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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

147 reports
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135,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD EXTENSIVE RUST TO THE POINT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD EXTENSIVE RUST TO THE POINT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. ...UPDATED 09-05-14 *BF UPDATED 3/30/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10609252

38,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT APPEARED TO HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL BRAKING ON FRONT WHEELS. UPON INSPECTION THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. WENT STRAIGHT TO GARAGE FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL BRAKE …

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HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT APPEARED TO HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL BRAKING ON FRONT WHEELS. UPON INSPECTION THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. WENT STRAIGHT TO GARAGE FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL BRAKE LINES WERE IN DANGER OF RUSTING THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS. ALSO ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE IS BADLY RUSTED AS TO ROTORS, SHOCKS AND SUCH. ACTUALLY HAD ALL ROTORS REPLACED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AT CHEVROLET DEALER IN ORDER FOR TRUCK TO PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. HAVE OTHER VEHICLES EVEN OLDER THAN THIS TRUCK WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH RUST UNDER THEM. WAS TOLD BY GARAGE MECHANIC THAT HE HAS SEEN A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF CHEVY TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE WITH SAME PROBLEMS. IT'S A SHAME, BECAUSE THIS TRUCK LOOKS ALMOST NEW IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT.

NHTSA ODI #10567365

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE WAS A RECALL ON AUGUST 29 2005 FOR THIS PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 36327 I HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK RIGHT NOW HOW SHOULD I HANDLE THIS SITUATION? IT IS THE HYDRAULIC: ABS SENSOR (THE PROBLEM STARTED SLOWLY AND NOW ITS BAD) I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519944

141,600 miles · Aug 3, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN THE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN THE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,600 UPDATED 08/16/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON BFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE BRAKE LIGHTS. UPDATED 08/21/12

NHTSA ODI #10469120

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AND MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT. NO WARNING LIGHT THAT IS A LIE AND SO IS THE STATEMENT ABOUT IT SLOWLY COMING TO A STOP. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL SO IT CAME TO A STOP THEN STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A POLE AND BROKE MY TAILGATE OFF CAUS…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AND MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT. NO WARNING LIGHT THAT IS A LIE AND SO IS THE STATEMENT ABOUT IT SLOWLY COMING TO A STOP. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL SO IT CAME TO A STOP THEN STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A POLE AND BROKE MY TAILGATE OFF CAUSE THE TAILGATE PINS WERE RUSTED TO AND I LIVE IN ALABAMA. NO SALT ANYWHERE. THANKS CHEVY, NOW I CAN'T EVEN FIX THE TRUCK BECAUSE ITS GOING TO COST ME 1,000 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10458068

109,000 miles · May 7, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY WIFE WAS ON AN ERRAND AND WHEN SHE GOT INTO THE TRUCK TO COME HOME THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS SOFT AND WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. SHE WAS SCARED AND TESTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THERE WAS SOME SO CAME HOME SLOWLY WITH A PLAN IN HER MIND TO HIT SOMETHING OTHER THAN ANOTHER CAR IN THE CASE THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLE…

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MY WIFE WAS ON AN ERRAND AND WHEN SHE GOT INTO THE TRUCK TO COME HOME THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS SOFT AND WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. SHE WAS SCARED AND TESTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THERE WAS SOME SO CAME HOME SLOWLY WITH A PLAN IN HER MIND TO HIT SOMETHING OTHER THAN ANOTHER CAR IN THE CASE THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457715

115,000 miles · May 2, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINE CORRODED AT ABS UNIT ALONG FRAME. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457191

81,220 miles · Apr 9, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,220.

NHTSA ODI #10454582

97,000 miles · Apr 1, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED SAME EXACT PROBLEMS OUTLINED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 AND RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IN PARKING LOT OR PARKING GARAGE THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I WOULD RUN INTO CEMENT WHILE CHOCKS OR BLOCKS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO …

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I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED SAME EXACT PROBLEMS OUTLINED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 AND RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IN PARKING LOT OR PARKING GARAGE THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I WOULD RUN INTO CEMENT WHILE CHOCKS OR BLOCKS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO STOP A CAR IN PARKING LOTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5-10 TIMES IN MY VEHICLE. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE THE ABS HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED BY VEHICLE. LAST MONTH I HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP AND MY TRUCK SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL, HAD TO RELEASE BRAKES TO REGAIN CONTROL. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453719

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2011 AND SINCE HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON ALL THE BRAKE LINES GOING AND COMING FROM THE ABS MODULE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME RAIL. I HAVE READ MANY CASES OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR LINES BURST IN AS LITTLE AS 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I AM VERY CONCER…

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2011 AND SINCE HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON ALL THE BRAKE LINES GOING AND COMING FROM THE ABS MODULE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME RAIL. I HAVE READ MANY CASES OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR LINES BURST IN AS LITTLE AS 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OPERATION OF MY TRUCK WITH THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE AND HOPE THAT GENERAL MOTORS WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE (FRAME RAILS, BOLT LOCATIONS, WELD LOCATIONS, UNDERSIDE OF BUMPERS, ECT). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445240

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.