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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,125 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 3500 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Jul 162012

Silverado 3500

  • 126,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 mph with the brakes engaged, the vehicle decelerated to 10mph and the ABS began to pulse. The brakes continue to be depressed until the vehicle came to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnose that the wheel speed sensor was corroded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since recall NHTSA campaign id number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock) was closed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000 and the current mileage was 127,000.

- Endicott, NY, USA

problem #14

Oct 102012

Silverado 3500

  • 89,870 miles
Failure of vehicle to stop appropriately, brakes were squishy, braking distance increased. Pulled vehicle into driveway and found the brake fluid reservoir was empty. Filled reservoir with fluid, within 5 days reservoir was empty, inspected vehicle and found brake fluid dripping from the steel brake lines. All lines are corroded, took vehicle to shop and found that all brake lines are bad, GM no longer manufactures the brake lines.

- Prospect Park , PA, USA

problem #13

Feb 082011

Silverado 3500

  • 60,000 miles
Driving approx 35 mph brake pedal went to floor, pedal was spongy and no real braking power. Found brake lines rusted thru and other signs of corrosion under body. Replace two lines. On October 24, 2012 truck lost braking power again. Found more rusted out lines.

- Jonesborough , TN, USA

problem #12

Oct 172012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 40,665 miles

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

"replace rotted brake line along left side frame to rear of truck". was informed all other brake lines are corroded in this same area and to expect problems in year or so. Truck is used to pull 25 foot rv three or four weeks per year and except for shopping trips remains parked at bottom of driveway.

- Pearl River, NY, USA

problem #11

Mar 122008

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving 10 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal when the vehicle exhibited an abnormal humming sound and began to pull to the right. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the ABS sensors would have to be cleaned. In addition, the mechanic suggested the ABS fuse be disconnected to permanently prevent the failure but the ABS function would no longer be operable. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock) and contacted the manufacturer who then advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 11/15/12 the consumer stated that an internet search recommended to pull out the ABS fuse to disable the ABS system, so it wont crash the truck. There are hundreds of thousands of trucks out there with the ABS fuse removed. Updated 11/19/2012 updated 11/27/12

- Cohocton, NY, USA

problem #10

Sep 042012

Silverado 3500

  • 89,447 miles
Brakes failed after rusted brake line came apart. This failure caused sudden loss of brakes while approaching a stop light. Was told this is a common problem, no parts available so custom lines would need to be made. Labor cost for repair are high.

- Solomon's, MD, USA

problem #9

Sep 012012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 108,000 miles

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

Applied parking brake on steep hill and parking brake did not hold. Took truck to mechanic and he said this was a common problem on this truck as the parking brake shoes fail even if the brake is seldom or never used.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #8

Aug 252012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 138,345 miles
While slowing to execute a left turn, brake pedal went full travel. Overshot the turn and had to proceed to the next available. Had empty left turn lane available for increased stopping distance - hence no accident. Checked brake reservoir and noticed brake fluid level was lower than last checked. Able to limp home and found brake fluid leaking from underneath the bed area (above the fuel tank area). Also noticed quit a bit of corrosion on all the brake lines as well as diesel fuel lines. Truck was from New Jersey area.

- Taylorsville, NC, USA

problem #7

Aug 292012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 190,500 miles
Depressed brake pedal, pedal went to floor heard brake fluid spraying, after examining under truck found broke brake line.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #6

Aug 252012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
Brake line failed due to rust. Lost all brakes.

- Bristol, CT, USA

problem #5

Jul 062012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 180,000 miles

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

I was backing out of my driveway pressed the brake pedal which went all the way to the floor. I pumped the pedal softly, came to a stop and pulled back up to my house without incident. Opened the hood and noticed the brake reservoir was very low, but no leaks around the master cylinder. I looked under the truck and noticed a large puddle of brake fluid under the drivers door. The brake lines { 4 in a plastic clamp on the frame} were all wet and rusted. A line or lines had ruptured under just normal braking and very luckily in my driveway. The rupture seems to be a line inside the plastic clamp mounted to the frame of the truck.

- Moscow Mills, MO, USA

problem #4

Jul 202012

Silverado 3500

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that the brakes failed while entering a residential driveway. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated that the rear brake lines were rusted completely. The failure and the current mileages were 145,000.

- Brooklyn, MD, USA

problem #3

Jun 112012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
Have had nothing but problems with this truck. All the brake lines are rusted and need replaced....really. GM you need to step up and correct this problem before somebody really gets hurt.

- Cleves, OH, USA

problem #2

Jul 122012

Silverado 3500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 96,000 miles
My truck has excessive undercarriage rust, to the point of reduced material thickness on the frame and all frame mounted components. Have experience one fuel line failure and fear additional failures of fuel and brake lines. Also all suspension mounting points have large metal flakes coming off.

- Willington, CT, USA

problem #1

Nov 012011

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 109,042 miles
Total brake failure. The cause of the failure was the failure of both lines from the master cylinder to the ABS ehcu where they are unprotected from wheel spray adjacent to the wheel speed sensor anchor point just inboard and slightly aft of the left front wheel directly below the master cylinder. Upon inspection it was clear that the line closest to the left front wheel failed first and that the other line failed a split second later due to the burst pressure torque moment created by the first line failure. Up until May 14th the truck remained stationary in the driveway but is now undergoing total brake line replacement. During this task it has become evident that the lines have corroded to the point of failure in many places but the problem seems concentrated on the left side of the vehicle from the front bumper to the rear axle. The only line not in this area is the right front brake line which is in reasonable condition except where it passes along the left side to the ABS ehcu. In many places the lines can be broken by hand using the action of breaking a stick by hand. In some cases this caused the line to break in multiple pieces. Any thoughts that this is anything but a material quality issue are senseless. This truck has been plagued with material quality issues, specifically rusting of metal. Parts that have been replaced are tail gate cables (recalled) window regulator cables, wheel speed sensor cleaning procedure due to rust ( even though this truck is not covered by the recall) front and rear brake rotors fell apart with sheets of metal delaminating from their surface and wheels have severe rust requiring their replacement. The fuel lines on the truck, bearing a few small spots, remain in like new condition as they run along the frame rail adjacent to the brake lines that are failing apart from corrosion.

- Bow, NH, USA

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