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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

Structure complaints

30 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2022
StructureCrash

Vehicle was involved in a motor vehicle collision where this vehicle struck another in an offset head-on manner. The cab completely separated from the frame of this vehicle. The cab came to final rest on the roadway separated from the frame, with the bed remaining attached to the frame.

NHTSA ODI #11491596

230,000 miles · May 1, 2021
Structure

VEHICLE PARKED AT PRIVATE RESIDENCE. TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN. SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THERE IS NO ACCESS TO REPLACE BAD BRAKE LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11414705

200,000 miles · Mar 12, 2017
Structure

EXTREME FRAME RUST/ROT BEHIND FRONT PASSENGER TIRE- BOTTOM HALF OF FRAME RUSTED AND GONE- APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES

NHTSA ODI #10960226

247,000 miles · Nov 17, 2016
StructureTires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 247,000.

NHTSA ODI #10926667

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

EVAPORATED SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10915372

75,000 miles · Oct 4, 2016
Service BrakesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 12/20/16*LJ *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 12/20/16*LJ *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10913610

60,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Service BrakesStructure

2ND OWNER OF 2001 CHEVY SILV 1500 - BADLY RUSTING UNDERCARRIAGE, RUSTED FUEL TANK HANGER, RUSTED BODY/BED MOUNTS, RUSTED OFF BRAKE LINES (HAD TO BE REPLACED $2K). GM SHOULD PERFORM RECALL FOR LATE MODEL GM TRUCKS 1999 THRU 2005 FOR RUST PROBLEMS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES/FITTING, ETC. WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES.

NHTSA ODI #10894347

60,000 miles · Jun 30, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES WEAKENED, EXHIBITED RUST CORROSION, AND PARTIALLY FRACTURED. IN 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V129000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES WEAKENED, EXHIBITED RUST CORROSION, AND PARTIALLY FRACTURED. IN 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V129000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10881841

213,090 miles · Apr 4, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrashFire

TRANNY, ABS, COOLING SYSTEM, TAILGATE, ETC. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK 2003 DIDN'T EXCHANGE TITLE UNTIL LATER RECALL WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT UNDER 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I FILE AN COMPLAIN RECALL REPAIR STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SAD THING MY FATHER IS AN RETIRED EMPLOYEE IN DALLAS LOCATION. RESEARCHED THE RECALLS FROM PREVIOUSLY AND PRE…

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TRANNY, ABS, COOLING SYSTEM, TAILGATE, ETC. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK 2003 DIDN'T EXCHANGE TITLE UNTIL LATER RECALL WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT UNDER 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I FILE AN COMPLAIN RECALL REPAIR STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SAD THING MY FATHER IS AN RETIRED EMPLOYEE IN DALLAS LOCATION. RESEARCHED THE RECALLS FROM PREVIOUSLY AND PRESENT SAME RESULTS. THEY HAVE UNTIL 2 DAYS TO CONTACT ME @ [XXX] IN GOING TO THE WAREHOUSE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE OWNER, CFO, CEO WHOMEVER AND ASK FOR A FULL REFUND OR I'M FILING AN COMPLAINT AND SMALL CLAMS FOR 30 YRS WORTH. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10853201

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

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.