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2001 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

123 reports with mileage · 17 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 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

40 reports
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89,000 miles · Apr 11, 2016
Service BrakesCrash

ANTI-LOCKING BRAKES COMING ON WHEN STOPPING. NO REGULAR BRAKES 100 FEET PASS STOP ON HIGHWAY AND ONCE TURNING WHILE PARKING SPACE,HIT A FENCE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #10854866

167,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Service Brakes

SECOND BRAKE LIKE FAILURE IN AS MANY YEARS. AGAIN, RUSTED AT A BEND JUST AS THE REAR LINE TURNS DOWN INTO THE CENTER HOSE GOING TO THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL. LUCKILY, I WAS JUST FINISHING PULLING STRAIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN IT POPPED JUST AS A I STOPPED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO HIT THE PARKING BRAKE SO I DIDN'T HIT AN…

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SECOND BRAKE LIKE FAILURE IN AS MANY YEARS. AGAIN, RUSTED AT A BEND JUST AS THE REAR LINE TURNS DOWN INTO THE CENTER HOSE GOING TO THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL. LUCKILY, I WAS JUST FINISHING PULLING STRAIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN IT POPPED JUST AS A I STOPPED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO HIT THE PARKING BRAKE SO I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #10822428

80,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Service Brakes

THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUSTED OUT STEEL BRAKE LINES WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10817242

97,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Service Brakes

AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN A PERSON HIT THE BRAKES THE ABS ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. ALL EQUIPMENT IS ORIGINAL AND IS NOT DUE TO RECALL REGARDING AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. LOCAL GARAGE SAYS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH CORRODED SPEED SENSER. MY PROBLEM IS I ALMOST RAN THROUGH MY HOUSE THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. ANOTHER PRO…

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AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN A PERSON HIT THE BRAKES THE ABS ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. ALL EQUIPMENT IS ORIGINAL AND IS NOT DUE TO RECALL REGARDING AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. LOCAL GARAGE SAYS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH CORRODED SPEED SENSER. MY PROBLEM IS I ALMOST RAN THROUGH MY HOUSE THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE BRAKE LINES ON THESE TRUCKS CORODE AND BREAK WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH AS I REPLACED THEM AND ABS IS STILL MESSED UP. CHEVROLETS INFERIOUR PARTS USAGE REGARDING BRAKE LINES CAUSE THEM TO BURST PREMATURELY. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH IDENTICAL TRUCKS WHO ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE ONGOING PROBLEMS. I FIXED THE BRAKE LINES BUT I HAD TO REMOVE THE ABS MODULE TO KEEP THE ABS FROM ENGAGING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10809566

88,000 miles · May 30, 2015
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO OTHER LINES ARE RUSTY ALSO TRUCK HAD BEEN KEPT IN GARAGE FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS ONLY DROVE ON BEACH MAYBE 5 TIMES ALWAYS WASHED OFF AFTERWARDS.LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN S/S

NHTSA ODI #10722455

107,000 miles · Mar 7, 2015
Service Brakes

APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, GOT VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT TO FIND ALL LINES UNDER THE TRUCK RUSTY, ALL LINES INCLUDING THE FUEL LINES ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692694

200,000 miles · Jan 28, 2015
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINES ARE SO RUSTY THEY LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679359

103,000 miles · Nov 30, 2014
Service Brakes

ON 11-29-2014, WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY 2 SONS, ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD A BRAKE LINE BURST DUE TO EXTERIOR CORROSION (RUST). THE FIRST TIME A BRAKE LINE BURST IN THIS TRUCK WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS AGO.…

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ON 11-29-2014, WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY 2 SONS, ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD A BRAKE LINE BURST DUE TO EXTERIOR CORROSION (RUST). THE FIRST TIME A BRAKE LINE BURST IN THIS TRUCK WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 YOUNG SONS, APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE AND I WAS, FORTUNATELY, ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY TURN RIGHT, INTO A PARKING LOT. AT THAT TIME, I REPORTED THE ISSUE ONLINE AT SOME WEBSITE, BUT I CANNOT RECALL THE NAME OF THE SITE. THIS TIME I CAME TO THIS WEBSITE. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED, AND HAVE TO HAVE ALL RIGID OEM BRAKE LINES REPLACED, RIGHT HERE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT, THE RUPTURE CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE FRAME RAIL, UNDER THE DRIVERSIDE SEAT. ALL OEM RIGID BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE PROBLEM IN THE PAST (THE FIRST INCIDENT) CAME FROM THE LAST 3 INCHES OF THE BRAKE LINE GOING TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEFORE IT ATTACHES TO THE FLEXIBLE HOSE. NOTE THAT THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE MUD OR SAND, NOR HAS IT PUT ANY BOATS INTO THE WATER. ALSO, IT HAS NEVER PULLED/TOWED ANOTHER VEHICLE. I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT PULL ANYTHING IN THIS MODEL OF GMC TRUCK WITHOUT REPLACING ALL OEM RIGID BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661310

230,000 miles · Oct 5, 2014
Service Brakes

REAR BRAKE LINE BURST AND HAD NO STOPPING POWER.HAD TO ROLL TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641503

86,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS BACKING MY BOAT INTO THE WATER,STEPPED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.THE BRAKES WERE GONE. QUICKLY PUT IN DRIVE AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND PULLED UP RAMP(UP HILL RAMP SO BRAKES WERE NOT SO IMPORTANT USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP).THE COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILED,THERE WERE NO HYDRAULIC BRAKES AT ALL AS ALL THE LINES CORRODE…

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I WAS BACKING MY BOAT INTO THE WATER,STEPPED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.THE BRAKES WERE GONE. QUICKLY PUT IN DRIVE AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND PULLED UP RAMP(UP HILL RAMP SO BRAKES WERE NOT SO IMPORTANT USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP).THE COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILED,THERE WERE NO HYDRAULIC BRAKES AT ALL AS ALL THE LINES CORRODED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617246

Official recalls

2

04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility

Nov 26, 2004

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

01V125000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 10, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 2-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A COMPUTER ERROR THAT RESULTED IN THE CERTIFICATION LABEL LISTING TIRE SIZE AND INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION THAT DIFFER FROM THE TIRE SIZE AND THE INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION FOR THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE OWNER OR SOMEONE SERVICING THE VEHICLE INFLATES THE TIRES ACCORDING TO THE PRESSURE SPECIFIED ON THE LABEL VERSUS THE APPROPRIATE PRESSURE FOR THE TIRES, THE TIRES COULD BE UNDER-INFLATED OR OVER-INFLATED DEPENDING ON THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TIRES ARE UNDER-INFLATED, IT COULD REDUCE THE TREAD LIFE OF THE TIRE, AND THE TIRE COULD DEGRADE TO A POINT OF ALLOWING SUDDEN AIR LOSS. IF THE TIRES ARE OVER-INFLATED, IT COULD REDUCE THE TREAD LIFE OF THE TIRE AND INCREASE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE. IF SUDDEN AIR LOSS OR A ROAD HAZARD CAUSES DAMAGE TO A TIRE, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 31, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

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.