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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
123,436 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 Suburban brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Jun 232013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 125,756 miles

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

I was driving along and without warning when I went to apply my brakes the pedal went to the floor. Luckily I was just going to slow down for an exit and nobody was directly in-front of me. This could have been a more serious incident under other circumstances I got the vehicle home I investigated and found the brake lines were all rusted and one of them had burst a hole. This has the potential to be a very serious problem for someone that might be in a different driving scenario than I was.please look heavily into this problem. Thank you

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #13

May 012013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Moving my boat in the driveway and when I went to stop my brake line from the master cylinder to the ABS controller failed causing no braking!!! pumped them like crazy and it just pissed out all of the fluid. I had my children playing in the area and I was fortunate that they were not killed! upon inspection the brake line rotted at the points where they are held onto the frame by the hangers! this is incredibly dangerous and I believe that GM should have some liability in this matter. The vehicle is barely just over 10 years old and this is a major flaw in design. The scary part is the lines look great overall but where they are placed in all of the hangers they had rot spots in them that was only apparent after dis-assembly. A normal safety inspection would not pick up on the corrosion hidden within the hangers.

- Bow, NH, USA

problem #12

Jun 102013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 124,600 miles
Rear brake lines rusted and broke.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #11

Oct 192012

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 182,000 miles

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

While braking at a stop light the ABS started making a buzzing sound; it failed. The anti-lock braking system no longer be used safely.

- Smithville, TX, USA

problem #10

May 102013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 75,995 miles
Brake failure. Metal brake line between master cylinder and caliper developed a leak due to corrosion of the metal brake line. Mechanic said all metal brake lines were rusted and corroded and needed to be replaced. I understand there is an investigation underway on these faulty lines. The replacement of these lines was very expensive and was definitely a premature failure in my opinion. Luckily my 20 year old son noticed the brake pedal was going to the floor while on the interstate and was able to safely exit the highway. If the line would have failed a few minutes earlier, he would have been in a crash.

- Villa Hills, KY, USA

problem #9

Apr 152013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 109,636 miles
While making a sudden stop, a hydraulic line serving the front brakes ruptured causing complete loss of front brakes. This is the third hydraulic brake line failure on this vehicle. The first two lines to fail were on the rear axle. All of the remaining hydraulic brake lines are heavily rusted and pitted, they all are at risk of failure at any time. This problem is widespread on this year and model vehicle. It poses a serious risk to the drivers and to the persons and property of others. Every one of the owners should be notified that their vehicle may require replacement brake lines. Whose responsibility it shall be is up to NHTSA, but the need for information is great. This is a heavy weight vehicle for ordinary consumer use. Most such users are unprepared for a brake failure of this kind. Interestingly, GM does not offer replacement parts. Precision formed lines are available on the aftermarket. The local Chevy dealer uses non-corroding copper-nickel replacement line, and fabricates the lines locally. The same brake line metallurgy was used in high end european cars (Volvo and Porsche) beginning in the 1980S.

- Wellesley, MA, USA

problem #8

Mar 222013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 132,000 miles

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

While driving on the highway at 55mph I was near my exit and activated the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. I was fortunate to have the room to change lanes and pass my exit and downshifted to slow and eventually stop. I had tried to apply the parking brake and the cable snapped on the spot. After getting the car to a mechanic I was told that every brake line was corroded and most were failing. The mechanic also said it isn't recommended to replace just the leaking lines because once the pressure is restored, the remaining lines would then likely fail. The vehicle is currently in the shop and I am waiting for what I am sure will be a sizable repair bill.

- Secane, PA, USA

problem #7

Feb 082012

Suburban

  • 122,000 miles
Started to leave driveway and experienced a complete brake loss.

- Elbert, CO, USA

problem #6

Jan 082013

Suburban

  • 120,000 miles
Brake pedal went to floor. Was able to stop with emerg brake. Dealer says all brake lines are rusted out and must be replaced $2000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #5

Dec 242012

Suburban

  • 130,000 miles
Was driving vehicle on a 2 lane public road at approximately 35 mph when pedal suddenly became soft and required many actuation to stop. Vehicle was unable to stop in the anticipated distance and a collision with cross-traffic nearly occurred. On investigation, the master cylinder reservoir was empty and there was leaking from multiple brake lines from corrosion.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #4

Dec 142012

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 133,000 miles

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

ABS system activated and prevented the car from slowing down. Lifted my foot off the brake and tried again, it seemed to work. This has happened multiple times and ABS system activates incorrectly at about 5 miles per hour.

- Sandy Hook, CT, USA

problem #3

Nov 052012

Suburban

  • miles
Brake warning indicator light illuminated. Noticed fluid low. Checked and found leak in brake line due to corroded/rusted line.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #2

Oct 232012

Suburban

  • 148,000 miles
Pulling up to a stop sign I attempted to brake, but the brake pedal dropped to the floor and only offered a minuscule amount of stopping power, I limped 1.5 miles home using downshifting. Brake lines are completely rusted out and apparently burst, brake fluid container under hood was completely empty. I cant even think what would have happened if I had been on the highway and they failed.

- Flemington, NJ, USA

problem #1

Sep 222012

Suburban

  • 115,700 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The contact stated that while performing routine maintenance on the vehicle, he attempted to engage the parking brake but the vehicle continued to move. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where it was confirmed that the emergency brake failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 115,700 and the current mileage was 115,736.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

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