10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,250 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500:

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

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #32

Mar 102002

Silverado 2500 6-cyl

  • 1,500 miles
103,000 miles on 2001 Chevy. Silverado P/U, 4th time that brakes need to be replaced, anti lock noise was constant since taking delivery from dealer. Was told this was normal sound. I don't think so. Many close calls for rear end collisions which would have been my fault esp. At speeds as low as 30 mph. Just found out that there may be a problem. Also, antifreeze complaint with smell. Smell makes us nauseous.faucet -running sound coming from just below dash but under hood, paid dealer to fix twice, went back to GM dealer to try and remedy for the third time since it was still under the shops warranty and of course no longer in business. Last complaint, daytime running lamps need to be replaced all the time. Replaced one day, less than 48 hours later, need to be replace again. Rusted from water in headlamp.

- Teaticket, MA, USA

problem #31

Jul 122009

Silverado 2500 8-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Rusted brake lines.

- Bellmarw, NJ, USA

problem #30

Feb 242010

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
2001 Silverado brake lines completely rusted-brakes went to floor. Looked up Chevy truck brakes online and found an astonishing amount of people with the same problem. Someone is going to get killed! here's the link to numerous complaints www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm_silverado_brakes.html.

- Wales, MA, USA

problem #29

May 012006

Silverado 2500

  • 30,000 miles
While moving at slow speed in stop and go traffic, sometimes without any warning brakes will not stop truck. When pedal is released and stepped on again pedal is hard and there are no brakes period after a few seconds brakes will come back and stop the vehicle. Also on dry pavement at speeds under 5 miles per hour while applying steady pressure on brake pedal anti-lock brakes engage when there is no wheel slippage. If the car in front of you stops suddenly and you step on the brakes in a panic stop you may or may not have brakes. Vehicle in question has less than 40,000 miles and other than recall for the brakes has had nothing done to the brakes. It has been doing this for the last 2 years. The brake pads have been examined by myself and are worn very little. After I took the truck in brake recall, I have often wondered if the dealer in Kentucky did anything to the brakes at all. Brakes on this vehicle have gradually gotten worse over time.

- North Branch, MN, USA

problem #28

Apr 082008

Silverado 2500

  • 64,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. Whenever pressure was applied to the brake pedal, there was a low power response. The contact had to make several attempts before the vehicle would slow down. In addition, the stopping distance increased. The failure would occur at any given speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and they stated that the front and rear brakes were defective. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on a separate occasion for the identical failure. The failure still persists. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 64,000 and current mileage was 66,758. Updated 09/01/09

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #27

Aug 072008

Silverado 2500

  • 89,243 miles
2001 Chevy Silverado. No brakes at low speeds. There was a recall and truck was serviced by previous owner, obviously the parts keep corroding and Chevy says they only fix once. My mechanic removed speed sensor and cleaned, but I am having him replace w/ new. To be safe. Truck cannot be driven at low speeds safely. Recall # GM 05068.

- Quarryville, PA, USA

problem #26

Oct 102001

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
2001 Silverado. On going brake failures. Low speeds 0-35, and at 45 and up. Has been an on going battle since new.

- Mt.Morris, MI, USA

problem #25

Dec 212005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Rear brake pads do not make full contact with brake disc. Outer circumference of brake disc is untouched by brake pad when brakes are applied. I estimate that rear brakes are less then 50% effective due to lack of pad contact. Rear discs were defectively cast so that final machining missed the outer circumference of disc. I have digital photos to verify.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #24

Apr 142005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,006 miles
#1 2001 Silverado when stopping gradually once I slow to less than 10 mph the antilock brake system kicks in causing it to take a much greater distance to stop than what it normally takes. When I asked my dealer about this they said that they haven't heard of this problem. However while doing some research on the internet I've found a huge amount of complaints about this. #2 with about 40000 miles on my truck the rear brakes started making some noise, so I pulled the wheels off to have a look and found that both rear rotors were chewed up beyond being serviceable. When I took the brakes apart I found that the brake pads still had plenty of material on them but they just destroyed the rotors as if the rotors were made out of a steel that was too soft. So $350 for just the parts is what this cost me. I spoke to my local dealer about this and they told me that they haven't heard of this before. Again when I looked on the internet I found a bunch of complaints of the same thing.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #23

Sep 172005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 49,000 miles
Antilock brakes engage at low speeds on dry pavement. Vehicle speed about 5 mph, ABS engages, vehicle stopping distance increases.

- St Paul, MN, USA

problem #22

Jul 152005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact received a recall letter on July 2005 and he took the vehicle to the dealership for repairs. The dealership charged him T for fixing the vehicle. He spoke with the manufacturer, and they told him that they would have to go along with what the dealership said. The recall was for a conduct condition between the brake shoes and the brake drums, and was only on the manual transmission. The dealership was charging him for new brake drums. The dealership still was working on the vehicle and was going to fix it, but it would cost the contact a little over a $1000 for the repairs.

- Fishersville, VA, USA

problem #21

Mar 012004

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,675 miles
Contact stated the ABS sensor was corroded and had to be replaced. The front brakes were pitted and rusted on the inside of the rotors. Service dealer informed consumer that all four rotors need to be replaced. Dealer said the reason for this was because the brakes were not used enough. The consumer believes the system is poorly designed.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #20

Apr 192005

Silverado 2500 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles
When the consumer applied the brakes, they pulsated and it was difficult to stop the vehicle.

- Latham, NY, USA

problem #19

Mar 302005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Dt contact states in March, 2005, when brakes were applied it seemed as if the anti lock brake system was in. When the brakes were pushed, the vehicle did not stop right away, but did eventually stop. The contact took the vehicle to a service dealer, they stated that the vehicle computer was showing there was nothing wrong. The service mechanic suggested taking the vehicle to the dealership where the vehicle was purchased. They informed the contact that rotors needed to be replaced due to rust, replaced left front wheel speed sensor, cleaned front and rear speed sensor ground. This did help the problem. The dealership stated that the rotors needed to be replaced.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #18

May 092005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 28,200 miles
Was driving down the road you approached a toll booth, tried to slow down and applied brake pressure. The pedal almost goes to the floor, felt the ABS tried to equalize. The vehicle had to be stopped by emergency brake alone. Has been having an infrequent "weird feeling" in brakes lately. Has not been taken to dealer due to expense, had to make repair out of pocket. All 4 rotors were corrosive and prematurely aged despite the mileage. Surface were delaminated and falling apart. The pads were however were okay.

- Long Valley, NJ, USA

problem #17

Sep 242004

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles
The brakes wouldn't stop the vehicle at slow speeds. The consuemr wants his name and problem added to the list of other complaints.

- Clay, NY, USA

problem #16

Jan 012005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
ABS system. The ABS system activated when slowing down or turning. As a result the truck did not stop. The vehicle could not be driven.

- Willis, MI, USA

problem #15

Apr 152005

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
Contact states: 2001, Chevrolet Silverado. Having problems with the anti-lock brakes. When driving 40-50 mph everything seems fine, but once the car comes almost to a complete stop while traveling 5-10 mph the brake fail. Happens in any road condition. The first time it happened the car was taken to the dealer, and they said it was the wheel assembly, and fixed the brakes. Currently, , it happened again, but the car has not been taken to the dealer yet. No warnings prior to or after the failure.

- Orgas, WV, USA

problem #14

Dec 142004

Silverado 2500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,741 miles
While driving at a low speed the brake pedal went completely to the floor. Contacted the dealer. However the problem recurred. Dealer stated the sensor hub assembly has to be replaced. The dealer replaced both front wheel speed sensors and cleaned the hubs.

- Swansea, MA, USA

problem #13

Nov 032003

Silverado 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,320 miles
Problems with brakes on 2001 Chevy Silverado.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

Read the next 12 complaints »