING THE TRANS DOWN TO 2ND THEN 1ST. MECHANIC SAID KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I STOPPED, PUMPED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUID FLOWED FROM UNDER THE TRUCK GENERALLY UNDER WHERE THE DRIVER SITS. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE BROKE AND IS VERY COMMON, AND THAT IT JUST STARTED SHOWING UP A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THESE "C" BODY TRUCKS AGED. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME AND HE SAID THE SAME THING THAT IT'S VERY COMMON AND THAT GM NOW SELLS A KIT FOR A COMPETE BRAKE-LINE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME SO COMMON. A FEW DAYS BEFORE I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON I-81 WITH A CARLOAD FULL OF PEOPLE, HAD THIS HAPPENED AT THAT TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. REVIEWING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE I SEE THIS IS A REOCCURRING COMPLIANT AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, AS THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT SAFETY SYSTEM ON A AUTOMOBILE THAN BRAKES....CHEVY HAD A RECALL ON MY 98' BUICK FOR A VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING THAT DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO THIS POTENTIAL DANGER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
THREE TIMES I HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. DRIVING TWO TIMES AND HAD JUST ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION THIRD TIME, WHICH WAS TODAY -- SURPRISE!!!! HAD TO SLOWLY DRIVE HOME, YET AGAIN, WITH NO BRAKES!!!!!
BRAKE LINES FAILED TWICE DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION BECAUSE CHEVY USED A INFERIOR STEEL PRODUCT ON ALL TRUCKS FROM 1998 TO 2005. THE DEALER REPAIRED MY 2002 AVALANCHE FOR $600.00 TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES. HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2001 SUBURBAN WHICH HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. GM NEEDS TO RE-CALL ANY VEHICLE OR AT LEAST MAKE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION AT A REDUCED RATE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS NOT DUE TO OWNER ERROR OF WASHING THE FRAME DURING WINTER OR WINTER MAINTENANCE. THERE IS NEW LINES THAT ARE COATED TO RESIST COROSION AND WERE USED TO REPAIR MY AVALANCHE. MY 2001 SUBURBAN BRAKE LINES FAILED IN MOTION WHILE IN TRAFFIC APPLYING THE BRAKE PETAL TO STOP.
I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, MODEL 2500, AS I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING INTO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE. THE BRAKES NOW APPEAR TO BE WORKING FINE. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT NEVER TO THE POINT OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANYTHING. ACCORDING TO THE GM DEALER, THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A FAILURE CODE IN THE COMPUTER. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE SAID THE SAME.
THE ABS ACTIVATE WITHOUT REASON WHEN I SLOW TO A STOP. THE PROBLEM BEGAN INFREQUENTLY AND I ATTRIBUTED IT TO POSSIBLE SLIPPERY SURFACE CONDITIONS. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY NOW. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR "SNOW" STATES - LIKE DC AND MARYLAND WHICH ARE JUST ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER FROM WHERE I LIVE AND USE MY SUBURBAN. THIS IS THE SECOND SERIOUS BRAKE ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALL THREE BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER AN APPROXIMATE 18 MONTH PERIOD TWO YEARS AGO AS A RESULT OF SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THIS IS ALSO A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM (THOUGH NOT ONE I WAS AWARE OF WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED). MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE SUFFERED FROM THESE PROBLEMS. THE NHTSA SHOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS AND EXPAND/INITIATE RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS.
I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH ON A LOCAL ROAD ON MY WAY FROM DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN ONTO MY STREET, AND THE SUBURBAN BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOBODY AHEAD OF ME, AND I SLOWED THE TRUCK GRADUALLY. I THEN IDLED BACK HOME, WITHOUT ANY FUNCTIONALITY IN MY BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION, WE DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. ALL MAINTENANCE IS AND HAD BEEN UP TO DATE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. UPON INSPECTION ALL LINE HAD SEVERE CORROSION RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR
BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY RESULTING IN CAR PASSING THROUGH RED LIGHT. *TR
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. REPAIR WAS BRAKE LINES RUSTED. COST TO REPLACE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS $2500. *TR
LOST TOTAL BRAKES. SERVICE SHOP NOTED SEVERE BRAKE LINE RUSTING. REPAIRED RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. TRUCK WILL BE UNDERGOING TOTAL BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO RUSTING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DOWNTOWN BETHESDA, BRAKE PEDAL LOST PRESSURE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. PULLED OVER AND NOTED FLUID LEAKAGE UNDER FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF CAR. DROVE CAR TO DEALER AT 5MPH; IDENTIFIED EXTENSIVE RUST THROUGH BRAKE LINES. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I WAS CHARGED $430 FOR PARTS AND $2351 FOR LABOR TO 'COMPLETELY REBUILD BRAKE LINES MANUALLY' BECAUSE GM STOPPED MAKING THE KIT. TOTAL $2808 AND NINE DAYS OUT OF SERVICE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
BRAKES FAILED ON A RURAL ROAD BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKES LIKE NORMAL, BUT THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP, BUT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND EVEN THOUGH I JUST HAD NEW BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS PUT ON, I NEED TO BUT NEW BRAKE LINES IN WHICH IS OVER $1000. SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IN A CAR. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ON A RURAL STRETCH OF ROAD WHERE I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE. *TR
DRIVING DOWN A HILL ON MY STREET THE BRAKES GAVE WAY. I PUSHED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE STATION INDICATED THE REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TWO REAR BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS A FROZEN CALIPER. UPDATED 08/27/14
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP BECAUSE OF A RUSTED-THRU BRAKE LINE. THIS TIME, I WAS ENTERING A HIGH-SPEED MERGE FROM ONE FOUR LANE HIGHWAY TO ANOTHER AND TRAFFIC WAS BACKING UP. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY HARD TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME. PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH ABOUT 20% OF THE NORMAL BRAKING POWER AVAILABLE. WAS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME AND WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ANOTHER CAR AND ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AT SPEED. BARELY HAD ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN A MAJOR HIGHWAY SIGN WHICH WAS NEXT TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CARS IN MY LANE. AFTER REPEATEDLY PUMPING THE BRAKES (WHICH YOU ARE TAUGHT NOT TO DO WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES), THE SUV FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. WITHOUT THE SHOULDER, I WOULD'VE CAUSED A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES. I DROVE THE CAR AT SLOW SPEED DIRECTLY TO MY SHOP WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING EVERY BRAKE LINE (EVERY BRAKE LINE WAS HORRIBLY RUSTED AND BRITTLE). CUSTOM BRAKE LINES FOR THIS REPAIR COST $1800!! I HAD SPENT $400 ON THE FIRST REPAIR. TRUST ME, EVERY GM SUV FROM THESE YEARS HAS THIS PROBLEM AND ARE GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED!!! THIS VEHICLE WEIGHS 5500 POUNDS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TIGHT TURN IN DRIVEWAY ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING ALMOST RUNNING INTO GARAGE DOOR. IF HAD BEEN AT INTERSECTION I WOULD HAVE HIT CAR ON FRONT OF ME! CAR TOWED TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN ARLINGTON TX
2001 SUBURBAN - WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR LEAVING ME BARELY ANY BRAKING POWER, BUT FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (25 MPH) I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I THEN DROVE TO A GARAGE WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE TO WHERE I WAS AND HAD THEM PUT IT UP ON THE RACK TO LOOK AT IT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALL OF MY BRAKES LINES WERE VERY RUSTY AND THE ONE REAR LINE HAD BROKEN, I LEFT IT THERE AND HAD THAT LINE REPLACED BUT AFTER REPLACING THAT LINE ANOTHER 2 LINES BROKE DURING THEIR TESTING AFTER THE FIRST REPAIRS. I ENDED UP HAVING 3 REAR LINES AND THE 2 LINES TO AND FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED (3 THAT BROKE AND 2 OTHER ONES THAT LOOKED REALLY BAD) AT A COST OF ABOUT $800, I AM NOW GOING TO GET THE REMAINING 2 FRONT BRAKE LINES REPLACED "BEFORE" THEY BRAKE ON ME ALSO. THESE 2 LINES ARE THE HARDEST TO REPLACE AND I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $700-$800 TO REPLACE THEM. THE ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER HIS BRAKE LINES ALSO BROKE ON HIS SUBURBAN COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND HE HAD TO DRIVE ON THE BIRM TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. HE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF HIS SUBURBANS BRAKE LINES.I LIVE IN WESTERN PA AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING HERE FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES DURING THAT TIME BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKE LINES RUST AND BREAK LIKE THIS. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING, THIS MUST BE FROM FAULTY BRAKE LINE MATERIAL, NONE OF MY MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER HAD THIS HAPPEN SO CHEVY CANNOT JUST BLAME IT ON LIVING IN A SNOW/ROAD SALT AREA. *** I PLAN ON GOING WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER WHEN I GET MY NEXT SUV. *TR
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST , VEHICLE TOWED ALL BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND REPLACED ESPECIALLY AT SECURE POINTS. *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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