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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

What owners actually said

140 reports
27,000 miles · Aug 4, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM PULSATES BETWEEN 1-5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP, THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAIL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM PULSATES BETWEEN 1-5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP, THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE WITH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO CORROSION. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH, THE ABS ACTIVATED, NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO STOP AT THE PROPER DISTANCE. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10236825

74,000 miles · May 27, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

FIRST THING WAS THAT MY GAS GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE. UP UNTIL THE POINT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD IN MY TANK. THEN MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO GO. IT STARTED TO FLUCTUATE THEN DIES FROM TIME TO TIME. RPM'S , SPEED, GAS, OIL PRESS, PARK, NEUTRAL, REVERSE, DRIVE, 1,2,3, AND MILES DRIVEN CANNOT SEE ANYMORE…

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

NHTSA ODI #10229047

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON OUR SIERRA GMC 01 THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN TURNING ON FOR 2 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NO USAGE OF OUR EMERGENCY BRAKE, WE FIGURED IT HAD TO DO WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES SO WE REPLACED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES WHICH WE PURCHASED THE BRAKE SHOES FOR $74.94,BRAKE PADS $33.97,BRAKE ROTOR$61.98,TWO PNT CALIPER BLK $…

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ON OUR SIERRA GMC 01 THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN TURNING ON FOR 2 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NO USAGE OF OUR EMERGENCY BRAKE, WE FIGURED IT HAD TO DO WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES SO WE REPLACED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES WHICH WE PURCHASED THE BRAKE SHOES FOR $74.94,BRAKE PADS $33.97,BRAKE ROTOR$61.98,TWO PNT CALIPER BLK $6.44 EACH AND THE TOTAL COST OF PURCHASING THIS WAS $199.91 AND TO DO THE REPAIRS WE HAD A FAMILY MECHANIC FIX WHAT WE BELIEVED COULD BE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222031

46,515 miles · Oct 26, 2007
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING I TILTED MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I FOUND THAT AS I MOVED THE WHEEL UP AND DOWN THERE WAS A SPOT AT WHICH THE LIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP I THEY FOUND THAT A WIRE IN THE JUNCTION BLOCK OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (BLINKER ASSEMBLY) HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING T…

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WHILE DRIVING I TILTED MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I FOUND THAT AS I MOVED THE WHEEL UP AND DOWN THERE WAS A SPOT AT WHICH THE LIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP I THEY FOUND THAT A WIRE IN THE JUNCTION BLOCK OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (BLINKER ASSEMBLY) HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206963

80,000 miles · Oct 7, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE IS POOR. COMPARED TO BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHEN NEW, VEHICLE TAKES TOO LONG TO STOP FROM ANY SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH. HAVE REPLACED ALL PADS, ALL ROTORS, AND BLED BRAKES TWICE; NO NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED AT 80,000 MILES, VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 110,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10205165

60,000 miles · Sep 16, 2007
Parking Brake

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN SOFT (GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED), AND PARKING BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO HOLD VEHICLE ON INCLINES OF GREATER THAN 25 - 30 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP AND HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX WITH ADJUSTMENT AND NEW PARTS; ALL RESULTED IN LITTLE …

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SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN SOFT (GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED), AND PARKING BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO HOLD VEHICLE ON INCLINES OF GREATER THAN 25 - 30 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP AND HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX WITH ADJUSTMENT AND NEW PARTS; ALL RESULTED IN LITTLE OR NO SUCCESS. ONE OCCASION THE TRUCK ACTUALLY ROLLED DOWN A HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET. FORTUNATELY, NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES. I DON'T TRUST THE P-BRAKE AT ALL; I ALWAYS CHOCK THE TIRES WHEN PARKED ON ANY INCLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203129

14,000 miles · Jun 7, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASH BOARD CRACKING AN DODGE RAM TRUCK

NHTSA ODI #10192719

57,232 miles · Jun 3, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD A RECALL ON MY 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500 SERIES PICK UP TRUCK FOR FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. AFTER THEY REPLACED IT MY ANTI LOCK BRAKES STARTED ENGAGING AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MI/HR. NOT ALWAYS BUT FREQUENTLY. ESPECIALLY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC OR COMING TO A SLOW STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192331

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2007
Structure

MY 2001 DODGE 1500 PICK UP TRUCK DASH BOARD CRACKED AND CAME APART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189559

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 01 GMC SIERRA (LIGHT DUTY) THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM AS THE TRUCKS IN RECALL IN THE NORTH EASTERN STATES. MY PROBLEM IS I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN FLORIDA...MOVED TO DELAWARE AND HAVE LIVED HERE THE PAST TEN MONTHS..TRUCK IS STILL REGISTERED IN FLORIDA...AND GMC WON'T REPLACE THE RECALL ABS SENSO…

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I HAVE A 01 GMC SIERRA (LIGHT DUTY) THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM AS THE TRUCKS IN RECALL IN THE NORTH EASTERN STATES. MY PROBLEM IS I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN FLORIDA...MOVED TO DELAWARE AND HAVE LIVED HERE THE PAST TEN MONTHS..TRUCK IS STILL REGISTERED IN FLORIDA...AND GMC WON'T REPLACE THE RECALL ABS SENSORS BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN FLORIDA AND ITS HAS A VIN NUMBER SHOWING ORIGINATION IN FLORIDA...HOW RIDICULOUS IS THIS???????? IS THIS LEGAL TO DENY ME A RECALL....WHEN I CAN PROVE I HAVE A PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN DELAWARE???? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183857

Official recalls

2

04V562000 · 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

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.