2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle pulled to the left very hard, almost causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The ABS and brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the EBCM motor relay circuit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,632.

NHTSA ID

11654808

Incident

Aug 9, 2022

Mileage

91,632 mi

In the past I have sent several emails to Chevrolet corporate office re the ABS brake system on my Tahoe which first failed with only 130 miles on the vehicle. Vehicle almost tipped over but I recovered the braking system and stopped vehicle only inches from going off a cliff and into the ravine below. I love my Tahoe which now has 109000+ miles on it but the ABS brake system has never worked and on several occasions almost wiped out myself and a passenger because brakes failed to engage. I filed several complaints with the Chevrolet dealer in Austin, TX where I bought my Tahoe and also here in Taos, NM where I currently live. Recently I had the Chevrolet dealer here in Taos run a diagnostic on my ABS brakes. Result was that the brake system was defective and would cost $2000 to repair! I feel Chevrolet should pay for the repair since my Tahoe was delivered from the factory with defective ABS brakes. As it is, my Tahoe cannot be resold since the system as is could kill anyone in this vehicle if they did not know how to recover when pedal is all the way to the floor and vehicle is picking up speed rather than slowing down. Certainly even I could hit an elk standing in middle of highway because I would not be able to recover brake system in time.

NHTSA ID

11424146

Incident

Nov 26, 2001

EMERGENCY BRAKE WEARS ITSELF WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED TO THE POINT WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324214

Incident

May 11, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

REAR STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR & HAD TO PUMP BRAKES. HAD TO TURN OFF TO BERM OF ROAD TO KEEP FROM HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. HAD TO HAVE REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED AND THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED ALL BRAKE LINES BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I HAD ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED FOR OVER $600 DOLLARS. THE TAHOE HAS ONLY 41000 MILES ON IT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN & IT TAKE A FEW SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, TAKING MUCH LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE BRAKES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

11092124

Incident

Apr 22, 2018

Mileage

41,000 mi

TWO RUSTED BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO MASTER DISTRIBUTION BLOCK UNDER THE TRUCK CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AT 50 MPH AND RAN THRU A 4 WAY STOP INTERSECTION IN A RURAL AREA, THANK YOU JESUS I'M ALIVE, LOT'S OF RUST ON THE LOWER ROCKERS ETC. ON BOTH SIDES

NHTSA ID

11084874

Incident

Apr 11, 2018

Mileage

208,586 mi

MY ABS LIGHT IN ON AND WHEN I PUSH DOWN ON IT MAKES NOISE PLUS IT PUSH BACK A LITTLE

NHTSA ID

11056006

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

THE STEEL BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE REAR BRAKES HAS CORRODED AND IS LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE STEEL FRAME FORWARD FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AS I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AFTER DRIVING OVER 150 MILES ROUND TRIP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN CITY TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTERIOUS, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE IF THE LINE WOULD HAVE FAILED DURING THE TRIP! AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS BRAKE LINE FAILURE LOOKS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

11033882

Incident

Oct 15, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

METAL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND CORRODED. LINES PLACED IN AN AREA OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY WILL RUST AND CORRODE THEN CAUSING THEM TO BURST AT VERY UN-OPPORTUNE MOMENTS. CAUSING WRECKAGE. MY VEHICLE LOST ITS BRAKES ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A STOP TO TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY, WAITING FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CLEAR. I STARTED BRAKING AND LOST MY BRAKES, SO I TOOK THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I GOT MYSELF HOME AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11003703

Incident

Jul 7, 2017

Mileage

205,000 mi

ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE JERKING AND MAKE A NOISE AT SLOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

10980202

Incident

Mar 8, 2017

Mileage

89,000 mi

ABS LOW SPEED ACTIVATION. ANY TIME COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS AROUND AND UNDER 10MPH. VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR BRAKES LOCKING UP WHEN SIMPLY TRYING TO COME TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID

10955492

Incident

Feb 17, 2017

Mileage

145,000 mi

LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND JUST LOST THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEV TAHOE LT THIS WEEK. HAD BEEN GOING DOWN I-494 AT 65 MPH MINUTES BEFORE THIS. FOUR BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, SNOWY AND ICY, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN TO MY SIDE STREET, AND THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. HIT THE BRAKES, THE ABS ACTIVATED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES, BUT I MANAGED TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING, AND LIMP IT HOME. IN THE GARAGE NOW GETTING FIXED, ESTIMATED $500 - $1,000. WITH SOME GOOGLING AND TALKING TO 4 GARAGES, IT SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM. AMAZING TO ME THAT GM HAS NOT BEEN FORCED INTO A RECALL OVER THIS. THIS COULD BE FATAL, IF IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY.

NHTSA ID

10927831

Incident

Nov 22, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

CORRODED/RUSTY BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING SUDDEN BRAKE LOSS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN A WORK ZONE. USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO AVOID COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

10892447

Incident

Aug 2, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS RUNNING LESS THAN 35 MPH THROUGH TOWN WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED LEADING TO ME REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPON INSPECTION BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE LEAKING FLUID DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME AND HAVE BEEN UN ABLE TO DRIVE IT SINCE.

NHTSA ID

10889279

Incident

Jun 19, 2016

Mileage

137,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ABS WARNING AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

NHTSA ID

10885943

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

Mileage

100 mi

AT LOW SPEEDS COMING TO A STOP, MY ABS HAS BEEN ENGAGING AND NOT ALLOWING ME TO STOP WHEN APPROPRIATE. I HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL REAR ENDING INCIDENTS, 3 TODAY. I HAVE SEEN THAT THER HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT MY VIN HASNT BEEN INCLUDED. I REALLY NEED THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT ARE WITH ME ON NORMAL OCCASIONS. THIS HAPPENS AT NEARLY EVERY STOP, STOP SIGN, LIGHT, PARKING ECT.

NHTSA ID

10846266

Incident

Mar 12, 2016

Mileage

208,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY CHEVY TAHOE I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE USE OF THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAD NO INDICATION THAT THE BREAKS WERE GOING BAD UNTIL I LOST THEM COMPLETELY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT TWO BREAK LINES WERE BUSTED AND THAT THE REST WERE CORRODED. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS DONE 5 CHEVY BREAK LINE SYSTEMS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AN APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH CHEVY TRUCKS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE BREAK LINES ONLY LAST A FEW YEARS BEFORE THEY ARE CORRODED AND RUSTED AND EVENTUALLY THE BREAK WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE THIS IS UNSAFE AND I THINK CHEVY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY BREAK LINE ISSUES WITH ANY OTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10820772

Incident

Dec 7, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 676 APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP I PUSHED ON THE BREAKS AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FORCING ME TO TRY TO AVOID A COLLISION IN FRONT AS I TRIED TO TURN INTO THE MIDDLE LANE VEERING RIGHT I HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TAHOE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO SAID MY BREAK LINES WERE CORRODED ANT THE BREAK FLUID CAME OUT OF THEM ILVE IN NORTHEAST PA WHERE SALT ON THE ROADS IF USED A LOT IN THE WINTER.

NHTSA ID

10763676

Incident

Sep 13, 2015

Mileage

183,320 mi

STARTED CAR AND BRAKE FELT SQUISHY AND UNRESPONSIVE. NO BRAKING POWER AND FOOT COMPLETELY DEPRESSED TO FLOOR IN ORDER TO EVENTUALLY STOP WHEN TRAVELING JUST WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR OR LESS THAN 10MPH. WAS REAR BRAKES. SAME THING HAPPENED TO FRONT BRAKES IN APRIL 2015. VEHICLE DRIVING FINE. STOPPED TO GET GAS AND WHEN STARTED CAR UP BRAKES WERE SQUISHY AND FOOT HAD TO BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP AND THAT WAS TRAVELING WITHOUT USING ACCELERATOR OR GOING LESS THAN 10MPH. BOTH TIMES COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ALL HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID. DIDN'T SEEM LIKE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AT ALL. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT SPEED IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10761097

Incident

Apr 20, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

I STARTED TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ONE OTHER LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT IT WAS FOR VEHICLES IN 'SNOW-BELT STATES'. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM CARMAX IN CHARLOTTE NC WHICH WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR 'SNOW-BELT STATES'. I HAVE SINCE LOST MY ABS SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS NOW PART OF THE RECALL AND IS MY VEHICLE STILL ELIGBLE?

NHTSA ID

10746382

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

A BRAKE LINE BURST FROM ABS MODULE TO RR BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. LOST HALF THE FLUID AND FLUID CONTINUED TO DRAIN WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. GM CLAIM THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DUAL BRAKE SYSTEM APPARENTLY DOES NOT PREVENT COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. WIFE WAS VERY UPSET AS THE PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY AT THE FLOOR. LUCKILY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THRUWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT AND WASHED FREQUENTLY. REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED. GM SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES AND TRUCK OF THE DANGER OF COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF MILD STEEL THAT IS SUBJECT TO RUSTING THROUGH AS THIS IS LIFE AND DEATH SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10734759

Incident

Apr 28, 2015

Mileage

103,803 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ENGINE REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER REMOVING THE KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10733577

Incident

Jul 2, 2013

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE A SPONGE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED AND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY DUE TO BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,845.

NHTSA ID

10723114

Incident

May 29, 2015

Mileage

81,845 mi

ON MAY 20, 2015 OUR 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE EXPLOSION DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATION. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON LONG AFTER THE FACT WHEN TESTING THE BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.THE STEEL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL RUPTURED TOTALLY UNEXSPECTEDLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE AND ONLY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, NO RECALL. THE NHTSA MUST DEMAND THAT GM RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL THESE INFERIOR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES BEFORE DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR. I AM SUBMITTING THIS FORM TO MAKE IT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE DEATH AND SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE IF NOT ADDRESSED ON ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10717891

Incident

May 20, 2015

Mileage

193,713 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 CHEVY TAHOE, THAT WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, IN COLUMBUS OHIO. SHE WAS DOING 35 MPH DOWN A CITY STREET, WHEN SHE WENT TO STOP, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER RUNNING A FEW RED LIGHTS AND ALMOST GETTING INTO 2 ACCIDENTS, SHE SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND INTO A PARKING SPACE. I HAD IT TOWED TO JACK MAXTON CHEVY AND THEY SAID THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $5000.00 TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. I DID NOT DO THE REPAIR AND AM CURRENTLY WEIGHING MY OPTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682697

Incident

Feb 4, 2015

Mileage

137,400 mi

STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED. ALL OF THE UNDER BODY LINES SHOW A LOT OF RUST. REAR FEED LINE FROM ABS BLOCK RUPTURED AT REAR AXLE. I REPAIRED THAT LINE, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BLEED THE SYSTEM THE REAR FEED LINE AND THE IN FLOW LINE POPPED LEAKS. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH BRAKING TO STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660132

Incident

Nov 14, 2014

Mileage

118,025 mi