IllustrationTHE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED BY AAA EMERGENCY SERVICE WHERE THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE COST TO REPLACE THE FAILED BRAKE LINE WAS $270.79 THE REST OF THE UNDER-CARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK IS BADLY RUSTED AS WELL. *KB
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 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
40–25K
1525–50K
2050–75K
2775–100K
40100–150K
17150K+
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
What owners actually said
140 reportsSTOPPED IN FRONT OF HOUSE AND WHEN ALMOST STOPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES EXCEPT FOR A VERY SLIGHT "DRAG". I STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW FLUID COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. IT APPEARED TO BE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS TRACED TO A METAL BRAKE RUNNING ACROSS THE FRONT FRAME MEMBER…
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STOPPED IN FRONT OF HOUSE AND WHEN ALMOST STOPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES EXCEPT FOR A VERY SLIGHT "DRAG". I STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW FLUID COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. IT APPEARED TO BE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS TRACED TO A METAL BRAKE RUNNING ACROSS THE FRONT FRAME MEMBER TO THE BRAKE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE LINE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTY AND LEAKING PROFUSELY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL METAL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEED REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN MANY VEHICLES BUT NONE WITH THIS AMOUNT OF RUST ON EVERY PART OF ALL LINES AND THE FRAME. THIS TRUCK IS 10 YRS OLD AND IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL ALL BRAKE LINES ARE REPLACED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST AND EFFORT. AS YOU WOULD EXPECT I AM NOT PLEASED BUT CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. PLEASE WARN OTHERS THIS HAZARD EXISTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR FLUCTUATED ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR FLUCTUATED ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THE CONSTANT MALFUNCTION WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND PROVIDED ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENDING UNIT INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND PROVIDED ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENDING UNIT INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
I HAVE A 200 GMC SIERRA AND HAVE FOUND NOW THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE FRAME IS SO BADLY RUSTY IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. AS I REVIEW THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS, MANY RESULTING IN CRASHES. YOU MUST MAKE GMC FACE UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND GET THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES OFF …
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I HAVE A 200 GMC SIERRA AND HAVE FOUND NOW THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE FRAME IS SO BADLY RUSTY IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. AS I REVIEW THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS, MANY RESULTING IN CRASHES. YOU MUST MAKE GMC FACE UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND GET THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. *TR
WHILE BLEEDING THE REAR DISK BRAKE CALIPERS IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEEL HYDRAULIC TUBING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS BURST DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THE RESULT WAS A QUICK LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL BRAKING WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HYDRAULIC…
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WHILE BLEEDING THE REAR DISK BRAKE CALIPERS IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEEL HYDRAULIC TUBING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS BURST DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THE RESULT WAS A QUICK LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL BRAKING WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIR IS NOT DIVIDED INTO FRONT/REAR COMPARTMENTS. AFTER THE LEAK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. *KB
WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSE. I DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK TO MY HOUSE. UPON INVESTIGATION, A 12" SECTION OF THE INSIDE OF MY LEFT REAR BRAKE ROTOR BROKE OFF. WHEN THE ROTOR CONTINUED TO TURN, THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE BRAKE ROTOR CAU…
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WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT MY NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSE. I DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK TO MY HOUSE. UPON INVESTIGATION, A 12" SECTION OF THE INSIDE OF MY LEFT REAR BRAKE ROTOR BROKE OFF. WHEN THE ROTOR CONTINUED TO TURN, THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE BRAKE ROTOR CAUGHT THE CALIPER PISTON AND SHEARED IT OFF. LUCKILY, I WAS ONLY DRIVING AT 18 MPH. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 55-65 MPH, THE LOSS OF BRAKING WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE PIECE THAT BROKE OFF WAS COVERED WITH RUST ON THE INSIDE - THE SIDE MANUFACTURED WITH COOLING OPENINGS WHICH ARE LOCATED BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE BRAKE ROTOR. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATE THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATE THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE FRACTURED AND THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED DUE TO RUST CORROSION AND RECOMMENDED HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A COLLISION CENTER. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE DAMAGES WERE BEYOND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,780. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/2012 *CN
A STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND FAILED LEAVING LIMITED BRAKING FOR THE VEHICLE. ALL FLUID DRAINED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. *KB
BRAKE FAILURE (LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR). CAUSED BY CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. INSPECTION OF BRAKE LINES SHOWED EXTENSIVE HEAVY RUST, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE FRAME MEMBERS.
Official recalls
204V562000 · 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
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.