Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,637 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Chevrolet Silverado brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2001 Chevrolet Silverado Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Aug 222015

Silverado

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A steel brake line cracked and failed. I was at my house when it happened so no serious injuries or damage. However, the brake failed completely and instantly with no warning. It could have occurred at an intersection and the results could have been much worse. I had my wife press on the pedal while I looked for the leak. It was along the length of the steel line routing from the ABS module to the front right brake. It creates a mist of fluid near the radiator. My next concern is that the fluid will cause further corrosion of the parts it sprayed.

- Chillicothe, IL, USA

problem #39

Jun 232015

Silverado 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,869 miles
Going out of the garage, stepped on the brake and the pedal went to the floor.noticed a puddle under the truck and found a rusted thru brake line at the ABS control valve. Updated 09/10/15 updated 11/01/2017

- Lombard, IL, USA

problem #38

Jan 162008

Silverado 6-cyl

  • 88,000 miles
Brakes quit.. ABS growled and wouldn't stop, has gotten worse and worse. It does it mainly at low speeds when the wheels are turned.

- Sikeston, MO, USA

problem #37

Dec 182013

Silverado

  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake lines rusted through causing the brake fluid to leak out, losing my brakes. I had to replace all of my brake lines.

- Dunkirk, MD, USA

problem #36

Dec 132014

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
On Saturday 12/13 my wife was driving our 2001 Chevy Silverado. While hitting the brakes for a stop sign, the brake pedal went to the floor and she ran through the stop sign as the vehicle could not be stopped in time. Fortunately there was no accident. This occurred about a mile from our home and when she arrived home, she was extremely upset. I checked the vehicle and the brake fluid was low and I found the fluid was leaking out of the hydraulic brake line under the vehicle. I checked and learned there was no recall for this dangerous defect. With the amount of these vehicles on the road, this is extremely dangerous as there is absolutely no warning and the stopping power is almost non-existent. This is a very low mileage vehicle that is kept in excellent condition. Please have these vehicles looked at by the manufacturer or there is serious risk of life threatening crashes.

- Richmond, MI, USA

problem #35

Oct 172014

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
Transferring some materials from neighbors house to ours, dirt road / driveway. Got to our house, brake pedal went to the floor. Refilled master cylinder, parked the truck. Checked fluid later, entire master cylinder was empty as truck was parked. Brake lines seem to be rotted out.

- Tomahawk, WI, USA

problem #34

Nov 032014

Silverado

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. While approaching a stop, the ABS warning light illuminated and extreme force was required to depress the brake pedal. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Berlin , MD, USA

problem #33

Sep 032012

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
Purchased the used vehicle originally at 42000 miles. Have taken impeccable care of it. Actual dates of incidents are unknown due to the fact most have been ongoing. Brakes failed due to ABS. Fixed twice by GM under the safety recall. Both fixes were bandaids (dealer cleaned and applied a "special" grease twice, they never replaced the ABS sensors. Third fix I paid out of pocket to replace the sensors, and since then the ABS has been ok. Brakes failed due to rust and corrosion (all lines and 2 calipers had to be replaced. Fuel pump failed, fuel lines failed due to excessive corrosion, fuel tank straps failed due to excessive rust and corrosion. Slow leaks in 3 of 4 wheels due to excessive rust and corrosion in the rims.

- Center Conway, NH, USA

problem #32

Sep 202013

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Brake lines brakes went completely to the floor at the same time brake warning light came on.a little late for a warning. I repaired line and started driving again. Almost a year later to the day same thing happened again. I've owned 21 Chevrolet over a span of 45 years and only had one brake line failure(1969 corvette). I thought this was strange so I did a little research and noticed that all the brake lines had more rust than any thing else under the truck. I looked online and was appalled to learn this has been a known problem for over four years, yet no attempt was made to warn the owners of these trucks. GM 's response was laughable unless they can remotely tell how much fluid has been lost from each vehicle. Also just like an apple brake lines don't rot evenly unless something else is going on. I live in a state where it snows once or twice a year and melts off within a week and right after I go to the car wash to get the under body wash.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #31

Sep 132014

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Going on a trip to the store, so before the intersection I need it to stop, so pushed the brake pedal to slow down and the pedal just went all the way down to the floor and no warning light or sound and more importantly no brakes!!!!! so I acted quickly and down shift it to 1st gear that slow it down some so I put it in park and shuck the truck but I got it to stop. 10 more feet and would go in to crossing traffic that was very close. So I want to know if GM is aware of this problem (rusty brake lines under the truck) and if they are going to do any thing to fix it.they should inform the danger to public.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #30

Sep 122014

Silverado

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle failed to respond when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #29

Aug 062008

Silverado

  • 52,115 miles
Left rear brake line rotted. The gas lines have been replaced twice now too. Soon the rest of the brake lines will be done and maybe transmission lines. Terrible that GM made such poor brake lines. I am original owner and see there is a complain open on this so wanted you to know I had a problem too. VIN [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Eden, NY, USA

problem #28

Aug 012013

Silverado 8-cyl

  • 315,000 miles
Operating the vehicle down highway off ramp, pedal suddenly pedal went to floor. Approaching intersection out of control, one pair of brakes locked up after repeated attempts to slow. The pedal was unmanageable in this emergency situation. I was able to avert an accident by driving into the shoulder. I was reported for reckless operation, and was cited, and was convicted of a lesser charge. I pleaded with the police officer that the trucks behavior was a result of a brake failure, and unfortunately the defense was ignored. Vehicle was towed to a shop where a ruptured brake line was diagnosed. I ultimately had to pay for the repair as well as a criminal fine because of brake line corrosion.

- Coopersville, MI, USA

problem #27

Jul 242014

Silverado 8-cyl

  • 99,000 miles
I was traveling about 30 miles per hour when I had to stop for a van ahead of me. I touched my brakes and the pedal went all the way to the floor. No brakes at all. Because of other traffic, and no time, I hit the van in the rear. Neither of the air bags deployed. The gentleman in the van had to go to the hospital. I had a bump on my leg, and my brother was not hurt. I just now have heard other stories of the same problem going on for years. This is not right.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #26

Mar 122014

Silverado 8-cyl

  • 137,500 miles
My wife was backing up the truck to give me and my stuck four wheeler a tow and just barely got the truck to stop. I jumped in to move it and the brakes went to the floor, no warning lights. I then noticed it was leaking brake fluid on the driveway.

- Stacy, MN, USA

problem #25

May 282014

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 23,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet silver ado. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that all the brake lines were severely corroded. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000. Updated 8/14/14 updated 8/26/2014

- Milwakee, WI, USA

problem #24

May 302012

Silverado 8-cyl

  • 187,000 miles
My truck was parked on a hill the emergency brake didnt hold I had a trailer on the back and it caused the trailer to jacknife and damaged my bed.

- Heiskell, TN, USA

problem #23

May 162014

Silverado 4WD 8-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
I was pulling into a parking slot at home depot and pushed on the brakes to stop. Brake pedal went to the floor twice before applying parking brake to stop. No one was parked in the slot in front of me so I was able to stop without any accident. One of the brake lines, near the electro-hydraulic control unit, had sever corrosion and had ruptured causing failure of the complete brake system. There was no indication of any leakage from these brake lines before the failure. The oil was changed and vehicle inspected at the dealership about one month before this incident. Upon inspection, after this incident. All brake lines are corroded and need to be replaced. The fuel lines were replaced at the dealer about a year ago as they started leaking and were also corroded.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #22

Apr 152014

Silverado

  • 90,800 miles
The brake lines are rusting out. I have spoke to two other people one with a 2002 Chevy Avalanche and another 1993 Silverado their brake lines have already rusted and failed. How many injuries or deaths are you going to let happen before you make GM recall the 1999 to 2006 GM trucks.

- White Plains, MD, USA

problem #21

Sep 182013

Silverado 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
My wife was driving truck to post office when the brake pedal went to the floor slowly. After getting it home safely I looked at left front wheel area and saw brake fluid everywhere. The leak was in the bundle of brake lines just above the frame, going from the reservoir to the ABS unit under the driver side of the frame. Inspection showed that all of these lines were severely corroded. The lines going from the ABS unit to the back brakes appeared to show some corrosion as well but not nearly as bad. I have replaced all lines from ABS to the front with an aftermarket set and will replace the backs soon. This truck was bought new in South Florida by me and has never been up North until just a few months ago. There is also significant rust on the frame and suspension parts as well for truck of this vintage. I am very disappointed in the quality of this crucial safety component of this vehicle. I hope our 2011 Malibu which we bought new, doesn't end up with the same problem a few years from now.

- Saluda, NC, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?