10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,691 miles

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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.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Oct 292002

(reported on)

Silverado 3500

  • miles
The front driver's side seat slide forward while stopping at a stop sign. I stopped and could not get it to latch back in place which is difficult since I am some what tall and had to use my left leg to brace my self so I would not slide forwrad the rest of the way. The ABS light came on while driving home upon arriving home I got out and heard a noise which seemed to be coming from under the driver's side door. I let it go for a while about two days and it ran the battery down causing me to have it jump started since then I have pulled the fuse to the ABS in the fuse box to turn whatever was running off.

- Galena, OH, USA

problem #13

Oct 262002

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
No summary.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

problem #12

Nov 022002

Silverado 3500

  • miles
Consumer noticed the at home didn't have antilock brake system. Dealer has not been notified yet.

- Murray, KY, USA

problem #11

Jun 212002

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer states that the module that controls the ABS failed, resulting in no ABS brakes, when needed. Dealer contacted, this is a common problem.

- Ruther Glen, VA, USA

problem #10

Oct 152000

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
The failure of the ABS ECU and pump are due to the location of the unit which is located under the vehicle below the drivers seat. The ABS unit is in the direct spash path of the front left tire. I dont think the engineers that designed this unit took into consideration that the ABS ECU and pump get a presure wash evertime it rains. When the unit failed I went to the dealer in norman, ok (mark heitz) and talked to the service manager about it. He told me that they replace these units quite often because they get water in them and short out. Not being familiar with the unit I asked more question. The ECU is sealed to the pump and when water enters through the seal it shorts out the ECU and starts rusting out the pump. The rust in the pump concerns me because it can potentialy contaminate the brake fluid and cause brake failure. Tom-the service manager at mark heitz exact words "the pump had water in it and it was full of rust" mark heitz phone number is 405-321-7021. The other failure is the parking break. I dont think it ever worked the day it came off the dealer lot. The first time I tried toused the parking brake was at beaver lake in Arkansas on a camping trip. This was last summer -summer of 2000-. I parked on a steep hill and applied the parking break. The pedal went to the floor rater easily and I thought nothing of it, that was unitll I got in the truck and tried to put it in drive, I had a hard time getting it out of park. The nut on the tensioner shaft to the parking brake system under the truck is completely tightened. The cable brances off to each rear caliper and is each attached to a lever on the calipers. I've observed the levers move and still no parking brake. The levers look to be fully engaged, that is the levers are pulled as far forward as possible by the cables. It's a great feeling to know that you've paid thirty grand for a vehicle with problems. If you have any question I can be reached at any time on my mobile 405.205.6621-thanks.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #9

Mar 132001

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
The ABS pump continues to run even after ignition is turned off, thus draining battery. Inorder to stop pump the ABS must be disabled resulting in a dangerous situation, driving the vehicle wih compromised stopping ability which can result in an accident causing bodily harm or even death.

- Novato, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 012000

Silverado 3500

  • miles
Front brakes don't have a sure stop when going over a bump. Dealer has seen vehicle several for the problem, but can not find anything wrong.

- La Puente, CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 152000

Silverado 3500

  • miles
When stopping on rough road the brakes released and then locked up. I talked to the dealer and they advised they haven't received any complaints on the brake systems. Problem was not resoved.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #6

Jul 012000

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
The ABS system/pump made a terrible sound and the warning light came on inside the vehicle. I contacted the dealer who stated just to unplug the ABS power supply but the brakes were fine. Another friend, Julian scaff, has the same make/model/year truck and has had the exact ABS failure. Both were at approx. 45,000 miles. I have also had problems with the rear brakes locking up and not unlocking for a few minutes. This has caused untold wear and reduced fuel milage considerably. These are serious safety issues.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #5

Aug 232000

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
ABS failed on wet surface, spun 450 deg, after spin failed to stop vehicle. History: Appoximately 4-6 times over a nine month period, when the brakes were first applied they did not appear to work. Upon releasing the brake and reapplying, the brakes then worked. Then over three month period the brakes began to feel choppy when stopping. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and all four rotors needed to be turned (only 10000 miles on vehicle). Two days later on a wet surface, going 16-20 mph on a right turn with a slight uphill grade, when the brakes were applied the back end of the truck came spinning around in a clockwise direction. At 90 degrees the brake was released. The truck spun a total of 450 degrees. Then the brakes were applied hard, you could hear the sound of the ABS but the truck did not respond at all, there was no braking action. The vehicle crashed head on into a guard rail. The entire front bumper needs replacing. Fortunately no one was injured.

- Fayetteville, NY, USA

problem #4

Dec 151999

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
The brakes get hard and won't work, then they suddenly lock up. This has happened to us several times, and to the service guy once. The first two times it was in for service, they couldn't duplicate the problem. After they went out on the service guy, they replaced the brake booster. They went out again, and they replaced the master cylinder. They just went out again, at an intersection, and we almost had an accident. It is back at the Chevy dealer, but they don't know, and Chevy doesn't know what to do with it. This is a dangerous situation. Is anyone else reporting problems with these trucks?

- Milan, IN, USA

problem #3

Sep 281999

(reported on)

Silverado 3500

  • miles
ABS: While braking over semi-rough/rough surface, brakes seem to slip or disengage, causing extreme vibration. Transmission: While pulling trailer or accelerating uphill, excessive vibration occurs. Steering: While speeds 45 mph+, moderate vibration in front-end and sterring column. Suspension: While tiurning wheels maximum left or right, or driving over uneven surfaces, hear a clicking noise in front-end. Rear window: Latch does not securely tighten window causing excessive wind noise.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #2

Apr 231999

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
New vehicles need more testing before they are sold to the public.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #1

Feb 221999

Silverado 3500 4WD

  • miles
Since date of purchase, transmission has been vibrating and causing engine to feel like it is under stress/heavy load. Contacted dealer and another chev. Serv. Both advise chev. Knows of problem but does not know what it is or how to correct it. Contacted chev. Cust.serv. Total waste of time. They do not care. Simply state if chev. Tac says they are working on problem what do I care. They will fix it eventually. Problem is if they dont know what the problem is how can chev. Claim it is not a safety issue. Second problem- ABS brakes are activating on dry hard surface at speeds under 40 mph. Dealer syays problem does not exist. Stated they called chev. Tac know nothing about break problems so there must not be one. Tried to say that I dont know how ABS works. Have had ABS for 15 years know it pretty well. It is definitely activating when is should not. It seems that chev. Is not concerned becasue truck was bought and paid for.

- Voorhees Twp, NJ, USA