IllustrationGAS GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL .GAS SENSOR HAS BUILD-UP...TRIED FUEL CLEANERS. SOME HELP...PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
3825–50K
7150–75K
8075–100K
102100–150K
65150K+
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
What owners actually said
468 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OR LESS APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED PREMATURELY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LOW SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OR LESS APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED PREMATURELY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LOW SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,100.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A VIBRATION, DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRES WERE FLAT. HE PURCHASED FOUR TIRES TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND TWO OF THE TIRES HAVE FAILED. THE TIRES ARE YOKOHAMA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A VIBRATION, DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRES WERE FLAT. HE PURCHASED FOUR TIRES TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND TWO OF THE TIRES HAVE FAILED. THE TIRES ARE YOKOHAMA GEOLANDER H/T SIZE P265/75R16. HE CHANGED THE TIRES TO HIS SPARE AND DROVE HIS VEHICLE HOME. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 12/10/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE VALVE STEMS WERE CRACKED. THE VALVE STEMS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE STEMS WERE THE PROBLEM, NOT THE TIRES. UPDATED 12/17/10*JB
FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC. SAYS LOW FUEL UPON FILL UP. DOESN'T STAY SETTLED TO GIVE GOOD FUEL READING. *TR
UPON STEPPING ON BRAKE AT LOW SPEED TO STOP, IT FELT AS THOUGH ABS TOOK OVER AND CAUSED TRUCK TO LOSE BRAKING POWER. ALMOST CRASHED INTO FENCE. THAN SECOND TIME LESS THAN ONE HOUR LATER HAD SAME THING HAPPEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. THIRD TIME A DAY LATTER PULLING INTO DRIVE ABS FELT AGAIN AND BRAKE NOT ENGAGING. *TR
I LOST THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO, COMING HOME FROM A FAMILY OUTING. ONCE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK, MY HUSBAND SAW ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING OUT. WHEN THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER INSPECTED IT THEY SAID ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED & BADLY RUSTED THAT BOTH THE FRONT & THE BACK BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE R…
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I LOST THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO, COMING HOME FROM A FAMILY OUTING. ONCE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK, MY HUSBAND SAW ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING OUT. WHEN THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER INSPECTED IT THEY SAID ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED & BADLY RUSTED THAT BOTH THE FRONT & THE BACK BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY, OF COURSE, NO LONGER MAKE THE BRAKE LINES FOR THIS TRUCK SO THEY HAD TO BE HAND MADE. *TR
1. AT APPROXIMATELY 2 PM, CST ON AUGUST 10, 2010, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND BEGAN EXITING MY SUBDIVISION DOWN THE ONE LANE GRAVEL ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH, AND COMPRESSED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. 2. AFTER APPLYING THE BREAKS TO REDUCE MY SPEED WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLE…
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1. AT APPROXIMATELY 2 PM, CST ON AUGUST 10, 2010, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND BEGAN EXITING MY SUBDIVISION DOWN THE ONE LANE GRAVEL ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH, AND COMPRESSED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. 2. AFTER APPLYING THE BREAKS TO REDUCE MY SPEED WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, AND ALL FUNCTION TO THE BRAKES WAS LOST. I CONTINUED DOWNHILL WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED, WHICH PROVIDED SOME DECELERATION, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN MOTION, REACHING A SPEED OF ABOUT 20MPH BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO REST ON THE ONE LANE BRIDGE EXITING THE SUBDIVISION. A VISUAL INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE NEARLY COMPLETELY CORRODED, AND HAD RUPTURED, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE CHASSIS, AND PUDDLING ON THE GRAVEL. 3. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE MUST BE DIAGNOSED AT MY OWN EXPENSE BEFORE ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. I PLAN TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010. *TR
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. ALL FIVE LINES LEADING TO THE ABS UNIT LOCATED INSIDE THE FRAME RAIL, UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT, ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. ONE OF THE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND SPRUNG A LEAK. SINCE THE LINES ARE RUNNING ALONG THE TOP SIDE…
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BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. ALL FIVE LINES LEADING TO THE ABS UNIT LOCATED INSIDE THE FRAME RAIL, UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT, ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. ONE OF THE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND SPRUNG A LEAK. SINCE THE LINES ARE RUNNING ALONG THE TOP SIDE OF THE FRAME RAIL FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TO THE FRONT WHEELS, THE REPLACEMENT WILL BE A DIFFICULT JOB. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT CARRY REPLACEMENT LINES AND THEY MUST BE CUSTOM BENT. SINCE THE LINES ARE TYPICALLY INSTALLED ON A BARE FRAME WITHOUT THE CHASSIS, THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION IS MUCH EASIER THAN FIELD REPLACEMENT. GIVEN THE DIFFICULTY OF FIELD REPLACEMENT AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF BRAKE FAILURE, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD USE A HIGHER QUALITY ORIGINAL PART. *TR
2001 CHEVY SILVERADO. ODOMETER 56K. 3/20/10 TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES, CALIPERS, FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED. RUSTED LINES. 7/24/10 FOUR MONTHS AFTER, REPEATED BRAKE FAILURE. TOTALLY BLEW REAR BRAKES. CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. AVOIDED A COLLISION. EXPENSIVE, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. NEEDS A SAFETY…
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2001 CHEVY SILVERADO. ODOMETER 56K. 3/20/10 TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES, CALIPERS, FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED. RUSTED LINES. 7/24/10 FOUR MONTHS AFTER, REPEATED BRAKE FAILURE. TOTALLY BLEW REAR BRAKES. CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. AVOIDED A COLLISION. EXPENSIVE, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. NEEDS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGE. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ABS FUSE IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM ENGAGING. HE ALSO LOCATED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGE. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ABS FUSE IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM ENGAGING. HE ALSO LOCATED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000: BRAKES HYDRAULIC ANTI LOCK) BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Official recalls
0No 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
2EA04011 · 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.