← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

468 reports
76,000 miles · Jan 30, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AS I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN IN MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO HAVE IT GO ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT GOING FAST, AND THERE WAS ENOUGH PRESSURE REMAINING IN THE BRAKE LINE TO SLOW ME DOWN (HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER THAN 5 MPH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CAS…

Read full complaint

AS I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN IN MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO HAVE IT GO ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT GOING FAST, AND THERE WAS ENOUGH PRESSURE REMAINING IN THE BRAKE LINE TO SLOW ME DOWN (HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER THAN 5 MPH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE). AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH; THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD ITS MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE DONE LESS THAN A MONTH AND 20 MILES PRIOR AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. I FOLLOWED UP WITH FURTHER REVIEW OF MY OWN ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE RUST BELT STATES WHERE SALT IS USED EACH WINTER. I AM GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO STOP, AND AM GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NOT ON A BUSY ROAD GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY SUCH A VITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ON ANY VEHICLE WOULD BE MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE ELEMENTS BETTER. IN ADDITION, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SUCH A FLAW WOULD HAVE PROMPTED A SAFETY RECALL BEFORE ANYONE DOES GET HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379592

100,100 miles · Jan 19, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION, RUST OUT. A DEER RAN INTO THE HIGHWAY, HIT BRAKES TO STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. HIT DEER AND DID MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF TRUCK. AFTER INSPECTION, ALL BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACED. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT, INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10377885

116,000 miles · Jan 12, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN MY 2001 CHEVY SILVER AUTO, EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN I AM EXPERIENCING UNWANTED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM APPLICATION. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I STOP AND HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS ONLY. I HAVE FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V379000). THIS HOWEVER DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BUT …

Read full complaint

IN MY 2001 CHEVY SILVER AUTO, EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN I AM EXPERIENCING UNWANTED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM APPLICATION. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I STOP AND HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS ONLY. I HAVE FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V379000). THIS HOWEVER DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BUT IT NEEDS TO !! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376437

46,900 miles · Jan 3, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD CAUSING AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD CAUSING AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,900.

NHTSA ODI #10373929

30,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010
Parking Brake

EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370780

90,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010
EquipmentStructureInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EQUIPPED WITH A DORMAN EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. WHILE OPENING THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THE CONTACT'S HAND WAS CUT ON THE DOOR HANDLE AS IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE DOOR HANDLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EQUIPPED WITH A DORMAN EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. WHILE OPENING THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THE CONTACT'S HAND WAS CUT ON THE DOOR HANDLE AS IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE DOOR HANDLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10370774

50,000 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FULL AND BOUNCES AROUND AFTER A LITTLE FUEL IS USED. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 50,000 MIS. AND IS NOW A CONSTANT THING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A $1000 FIX AND IS PREVALENT ON THESE MODELS AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL BUT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370380

100,000 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EVEN ON DRY ROADS, AND CAUSES LOSS OF BRAKES. IF THE ROADS ARE SLICK IT MALFUNCTIONS CONSTANTLY WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. IT WAS FIXED UNDER RECALL ONCE ALREADY BUT HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY A YEAR LATER. THIS IS NOW THE …

Read full complaint

I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EVEN ON DRY ROADS, AND CAUSES LOSS OF BRAKES. IF THE ROADS ARE SLICK IT MALFUNCTIONS CONSTANTLY WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. IT WAS FIXED UNDER RECALL ONCE ALREADY BUT HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY A YEAR LATER. THIS IS NOW THE 3RD WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. I'VE HAD TO PUT UP WITH IT SINCE CHEVROLET WON'T FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN ONGOING RECALLED SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE LIKE THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368627

100,000 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Wheels

I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS RECALLED ONCE AND REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCUR A YEAR LATER. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO RESOLVE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AT NO COST SINCE IT WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ISSUE HAS…

Read full complaint

I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS RECALLED ONCE AND REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCUR A YEAR LATER. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO RESOLVE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AT NO COST SINCE IT WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. AM I TO HAVE NO BRAKES UNLESS I PAY A DEALER TO FIX THIS EVERY YEAR? HOW IS THIS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368626

94,000 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10368487

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.