2001 Chevrolet Suburban Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, IT MADE A HUMMING SOUND. HE DISCONNECTED THE MODULE AND THE HUMMING STOPPED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY REPLACED THE MODULE UNDER WARRANTY. THREE YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE PURCHASED THE THIRD MODULE AND HAD IT REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THREE WEEKS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS ON HIS VEHICLE WERE INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATING. AS OF JUNE 12, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A DELAYED ENGAGEMENT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10230817

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

OUR 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT OUR 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN GEAR WITHOUT STARTING THE CAR OR PRESSING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR STARTING ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN THE WINDOW AND PRESS THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NONE OF THE CHILDREN IN THE AREA WERE HURT AND THAT NO PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED OTHER THAN A SMALL PIECE OF FENCE. APPARENTLY WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IN THE FIRST "ACCESSORY" POSITION YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I TRIED THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER CHEVY MODELS THAT HAVE THE GEAR SHIFT ON THE COLUMN AND YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING. I CALLED CHEVY AND THE DEALER AND THEY BOTH SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER EVEN WENT TO THE LOT AND DID WHAT I DESCRIBED ON A 2006 SUBURBAN AND AGREED THAT IT DID HAPPEN WHEN HE DID IT. IF THIS IN FACT THE WAY THE CAR IS MANUFACTURED IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT FACT AND PUT IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. *TR UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER IS BEING PHASED OUT, HOWEVER WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF THE OLDER OWNERS WOULD BE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10201826

Incident

Sep 2, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

TRANSMISSION ON A 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 76000 MILES FAILED WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175460

Incident

Dec 2, 2006

Mileage

76,231 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IN LATE 2005. WE ARE CURRENTLY ON OUR THIRD TRANSMISSION WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE LOCKED UP AT 20 M MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND FAILED AT ABOUT 98 M AND COST US ABOUT $2500 TO REPLACE AS GM ONLY OFFERED A 1 YR. WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS AT THAT TIME. I'M ALREADY CONCERNED ABOUT THE THIRD TRANSMISSION AS IT OCCASIONALLY HAS TROUBLE DROPPING INTO FIRST UPON STOPPING. I THINK GM HAS A PROBLEM HERE THAT THEY ARE FAILING TO OWN UP TO. MY ONLY CONSOLATION IS THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A THREE YEAR WARRANTY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10152475

Incident

Oct 2, 2005

Mileage

20,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 1999 THROUGH 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE'S, SUBURBANS, AND K1500 TRUCKS. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CHEVROLET VEHICLES. IN MY SMALL CIRCLE OF ACQUAINTANCES, I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE TOO MANY TRANSMISSION FAILURES BY THE AFORE MENTIONED VEHICLES. MY BROTHER IN LAW JUST HAD TO HAVE HIS K1500 TRANSMISSION CHANGED OUT. MY BROTHERS SON HAD TO HAVE HIS 2001 K1500 TRANSMISSION CHANGED OUT AT 60000 MILES. MY BROTHER HAS HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS CHANGED OUT IN HIS 2002 TAHOE. AND FINALLY, TODAY JANUARY 26, 2006, MY WIFES TRANSMISSION IN HER 2001 SUBURBAN WITH ONLY 78000, NEVER USED TO TOW ANYTHING BUT A LAWN MOWER TRAILER, JUST WENT OUT WITH SEVERAL SCHOOL KIDS ON BOARD ON A VERY BUSY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS. THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A BAD SITUATION. WHAT IS THE DEAL? *AK

NHTSA ID

10148790

Incident

Jan 26, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION; LOST ALL FORWARD GEARS ON NJ TURNPIKE AFTER SLOWING DOWN FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. ONLY 16,000 MILES ON VEHICLE; 1 YR 11 MONTHS OLD.

NHTSA ID

10129019

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

16,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE... REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT 32000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 61000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10118387

Incident

Jan 17, 2005

Mileage

61,000 mi

HEATED POWER MIRRORS WITH DIMMING FEATURE HAS A LIQUID INSIDE THAT HAS TURNED DIRTY BROWN RESTRICTING SIGHT REARWARD. THE POWER SWITCH ADJUSTING THE REARVIEW MIRRORS INOP. CD PLAYER INOP. SUNROOF INOP. SUNROOF GETS STUCK INSIDE ITS RAILS IN OPEN POSITION. UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE. ENGINE LEAVES POLLS OF OIL INSIDE MY GARAGE APPROX 1QT. PR 1000 MILES. JUST HAD A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH A VERY CLOSE CALL ACCIDENT, LOOSING 3RD AND 4TH GEAR REQUIRING COMPLETE REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION, DRIVE AXLE LEAKING OIL. AND OF COURSE ALL THIS HAPPENS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS CAR TODAY COSTS $ 50,000.- WITH THIS TRIM PACKAGE. HAS ONLY 81000 ON ODOMETER. GM THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT. THIS IS MY 3RD LEMON FROM GM. DO THEY NOT MAKE CARS THAT'LL LAST PAST WARRANTIES ANY MORE?? *JB

NHTSA ID

10110367

Incident

Feb 11, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

PERFORMED A "KICK DOWN" TO PASS DUMP TRUCK ON HIGHWAY. AFTER PASSING THE TRUCK AND BACK IN MY LANE OF TRAVEL THE ENGINE OVER REVS TO 5000+ RPMS AND CAR HALTS TO A STOP IN FRONT OF THE DUMP TRUCK THAT I JUST PASSED, FORCING HIM TO SWERVE AND STAND ON ITS BRAKES TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ME. THE CAR NOW HAS ONLY TWO FUNCTIONING GEARS, 1ST AND 2ND. TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT TO 3RD. CAR NOW HAS 81000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION SHOP SAYS THAT MY 3RD AND 4TH GEAR CLUTCHES ARE GONE!!?? AND A $1,500+ REBUILD IS NECESSARY. THE SHOP SAYS ITS SURPRISED THAT THIS HAPPENS TO A LOW MILEAGE TRUCK LIKE THIS. AND SO AM I. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110363

Incident

Feb 9, 2005

Mileage

81,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE COST FOR A THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,576.18. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101327

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

54,297 mi

PURCHASED 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AT THE END OF AUGUST, DROVE IT FOR 1600 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY CAME APART INSIDE. THIS BOTHERED ME BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SHRAPNEL COMING OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS, OF COURSE, DID NOT HAPPEN BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM GENERAL MOTORS. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS 48000 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096388

Incident

Oct 22, 2004

Mileage

48,600 mi

DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS LOCKED UP AND STOPPED FORWARD PROGRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING 20+- MPH AT THE TIME. THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE IN REVERSE BUT NO OTHER GEAR. I HAD NOTICED SOME SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAS NOT SURE IF THAT WAS IN FACT SLIPPING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGED AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093774

Incident

Sep 23, 2004

Mileage

54,338 mi

CONSUMER STATED EVERY 43,000 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092723

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP AND I AM DRIVING BETWEEN 10 AND 30 MPH TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN TRANSMISSION DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT CAN'T DECIDE TO STAY IN THE PRESENT GEAR OR SHIFT DOWN TO ACCOMADATE THE LOWER SPEED. THEREFORE, IT TAKES ABOUT 10 SECONDS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO FINALLY FIND A GEAR SO I CAN PROCEED. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION TAKES ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS TO SHIFT INTO 1ST, IF I WANT TO GO IMMEDIATELY AFTER STOPPING, THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT AND THE ENGINE RACES UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY CATCHES UP. AGAIN, THE DEALER FOUND "NO PROBLEM" WITH THE VEHICLE/TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090890

Incident

May 10, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE STOPPED IN MOTION WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING. VEHICLE OPERATED IN REVERSE, BUT NOT IN DRIVE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090036

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

40,900 mi

WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO INTO REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT A PIECE OF METAL GOT LOOSE AN TORE UP THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026509

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN GOT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO PARKING PAWL FAILURE WHILE PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE. PARKING PAWL IS A TRANSMISSION GEAR SAFETY LOCKING MECHANISM THAT WILL PREVENT A VEHICLE FROM MOVING WHILE IN PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT ALLEGATION DEPARTMENT TO INFORM ABOUT THIS SERIOUS DEFECT. GENERAL MOTORS ASSIGNED AN INVESTIGATOR TO GATHER DETAILS AND INFORMATION THE INVESTIGATOR SUBMITTED ALL THE INFORMATION AND DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT TO A GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEERS WHO WILL REVIEW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE PARKING PAWL. INITIAL FINDING BY GM AUTHORIZED SERVICE REPAIR SHOP, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE PREMATURE WEARING OF THE PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT THIS PARKING PAWL MECHANISM BY NO MEANS SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO ANY PREMATURE WEARING. OTHERWISE, THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DESIGN ERROR. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS, GM SAID THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS MATERIAL DEFECT. THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS HOW MANY 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN WAS AFFECTED BY THIS MATERIAL DEFECT. ALSO, GM REPRESENTATIVE WAS RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE ME A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATION RESULTS CONDUCTED BY THEIR DESIGN ENGINEERS. THE PARKING PAWL MECHANISM FAILURE CANNOT BE DETECTED EASILY BY AN AVERAGE PERSON, UNLESS A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED OR AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCURRED. ALSO, MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WAS DISCOVERED BY GM AUTHORIZED SERVICE SHOP THAT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS HAVING A PREMATURE WEARING ON THE BRAKE PADS. THIS REALLY A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CASE FOR ALL 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN FOR HAVING A POTENTIAL EMERGENCY BRAKE PAD AND PARKING PAWL MECHANISM DEFECT. I AM HIGHLY SUGGESTING THIS OFFICE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO AVOID A SIMILAR FATE WITH FIRESTONE CASE. BECAUSE I SUSPECT GM IS COVERING UP THIS DEFECT TO AVOID MASSIVE RECALLS ON ALL 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10013596

Incident

Jun 20, 2002

Mileage

16,000 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOUR AGENCY TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ABOUT A DEFECTIVE PARKING PAWL ON A 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN, THIS PARKING PAWL MECHANISM SUPPOSED TO LOCK THE TRANSMISSION GEAR TO PREVENT A VEHICLE TO ROLL OR MOVED WHILE ON PARK POSITION, ESPECIALLY ON A ROLLING HILLS OR SLOPED PARKING LOT. I AM SHARING THIS INFORMATION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND CONSUMERS WHO OWNED A 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS THE TENDENCY TO MOVED WHILE ON PARKED POSITION ON A ROLLING HILLS OR SLOPED PARKING LOT. THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETECTED EASILY BY AN AVERAGE PERSON. THE VEHICLE NEED TO BE INSPECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE SHOP AND HAVE IT CHECK FOR A SIGN OF A WORN OUT OF THE PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS INFORMATION WILL BENEFIT CURRENT OWNERS OF 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT GM IS NOT MORE THAN WILLING TO PAY ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WILL INCURRED IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. UNLESS SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY INJURED AS CASE MAY BE. THIS INPUT WAS ON BASED ON THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON MY 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN LAST JUNE 20,2002. THE BODY REPAIR COST OF MY 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN WAS $4000 PLUS.

NHTSA ID

10003317

Incident

Jun 20, 2001

Mileage

16,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. TS

NHTSA ID

8023116

Incident

Nov 4, 2002

TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTING CORRECTLY FOR A LONG TIME. BECAME VERY NOTICEABLE IN JULY OF 2001. REAR AIR SOMETIMES DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. FRONT AIRS SOMETIMES CUTS SELF OFF AND BEGINS TO BLOW WARM AIR. ALTHOUGH NOT APPLICABLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED OUT FRONT AND MIDDLE SEAT COVERS FROM CRACKING PROBLEM I TALKED WITH GM AND THEY ADVISED THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THESE SINCE I DO STILL HAVE A WARRANTY. I AM STILL UNSATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 3RD SUBURBAN I HAVE OWNED. THE OTHER 2 WERE GMC'S. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE BEFORE. THIS ONE HAS BEEN ANNOYING WITH SMALL PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE! DT

NHTSA ID

769118

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, DEALER ONLY "RECONDITIONED" THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS;RUBBING , BUMPING NOISES FROM TRANSMISSION, I HAVA NOT TRUST IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LONG HISTORY OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND DEFECTS, I WANT THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE AND NOT WAIT UNTIL A MECHANICAL FAILURE HURT ME OR MY FAMILY OR INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP ME . NLM

NHTSA ID

767166

Incident

Jul 17, 2002

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED ABOUT A 100 YARDS, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ID

8014339

Incident

Jun 19, 2002

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE VEHICLE IS IN AWD OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE - STEP ON THE GAS AFTER BEING STOPPED, THE TRANSMISSION SOUNDS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. WHEN IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, REAR HEATER TAKES 30 MINUTES TO HEAT UP, AND THEN ONLY BLOWS LUKE WARM AIR WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. MANUFACURER STATES BY DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ID

758419

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING. DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE, AND WENT AROUND TO PASSENGERS SIDE. VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. WHILE TRYING TO GET INSIDE VEHICLE, OWNER'S LEG WAS RAN OVER BY VEHICLE AND WAS BROKEN IN 3 PLACES. REPORTED AND DRIVEN ON OCTOBER 31, 2001 BY [XXX] *AK *YH INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

8001641

Incident

Oct 31, 2001

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AT 80 MPH, WOULD NOT REENGAE UNTIL TRACTION CONTROL WAS INACTIVATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

755587

Incident

Dec 8, 2001