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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.

About this comparison →

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

Service Brakes complaints

133 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2015
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP MY ABS SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS AT EVERY STOP I MAKE. THIS CAUSES INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND CREATES A LARGE SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ODI #10777916

108,000 miles · Sep 26, 2015
Service BrakesCrash

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON HIGHWAY 70, THE TRAFFIC SLOWED, I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR (RUSTED BRAKE LINES RUPTURED CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE) AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I WHIPPED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID REAR ENDING UP COMING CARS. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN BY PULLING D…

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WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON HIGHWAY 70, THE TRAFFIC SLOWED, I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR (RUSTED BRAKE LINES RUPTURED CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE) AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I WHIPPED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID REAR ENDING UP COMING CARS. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN BY PULLING DOWN TO 1ST AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN OFF RAMP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP, BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER CAR AND A SIGN POLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS THAT HAD FAR MORE MILES THAN MY TRUCK AND WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF LIKE THIS TRUCK. NEVER HAVE I HAD A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON ANY OTHER CAR. THIS SHOULD NOT EVER HAPPEN, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, SNOW REMOVAL METHODS, ETC. I WAS LUCKY, I COULD HAVE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED SOMEONE. I WOULD BET THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THESE POOR BRAKE LINE BEING INSTALLED ON TRUCKS.

NHTSA ODI #10777808

126,317 miles · Sep 15, 2015
Service BrakesCrash

COMING BACK FROM STORE ,WENT TO TURN IN DRIVEWAY TO HOUSE NO BRAKES RAN OFF IN GRASS AND CREEK.FRONT AND BACK BRAKES BOTH LEAKING AND RUSTED BAD.HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE 07 AND TAKEN CARE OF .CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY WHAT SHOP WANTS TO FIX. GM NEEDS RECALL TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS BAD HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #10763875

86,000 miles · Jul 27, 2015
Service BrakesStructureSuspensionCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING TO ALABAMA FROM FLORIDA. WHEN I WAS ABOUT THREE HOURS OUT I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD HAULING A LOT OF PERSONAL ITEMS SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING. IT STARTED STORMING REAL BAD SO I SLOWED DOWN TO 60 MPH AND AS I WAS APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE THEY ALL THE SUDDEN SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I SAW THEM AS SOON AS…

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I WAS DRIVING TO ALABAMA FROM FLORIDA. WHEN I WAS ABOUT THREE HOURS OUT I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD HAULING A LOT OF PERSONAL ITEMS SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING. IT STARTED STORMING REAL BAD SO I SLOWED DOWN TO 60 MPH AND AS I WAS APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE THEY ALL THE SUDDEN SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I SAW THEM AS SOON AS THEY DID IT THEN I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I ALMOST HIT THEM BUT I TURNED SHARP AND WENT INTO THE WOODS. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING BUT SMALL TREES SO VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO OUTSIDE OF TRUCK. DAMAGE IS STILL THEIR BECAUSE SINCE THE WRECK I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK CAUSE I DESTROYED MY BACK AND NECK. AFTER THAT I STILL HAD TO DRIVE THE TRUCK THE REST OF THE THREE HOUR TRIP THAT ENDED UP TAKING NINE HOURS OF EXTREME PAIN AND SHOT NERVES. ONCE I FINALLY GOT HOME IT TOOK FOREVER AND A LOT OF MONEY TO HALF WAY FIX THE TRUCK. SINCE YOU CAN'T GET REPLACEMENT LINES AND HAD TO HAVE THEM CUSTOM MADE. TRUCK IS STILL CRAP BECAUSE NOW EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS SHOT ALONG WITH THE BODY AND UNDERCARRIAGE. IT IS SOLID RUST NOW AND KEEPS BRAKING DOWN AND WILL COST AROUND THREE TO FIVE THOUSAND AT THE CHEAPEST TO FIX. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT I DO NOW THEN I WOULD HAVE SUED CHEVY AND THIS WORTHLESS ORGANIZATION CAUSE YALL HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND DID NOTHING. I THINK YALL AND CHEVY OWE ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY. IF YOU STILL DO NOTHING I WILL GO TO EVERY NEWS ORGANIZATION OR ANY OTHER COMPANY OR LAWYER THAT WILL GO AFTER YOUR COMPANY. YOU ARE HERE TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THINGS LIKE THIS BUT ALL YOU HAVE DONE IS HOPE WE ALL DIE. I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO SHUT YOU DOWN AND MAKE EVERY PERSON THAT WORKS FOR THIS CRAP ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PERSON THAT GETS HURT OR DIES. JUST DO YOUR JOB THAT'S ALL I WANT.

NHTSA ODI #10743891

105,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Service Brakes

THE STEEL BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND BROKE CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #10735249

57,000 miles · Jun 20, 2015
Service Brakes

UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10726366

170,000 miles · Apr 7, 2015
Service Brakes

A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS ACCELERATING SO I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER PARKED I OPENED DOOR AND PUMPED BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO…

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A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS ACCELERATING SO I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER PARKED I OPENED DOOR AND PUMPED BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE FLUID PUMPED OUT THE BROKEN BRAKE LINE. THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THIS FAILURE AND NO LEAKS OR DASH LIGHTS PRIOR TO THIS LINE BREAKING ON THE WAY TO WORK. I HAVE BEEN READING OF MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE OF THE BRAKE LINES RUSTING ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS A REAL ISSUE AND PEOPLE WILL GET IN ACCIDENTS. I AM VERY LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. NOT EVERYONE WILL BE THIS FORTUNATE. I HOPE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704244

198,000 miles · Mar 19, 2015
Service Brakes

ABS ACTIVATION ON DRY PAVEMENT AT LOW SPEED AND THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO TRAVEL FURTHER INSTEAD OF STOPPING. SOMETIMES FEATHERING THE BRAKE PEDAL CAN KEEP ABS FROM ACTIVATING. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS ARTICLES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER CHEVROLET PICKUPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695496

190,000 miles · Mar 19, 2015
Service Brakes

PREMATURE BRAKE LINE FAILURE OF BRAKE LINE FROM ABS UNIT TO REAR END CAUSED VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. 1 LINE FAILED AND CAUSED COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695484

104,000 miles · Mar 16, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND AN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND AN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694577

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.