Illustration2001 GMC SIERRA 1500 4X4 MAIN BRAKE LINE RUPTURE FROM CORROSION WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *TR
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
59 reportsI OWN A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. ON SEPTEMBER 7 2010 I LEFT MY HOUSE TO GO TO WORK, I STOPPED AT THE MAIL BOX AT THE END OF DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL AWAY. I BACKED UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK.…
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I OWN A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. ON SEPTEMBER 7 2010 I LEFT MY HOUSE TO GO TO WORK, I STOPPED AT THE MAIL BOX AT THE END OF DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL AWAY. I BACKED UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK I NOTICED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED AND ONE WAS LEAKING. I THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SCARY UNSAFE!!! *TR
ON 8/4/10, WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY 2001 GMC SIERRA'S BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 29,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS RARELY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER WHEN THERE WAS SNOW, ICE OR SALT PRESENT. AS OF 9/5/10 THE TRUCK R…
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ON 8/4/10, WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY 2001 GMC SIERRA'S BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 29,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS RARELY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER WHEN THERE WAS SNOW, ICE OR SALT PRESENT. AS OF 9/5/10 THE TRUCK REMAINS PARKED AND THE LINES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED, I CONDUCTED RESEARCH TO FIND THIS FAILURE TO BE A PENDING INVESTIGATION FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE10010. I ONLY WANT GMC TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR THAT IS CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT. BUT I'M PRETTY SURE A RECALL ON 6.3 MILLION VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ISSUED WITH GM'S IPO SET TO BE RELEASED. SO, I, THE GM CONSUMER, WILL HAVE TO WAIT. *TR
BRAKE LINES UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BURST, SPILLING FLUID IN DRIVEWAY WHILE PARKING TRUCK. UPON INSPECTION, ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED/ROTTED. TRUCK IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, UNDRIVEABLE. THANK GOD IT HAPPENED IN DRIVEWAY, NOT ON HILLS WE LIVE ON. USED E-BRAKE TO STOP. *TR
SIXTY MILES INTO RETURN TRIP HOME WHILE BRAKING FOR STOP LIGHT FROM ABOUT 55-60 MPH, BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WORKED FINE EARLIER AND FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY I APPLIED THE BRAKES EARLY MISSING A VEHICLE THAT WAS ALREADY STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT BY LESS THAN ONE FOOT. BRAKE F…
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SIXTY MILES INTO RETURN TRIP HOME WHILE BRAKING FOR STOP LIGHT FROM ABOUT 55-60 MPH, BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WORKED FINE EARLIER AND FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY I APPLIED THE BRAKES EARLY MISSING A VEHICLE THAT WAS ALREADY STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT BY LESS THAN ONE FOOT. BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINES UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE BADLY CORRODED AND ALL NEED REPLACING. ALL OF THE TRUCK'S METAL BRAKE LINES ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
SAFETY ABOUT GMC SIERRA TRUCK ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS TRUCK FOR ABS ACTIVATION WHEN STOPPING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. I EXPERIENCED THIS AND THEY DID REPLACE OR CLEAN THE WHEEL SENSOR AND TEST FOR PROPER OPERATION. NOW I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT CORRECT IT. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME FO…
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SAFETY ABOUT GMC SIERRA TRUCK ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS TRUCK FOR ABS ACTIVATION WHEN STOPPING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. I EXPERIENCED THIS AND THEY DID REPLACE OR CLEAN THE WHEEL SENSOR AND TEST FOR PROPER OPERATION. NOW I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT CORRECT IT. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME FOR I WILL BE TOWING A TRAILER AND DEPEND ON MY BRAKES TO STOP. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. I TOLD THEM THAT I DISCONNECTED THE SENSOR AND THE BRAKES WORK FINE. I BELIEVE THAT THEY CORRECT THIS AND ALSO I DID HAVE A BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHERE I HAD TO PAY THEM $700.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY BRAKE LINES. I AM FURIOUS ABOUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CHEAP BUILDING OF OUR CARS AND TRUCKS. DO INVESTIGATE THIS AND REPLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA C1500. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A U-TURN, THE BRAKES LOCKED. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THEY WOULD NT ENGAGE AS HE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY TREE. HE WAS NOT INJURED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CRASH WAS REPORTED TO HIS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA C1500. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A U-TURN, THE BRAKES LOCKED. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THEY WOULD NT ENGAGE AS HE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY TREE. HE WAS NOT INJURED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CRASH WAS REPORTED TO HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,323 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,357.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ENTIRE BREAKING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,722. THE CUR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ENTIRE BREAKING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,722. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,320
CORRODED BRAKE LINE ON MY 2001 GMC PICK UP TRUCK. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THIS. I JUST READ IN THE BOSTON HERALD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP. THIS REPAIR WAS $350.00. *TR
DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS THE FRONT OR REAR BRAKES THAT WERE LOST WHEN DRIVING. DROVE CAREFULLY TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD A CORRODED BRAKE LINE REPLACED THAT HAD A HOLE OR HOLES IN IT. *TR
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.