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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.

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
57,000 miles · Jun 20, 2015
Service Brakes

UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10726366

125,000 miles · Jun 3, 2015
Seats

DRIVERS BUCKET SEAT: AS I WAS PUTTING ON THE SEATBELT, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE. I REMOVED THE SEATBACK FRAME IN ORDER TO REPAIR IT AND FOUND THE BRACKET THAT IS BOLTED TO THE LOWER SEAT FRAME WAS TORN ALMOST COMPLETELY APART ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE AND THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE TUBE INTO THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE WAS BROKEN. …

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DRIVERS BUCKET SEAT: AS I WAS PUTTING ON THE SEATBELT, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE. I REMOVED THE SEATBACK FRAME IN ORDER TO REPAIR IT AND FOUND THE BRACKET THAT IS BOLTED TO THE LOWER SEAT FRAME WAS TORN ALMOST COMPLETELY APART ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE AND THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE TUBE INTO THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE WAS BROKEN. I DECIDED TO REPLACE IT RATHER THAN REPAIR IT AS I FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10723304

199,000 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A FOUR-VEHICLE COLLISION. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER BOTH SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. IN ADDITION…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A FOUR-VEHICLE COLLISION. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER BOTH SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND SUFFERED FROM MINOR INJURIES TO THE FACE. THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

NHTSA ODI #10722562

170,000 miles · Apr 7, 2015
Service Brakes

A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS ACCELERATING SO I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER PARKED I OPENED DOOR AND PUMPED BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO…

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A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS ACCELERATING SO I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WHICH WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER PARKED I OPENED DOOR AND PUMPED BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE FLUID PUMPED OUT THE BROKEN BRAKE LINE. THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THIS FAILURE AND NO LEAKS OR DASH LIGHTS PRIOR TO THIS LINE BREAKING ON THE WAY TO WORK. I HAVE BEEN READING OF MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE OF THE BRAKE LINES RUSTING ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS A REAL ISSUE AND PEOPLE WILL GET IN ACCIDENTS. I AM VERY LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. NOT EVERYONE WILL BE THIS FORTUNATE. I HOPE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704244

198,000 miles · Mar 19, 2015
Service Brakes

ABS ACTIVATION ON DRY PAVEMENT AT LOW SPEED AND THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO TRAVEL FURTHER INSTEAD OF STOPPING. SOMETIMES FEATHERING THE BRAKE PEDAL CAN KEEP ABS FROM ACTIVATING. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS ARTICLES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER CHEVROLET PICKUPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695496

190,000 miles · Mar 19, 2015
Service Brakes

PREMATURE BRAKE LINE FAILURE OF BRAKE LINE FROM ABS UNIT TO REAR END CAUSED VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. 1 LINE FAILED AND CAUSED COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695484

104,000 miles · Mar 16, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND AN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND AN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694577

175,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Service Brakes

WHILE BACKING MY BOAT UP A SMALL GRADE IN MY DRIVEWAY, ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES BROKE CAUSING ME TO LOOSE COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM. NO BRAKES AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BOAT INTO THE GARAGE DUE TO THE FACT I WAS PUSHING IT UP A SMALL GRADE. I HAD JUST COME OFF OF THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. HAD THE LINE BROKE WHILE…

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WHILE BACKING MY BOAT UP A SMALL GRADE IN MY DRIVEWAY, ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES BROKE CAUSING ME TO LOOSE COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM. NO BRAKES AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BOAT INTO THE GARAGE DUE TO THE FACT I WAS PUSHING IT UP A SMALL GRADE. I HAD JUST COME OFF OF THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. HAD THE LINE BROKE WHILE TRYING TO STOP ON THE HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES THEY WERE ALL FOUND TO BE COVERED WITH RUST AND HAD TO BE ALL REPLACES. HAD OVER A $600.00 REPAIR BILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670958

129,500 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Service Brakes

YET ANOTHER BRAKE LINE STORY TO THROW ON THE HEAP. FULL DISCLOSURE, I DO MECHANIC WORK ON MY OWN CARS AND PERIODIC INSPECTIONS AS A RESULT. THE AREAS OF THE FAILURES, INCLUDING MINE, ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN INSPECTING. ANYWAY, ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65 WENT TO START SLOWING DOWN FOR MY EXIT AND THE PEDAL JUST KEPT GOING…

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YET ANOTHER BRAKE LINE STORY TO THROW ON THE HEAP. FULL DISCLOSURE, I DO MECHANIC WORK ON MY OWN CARS AND PERIODIC INSPECTIONS AS A RESULT. THE AREAS OF THE FAILURES, INCLUDING MINE, ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN INSPECTING. ANYWAY, ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65 WENT TO START SLOWING DOWN FOR MY EXIT AND THE PEDAL JUST KEPT GOING. I FEVERISHLY PUMPED THE BRAKES AND STARTED GEARING DOWN AND TRYING THE EBRAKE. NO EBRAKE, WHICH I THOUGH WAS ODD BECAUSE ITS MECHANICAL AND IT WORKED JUST FINE BEFORE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO INDICATION OF THE BRAKES GOING BAD AND NARROWLY MISSED VEHICLES AS I BROUGHT IT TO A STOP. THE BRAKES THAT YOU DO HAVE ARE SO MINIMAL, THEIR JUST ABOUT USELESS. IT WAS THE MAIN FEEDER LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES, BEFORE THE RUBBER FLEX LINE TO THE AXLE, RIGHT ON A BEND. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, 12" AWAY FROM THE SIGNIFICANT BLOW OUT, NOT A PIN HOLE, IT WAS STILL HAVE WAY DECENT TO USE A COMPRESSION FITTING FOR A TEMPORARY FIX. WHY ARE COMPANIES ALLOWED TO USE STEEL FOR BRAKE LINES IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN COATED, ONCE IT SCRATCHES THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BEGINNING OF THE END. BOTH FUEL AND BRAKE LINES SHOULD HAVE TO MADE FROM THAT WILL NOT RUST, ALONG WITH THE FITTINGS. I UNDERSTAND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, BUT BRAKE LINES ARE IN NO WAY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I ACTUALLY CONTACTED CHEVY ABOUT THIS MATTER AND BASICALLY GOT NOWHERE, THE SENIOR ADVISER, [XXX], JUST KEPT TELLING ME THINGS I ALREADY KNEW AND STATING THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. JUST TALKING IN CIRCLES AND TOWING THE COMPANY LINE. NO ASSISTANCE AND REALLY COULD CARE LESS. I WASN'T LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT, JUST SOME HELP WITH A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE THAT I DID NOT ANTICIPATE HAVING TO PAY. DEALER SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE $1400 PARTS AND LABOR. I REALLY HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE PEOPLE DYING TO TAKE ACTION, I TOLD THEM HOW ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE FOR A CHANGE, IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670861

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10667618

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.