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2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

385 reports with mileage · 83 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 147 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

48 crash reports5 fire reports20 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

32 reports
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75,100 miles · Nov 26, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE INSIDE FOR THIS TRUCK CONTINUES TO GO TO 0 THEN JUMPS ALL OVER / GOES BACK TO HALF FULL THEN RETURNS TO THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE TANK ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437302

81,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

RAN OUT OF FUEL ON HIGHWAY,FUEL GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN DROP TO EMPTY TRUCK STALLED OUT,JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED TRUCK.PREVIOUS CAR 2000 BUICK LESABRE HAD SAME ISSUE COST ABOUT $500.00 TO REPAIR,ALSO HAVE A 1996 CHEVY VAN THAT DOES THE SAME THING GM CAN NOT TELL ME THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE,THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU…

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RAN OUT OF FUEL ON HIGHWAY,FUEL GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN DROP TO EMPTY TRUCK STALLED OUT,JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED TRUCK.PREVIOUS CAR 2000 BUICK LESABRE HAD SAME ISSUE COST ABOUT $500.00 TO REPAIR,ALSO HAVE A 1996 CHEVY VAN THAT DOES THE SAME THING GM CAN NOT TELL ME THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE,THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF FUEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425238

45,500 miles · Aug 5, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

FIRST INCIDENT OF THE FUEL SENSOR FAILING (LOW FUEL LIGHT AND FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR FALSE) WAS AT 45,500 MILES WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME. 2ND TIME FAILED ON 02/16/2009 AT 133,697 MILES WHICH COSTS ME 754.67. 3RD TIME WHICH IS CURRENTLY STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN AT 174,500 MILES, AND WILL PROBABLY COST ME ANOT…

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FIRST INCIDENT OF THE FUEL SENSOR FAILING (LOW FUEL LIGHT AND FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR FALSE) WAS AT 45,500 MILES WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME. 2ND TIME FAILED ON 02/16/2009 AT 133,697 MILES WHICH COSTS ME 754.67. 3RD TIME WHICH IS CURRENTLY STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN AT 174,500 MILES, AND WILL PROBABLY COST ME ANOTHER 754.67!! FIRST OF ALL I CAN UNDERSTAND ONCE ON A VEHICLE BUT 3 TIMES IS RIDICULOUS, NOT TO MENTION THE EXPENSE! CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS OR LEAST FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. NO DOUBT THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I'M ABOUT TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM WHICH WILL STILL COST ME MONEY IN THE END WITH TRADE-IN OR SELLING IT MYSELF SO I WILL PROBABLY HAVE REPAIR IT FOR THE 3RD TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I HAVE LOST FAITH IN GM AND WILL PROBABLY NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. THIS ISSUE COULD BE DANGEROUS IF PEOPLE DO NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. NOT EVERYONE HAS 750.00 LAYING AROUND AND GM SHOULD FIX FOR FREE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS A 2ND, 3RD TIME!

NHTSA ODI #10418825

60,000 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

2001 CHEVY SILVERADO 4 DOOR EXTRA CAB , BRAKE FAILURE TWO MONTHS AGO FROM BRAKE LINE RUPTURE OF HEAVILY RUSTED STEEL BRAKE LINE,LOCATED ABOVE GAS TANK. CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED FRAME AND OTHER BRAKE AND GAS LINES, ROTORS, BRAKE ROTOR SHIELDS, EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES BADLY RUSTED! NO REPAIRS MADE YET. 60,000 MILES ON TRUCK. B…

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2001 CHEVY SILVERADO 4 DOOR EXTRA CAB , BRAKE FAILURE TWO MONTHS AGO FROM BRAKE LINE RUPTURE OF HEAVILY RUSTED STEEL BRAKE LINE,LOCATED ABOVE GAS TANK. CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED FRAME AND OTHER BRAKE AND GAS LINES, ROTORS, BRAKE ROTOR SHIELDS, EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES BADLY RUSTED! NO REPAIRS MADE YET. 60,000 MILES ON TRUCK. BODY EXCEPT FOR ROCKER PANELS AND REAR BUMPER IS EXCELLENT ! BOTTOM OF TRUCK PRESSURE FLUSHED WEEKLY DURING WINTER AND SPRING SINCE 2002. FAILURE WHEN IN MY DRIVEWAY, WILL REPLACE SECTION OF LINE WITH LEAK THIS WEEK. IS TRUCK SAFE TO DRIVE? *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416984

150,000 miles · May 3, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT IN MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS TOTALLY INACCURATE. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2005 THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME SPORADIC, RANDOMLY GOING TO EMPTY THEN BACK TO FULL AND EVERY WHERE IN BETWEEN. THIS WOULD MOSTLY HAPPEN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS LOWER ON FUEL. AS THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS PASTED BY IT…

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THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT IN MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS TOTALLY INACCURATE. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2005 THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME SPORADIC, RANDOMLY GOING TO EMPTY THEN BACK TO FULL AND EVERY WHERE IN BETWEEN. THIS WOULD MOSTLY HAPPEN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS LOWER ON FUEL. AS THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS PASTED BY IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. FINALLY IN 2009 I REPLACED THE UNIT AND FUEL PUMP. THE KIT INCLUDED AND NEW CONNECTOR FOR THE WIRING HARNESS, SO I WAS HOPEFUL THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WELL AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OR LESS I STARTED HAVING ISSUES AGAIN. THIS TIME THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT RANDOMLY GO ALL THE WAY TO EMPTY OR FULL RANDOMLY, BUT ONCE IT GETS PAST 3/4 OF A TANK IT CANNOT BE TRUSTED ANYMORE. ESPECIALLY ONCE YOU GET PAST THE 1/4 OF A TANK IT LOOSES ALL ACCURACY. ALLOT OF TIMES IT WHEN I START THE TRUCK IT WILL BE AT 1/8 OF A TANK BUT AS I START DRIVING IT WILL GO UP TO A 1/4 OF A TANK. OR VISA VERSA. I LIVE IN A FLAT PART OF THE COUNTRY AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HILLS. LAST TIME I FILLED UP IT SAID I HAD A LITTLE LESS THEN A 1/8 OF A TANK (ABOUT 3 GALLONS, 26 GALLON TANK) AND WHEN I FILLED IT UP I PUT ALMOST 26 GALLONS IN. I WOULD REPLACE IT, BUT I DON'T WANT THE SAME THING TO START HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398729

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

2001 CHEVY SILVERADO'S GAS GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AND THE GAS LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WITH A FULL TANK RAISING THE RISK OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION. QUOTES TO FIX THE PROBLEM RANGE FROM $500 - $800. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396951

50,000 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FULL AND BOUNCES AROUND AFTER A LITTLE FUEL IS USED. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 50,000 MIS. AND IS NOW A CONSTANT THING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A $1000 FIX AND IS PREVALENT ON THESE MODELS AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL BUT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370380

60,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE REGISTERS EMPTY EVERY TIME GAS TANK IS FILLED AND THEREAFTER UNTIL X AMOUNT IS USED AND ALSO AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365935

85,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE GAUGE IN THE FUEL TANK GOES WILD GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY IN A MATTER OF SECONDS I NEVER NOW IF ITS FULL OR EMPTY.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365444

85,000 miles · Oct 12, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL .GAS SENSOR HAS BUILD-UP...TRIED FUEL CLEANERS. SOME HELP...PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360099

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA04011 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Apr 9, 2004 · Closed May 10, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Parking Brake:conventional

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Parking Brake

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE03057 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 8, 2003 · Closed Apr 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake

ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING BRAKE IS INTENDED TO OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO IMMOBILZE PARKED VEHICLES, AND THAT IN MANY CASES, ACCELERATED PARKING BRAKE LINING WEAR IS CAUSED BY ROUGH USE, VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, AND DRIVING WITH THE PARKING ENGAGED. ODI HAS UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO GATHER FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE USAGE FACTORS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SEVENTEEN REPORTED VEHICLE CRASHES.