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 brake failure due to corrosion on left rear brake line. I verified the corrosion by climbing under the truck to see what happened. This failure is not due to an accident with the truck nor has the brake line been crushed due to running over a large obstruction. The brake line is located above the vehicle frame rail. No accident occurred due to this failure as it happened while exiting my driveway. I managed to stop the truck using my emergency brake. I understand there is a current investigation concerning this problem on Chevy and GM trucks and SUVS. I went to my local Chevrolet dealers service department but was informed that as there is no recall the expense would not be covered by GM.
If I am applying the brakes and I go over a rough spot in the road like a bridge seam or speed bump, the antilock brake kicks in and takes away my ability to control the braking system on the car. I have almost rear ended cars in the past because I can not stop once the antilock kicks in. My mechanic cannot find an explanation for this but says he has heard this several times.
The ABS system activated for no apparent reason, this is the first time it happened with just the pedal application, on dry pavement under 20 mph. Activated and increased stopping distance, while keeping pedal pressure on. Luckily I try not to follow cars closely. Have had similar problems when hitting a bump, which can activate ABS system due to loss of wheel traction. It should not happen on dry pavement, and can cause an accident. GM should address this problem, I did the previous recall but I still had the problem.
While slowing to a stop, the ABS brakes on my 2001 Chevrolet Suburban kick in, rendering the brakes ineffective. It started in the spring (wi) so I was unsure as to whether or not it was road conditions, however after the 2nd occurrence on what was a dry road, I took the car in. Brakes were recently redone, but the shop cannot find anything wrong. Still occurring, and yesterday I almost rear-ended someone due to the gap in brake effectiveness. Seems that if I pump them, I can get it to release and brakes then allow me to complete stopping sequence. Have another appt. Tomorrow, but am concerned about safety in our family's vehicle. It doesn't happen at every stop, but randomly, so at this point I am giving the cars ahead of me a good bit of distance to compensate for extra time to stop.
- Wausau, WI, USA
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The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 2500. While driving approximately 50 mph, the contact attempted to slow down on an off ramp but the brakes did not respond. The contact used the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where who stated that the rear brake line located over the axle had rust on it. The vehicle was repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 108,000.
2001 Chevy Suburban 1500 lt, ABS problem. Recurrence of failure of ABS pump to deactivate. Pump runs continuously until it burns up. Replaced previously (not under warranty). Over $1000. At this time the ABS fuse is pulled so pump won't burn up again, but I have no antilock brakes. Apparently a sensor or something is failing and causing an expensive repair.
I have a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 that has a bad ABS module that I have been trying to get replaced since July, so that my ABS breaking system will work. The module has been back ordered at the factory since July. This makes for an unsafe vehicle for my wife & family on a daily basis. This week was a very scary week because we were driving through Colorado springs and had to stop fast because of traffic and the breaks locked up and the Suburban started to turn sideways, my whole family of 6 was in the car. This is frustrating because there is nothing I can do to get the parts or fix the car.
I own a 2001 Chevy Suburban. Yesterday, for the 2nd time since I have owned the vehicle the ABS light came on and stayed on. When I got home and turned off the ignition, a noise that sounded like a generator was running under the truck. We disconnected the ABS fuses both inside the truck and the engine to make the noise stop. Called Chevy dealer and was informed that a bulletin has been issued about the ABS system, but no recalls. Was also informed it would be $1500 to fix. I had it replaced the first time in 2005. A mechanic has told us that the ABS pumps should never go bad.
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving 10 mph, the vehicle took a long time to stop when the brakes were applied. NHTSA campaign id number 05379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock) was referenced. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they called a regional GMC representative. GMC would not allow the dealer to repair the vehicle according to the recall because corrosion was not an issue in the contact's home state. No other dealer has inspected the vehicle and no repairs were made. The failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 77,000.
I have a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. I had rear brakes and rotors replaced at 87813 miles in 02/08. At approximately 78713 miles the front brake pads were replaced. The vehicle now has approximately 104783 miles on it and the rear pads are gone and the rear rotors are warped. The front pads curiously still have 2/3 of the pad left. When going online I found a recall effecting the brake system of the vehicle NHTSA # 05V379000. Doing my due diligence I called GM customer service about the problem and they stated that this particular recall is not open for the VIN # of my vehicle. After reading the actual recall on your website it would appear my vehicle which is in fact registered in the state of Ohio a "salt-belt" state which was one of the primary considerations for the recall. I am curious as to why the recall would not be in effect on my vehicle. Does my vehicle first have to be involved in an accident causing injuries because of a brake failure before this will be addressed? no common car owner would suspect that after 15K miles rear brakes would need to be replaced and would more than likely continue driving the vehicle until there was a catastrophic brake failure that could lead to serious injury. I would like someone to get an explanation from General Motors as to why this is not being addressed in these vehicles not supposedly affected by this recall.
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle would randomly shut off and completely stop. The other components, such as the radio, were still operable. The power steering and brakes were always affected and would become inoperable. Occasionally, the vehicle immediately restarts and other times, the contact must wait a couple of minutes. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07V521000 (engine and engine cooling). The dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 59,000.
Initially purchased Suburban with 61,000 mi. Had no problems with anything. I received a notice from GM for a recall on 2001's for activation of ABS braking system at slow speeds. Having no problems with it at the time I waited a few weeks before going to bergstrom Chevy in neenah wi. I let them take the vehicle in the garage to do the recall work. 2 and a half hours later they called me from the waiting area and said it was ready. I drove away and continued to have no problems until approx. 14 months later when the ABS started to activate at every stop at around 5mph. It continues to do this now and has since the summer of 2008. I contacted bergstrom and GM about the problem and they say they no longer do this recall work without charge. I looked at the bolt heads on the front brake calipers to see if they were marred by removal and there is no evidence that these bolts were ever removed for servicing the sensors. The facing of the bolts is still intact with no marking of any kind on these bolts so I am certain bergstrom never removed the calipers to clean the sensors. I am furious with GM and their products - I have always been a GM customer since beginning to drive in 1976 but with the products they've been producing in the last 10-15 years I will never buy another late model GM product.( I am also having issues with the intake manifold on my 1998 Buick park ave - another inferior GM product) it's no wonder the company is having financial difficulty with all the complaints I've been hearing about and experiencing with their products.
ABS recall 05068, clean & inspect wheel sensors, 18 Nov 2005. ABS & traction control warning lights on,16 Jun 2006 (55977 miles). Dealer diagnostic code C0265, ecbm ($925.59 part) and also bpmv ($761.14 part) plus approx 2hrs labor. I asked if it would be safe to disconnect the pump from the ABS system until I could see if the recall would cover this cost, it hasn't happened as of this date. The vehicle has been in operation since this system failure. I now have learned that the relay on the ebcm that controls the power has contacts that weld closed which causes the pump to run continuously. I asked if I could have the old part when I get it fixed and was told no because it must be returned. I also feel that when I was told it may also need the bpmv that the check valve holding the pump pressure could be the true cause of system failure. I feel that people that buy this safety feature should have it work for the life of the vehicle. I also know that the repair costs have since gone up.
Our 4 year old child was able to put our 2001 Chevy Suburban in gear without starting the car or pressing his foot on the brake. The car starting rolling down the hill. Fortunately my wife was able to jump in the window and press the brake to stop the car. We were very lucky that none of the children in the area were hurt and that no property was damaged other than a small piece of fence. Apparently with the key in the ignition and in the first "accessory" position you are able to take the car out of park without depressing the brake pedal. I tried this on several other Chevy models that have the gear shift on the column and you are able to do the same thing. I called Chevy and the dealer and they both said that this should not happen and to bring it in for repair. The dealer even went to the lot and did what I described on a 2006 Suburban and agreed that it did happen when he did it. If this in fact the way the car is manufactured it would be nice if they acknowledged that fact and put it in the owners manual. Updated 12/12/2007 the consumer stated the manufacturer is being phased out, however would like to be notified if the older owners would be notified. Updated 12/12/07
2001 Chevy Suburban; ABS activates at low speed. Taken to grossinger Chevy for repairs on 11/23/05. ABS sensors replaced and fr rotors turned to remove corrosion which triggers sensors. Problem still persists; returned vehicle to dealer. Fr rotors turned again since small corrosion spot still evident. Now rotors at minimum thickness. Problem resolved - no charge for 2nd visit. Total repairs billed at 525.76+tax.
On June 25th, 2003, my wife hit another car with our 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. The driver of the other vehicle was injured. My wife said that she pressed on the brakes and they went to the floor. Our Suburban slowed but didn't stop. I told her that she needed to remember how heavy the Suburban was and that it was probably because the truck is so heavy and not an issue with the brakes. There was a police report filed, and my wife was ticketed. Early in March 2005 I was driving our Suburban and an oncoming vehicle made a left turn in front of me. I slammed on the brakes and they went to the floor. I turned to the right and missed the other vehicle by inches. Luckily I avoided hitting the other vehicle and nobody was injured. I took the Suburban to a local shop and they suggested flushing and changing the brake fluid, which we did. Last month (September 2005) my wife was driving the Suburban and the brakes did the same thing again. We no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. We are making a $450 car payment on a vehicle that is not safe to drive.
The brakes at low speeds were working poorly, causing extended stopping distances. They also made a thumping sound when the ABS system failed. Took vehicle to the dealer and they claimed it was other things besides the ABS system. Dealership wanted consumer to spend money on the brake pads/rotors, and calipers first and then on defective wheel bearing. Took vehicle to mechanic, and stated that was not the problem he recommended to the dealer, but dealer did not want to fix the actual problem. The vehicle had excessive amounts of rust on it (frame, calipers, rotors and non-body parts). The calipers were rusted and leaking. The rotors were warped and corroded and the brake pads were worn and needed to be replaced.
The design of the emergency brakes is very poor and according to the 3 brake shops I visited, GM has a problem with the emergency brake system on Suburban. The caliper clips on and is not "fixed" into position. What happened in my case and is quite common is that the pads slip and rub the drum without the knowledge of the owner. The only way to fix this is with new rotors and pads because the original equipment is so thin. The emergency brake is not adjustable, so the only corrective action is the above, but there is no guarantee it won't happen again according to the brake shops I spoke with. The clip GM provides to hold the pads in place didn't work the first time, so why would it work in the repair?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Albrightsville, PA, USA