DRIVING NORMAL, NO WARNING. POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT BROKE AT SPLINES. VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. PUMP SHAFT WAS REPLACED. I DO HAVE THE BROKEN PART. *JB
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
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.
What owners actually said
468 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THERE WAS A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A FAN RUNNING. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE ABS PUMP RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, AND THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED…
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THERE WAS A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A FAN RUNNING. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE ABS PUMP RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, AND THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO HAVE NEVER BEEN VERY GOOD. THEY HAVE DEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE CAN NOT RELIABLY STOP WITH REASONABLE BRAKING DISTANCES. MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED AND ONE CRASH WHERE BRAKES COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH PAD REPLACEMENT, ROTORS …
Read full complaint
BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO HAVE NEVER BEEN VERY GOOD. THEY HAVE DEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE CAN NOT RELIABLY STOP WITH REASONABLE BRAKING DISTANCES. MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED AND ONE CRASH WHERE BRAKES COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH PAD REPLACEMENT, ROTORS MACHINED/REPLACED BRAKES BLED, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AND NOTHING HAS MADE THE BRAKES FUNCTION WELL. PLEASE NOTE THE INCIDENT DATE CAN BE LOOKED UP BUT THIS IS AN ESTIMATED DATE REPORTED HERE. *NM
MY FUEL GAUGE FLOATS BACK AND FORTH AFTER THE VEHICLE SEATS IDLE THE FUEL GAUGE WILL READ EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT DOES THIS EVEN IF THE TANK IS FULL OF FUEL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR DECREASED AND ELEVATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IN MY 2001 SILVERADO IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE 2004. ABOUT THE TIME I NOTICED IT WAS STUCK, I HAD HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS WITH CHEVROLET'S. *JB
1. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER 80% OF THE TIME. AFTER FILLING UP FUEL TANK THE " LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE FUEL NEEDLE POINTS BACK TO EMPTY. THE FUEL NEEDLE WILL START WORKING BETTER AFTER I HAVE BURNED 1/2 A TANK OF FUEL. I HAVE 4 FRIENDS THAT ALL HAVE THE SAME TRUCK AND ALL OF THEIR TRUCKS DO THE SAME THING 2. HEATE…
Read full complaint
1. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER 80% OF THE TIME. AFTER FILLING UP FUEL TANK THE " LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE FUEL NEEDLE POINTS BACK TO EMPTY. THE FUEL NEEDLE WILL START WORKING BETTER AFTER I HAVE BURNED 1/2 A TANK OF FUEL. I HAVE 4 FRIENDS THAT ALL HAVE THE SAME TRUCK AND ALL OF THEIR TRUCKS DO THE SAME THING 2. HEATED MIRROR ON DRIVERS SIDE QUIT WORKING. *JB
ON A RECENT VACATION TO CANADA, MY TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING ON MY 2001 SILVERADO. I CHECKED THE FUSE AND THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY AND BOTH WERE GOOD. I NARROWED THIS DOWN TO A BAD TURN SIGNAL MULTI-SWITCH. I ALSO HAD A SWITCH GO OUT ON MY 2002 SUBURBAN. AFTER TALKING TO A DEALER, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON OTHER SILVERADO W…
Read full complaint
ON A RECENT VACATION TO CANADA, MY TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING ON MY 2001 SILVERADO. I CHECKED THE FUSE AND THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY AND BOTH WERE GOOD. I NARROWED THIS DOWN TO A BAD TURN SIGNAL MULTI-SWITCH. I ALSO HAD A SWITCH GO OUT ON MY 2002 SUBURBAN. AFTER TALKING TO A DEALER, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON OTHER SILVERADO WITH THE SAME SWITCH. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS COSTING MY A LOT OF MONEY AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS ON THE WAY HOME BECAUSE I COULD NOT SIGNAL. *JB
THE ABS ON MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO STEPSIDE (EXTENDED CAB) KICKS IN AT LOW SPEED STOPS. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING THINGS IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT HINDERS THE TRUCK'S STOPPING CAPABILITIES. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP IN THE PAST, BUT NO CODES EVER SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER. FOR WHATEVER REASON, NO INFO ABOUT MY BRAKE CO…
Read full complaint
THE ABS ON MY 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO STEPSIDE (EXTENDED CAB) KICKS IN AT LOW SPEED STOPS. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING THINGS IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT HINDERS THE TRUCK'S STOPPING CAPABILITIES. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP IN THE PAST, BUT NO CODES EVER SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER. FOR WHATEVER REASON, NO INFO ABOUT MY BRAKE COMPLAINTS WAS EVER ENTERED ON MY RECORDS. THE TRUCK HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE FIRST MONTH I HAD IT (I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW). I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT FOR THE SOUTH. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK HAD TOO MANY MILES NOW TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT THE RECALL WASN'T FOR MY AREA AND THAT SINCE IT WASN'T ON MY SERVICE RECORDS THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN THIS MATTER (MY TRUCK JUST TURNED 101K MILES)? *NM
BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED COMPLETELY , EMERGENCY BRAKE RUSTED COMPLETELY , MASSIVE RUST UNDER TRUCK , BRAKE CALIPERS RUSTED , POWER STEERING WENT OUT ,A.C. FAN WENT OUT, SHORT IN WIRING IN DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS, THIS A 2001, 56,000, MILES, LOW MILEAGE TRUCK TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROB…
Read full complaint
BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED COMPLETELY , EMERGENCY BRAKE RUSTED COMPLETELY , MASSIVE RUST UNDER TRUCK , BRAKE CALIPERS RUSTED , POWER STEERING WENT OUT ,A.C. FAN WENT OUT, SHORT IN WIRING IN DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS, THIS A 2001, 56,000, MILES, LOW MILEAGE TRUCK TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, I LOOKED IT UP, THERE IS RUSTING AND TOTAL CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS IN MANY DIFFERENT STATES, OVER ALONG PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN WHEN THE ROTORS ARE REPLACED THEY ARE RUSTING COMPLETELY AGAIN. CHEVY IS SELLING AN EXPENSIVE TRUCK, AND THEN PROFITING AGAIN ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, AND MAKING A PREMIUM PROFIT ON THAT TOO.! THEY ARE NOT BOTHERING TO FIX A DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE CHEVY SILVERADO, MY FIRST AND LAST CHEVY. *NM
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.
Illustration