10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
93,582 miles

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problem #43

Jun 212014

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
Driving down a hill on my street the brakes gave way. I pushed the pedal to the floor and the vehicle did not stop. I was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. Upon inspection, the service station indicated the rear brake lines failed due to rusting. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the two rear brake lines were replaced as well as a frozen caliper. Updated 08/27/14

- Chevy Chase, MD, USA

problem #42

Dec 162011

Suburban

  • 97,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. While driving approximately 20 mph, the brake pedal was engaged and the vehicle failed to reduce speed. The vehicle uncontrollably crashed into a building. There was no personal injury; however there were exterior damages to the building. The vehicle sustained minor damage. A police report was not filed of the incident. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the four brake lines and gear shifter cable were replaced. Also, the ABS would need to be replaced. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock). The failure recurred after the repair. The ABS had been replaced a total of seven times. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

- North Ridgeville , OH, USA

problem #41

Nov 012011

Suburban

  • 158,000 miles
ABS system was serviced as part of 2006 recall campaign. Sensors were cleaned and returned to service. Please note that in 2006 when issue first surfaced, one week prior to recall, Chevrolet dealer quoted a price over $800 to replace hubs. Then when recall was announced, they said the hubs could be cleaned. In November 2011 sensors failed again and hubs (housing sensors) were replaced. The recall campaign was not effective.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #40

Feb 272012

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 117,000 miles
Vehicle was serviced per recall below on 1/26/2006. ABS sensor was inspected and cleaned, but not replaced. Defect covered in recall is now being displayed by vehicle (braking distance is extended at low speed - caused by ABS sensor malfunction). Vehicle is currently not driveable. Apparently the solution in the recall was not sufficient to address the problem. Dealer and Chevrolet refuse to address this problem. Recommend that the effectiveness of the recall solution be re-evaluated. NHTSA action number: 05V379000 NHTSA recall campaign number: PE05020 make: Chevrolet model: Suburban manufacturer : General Motors llc model year : 2001 component(s) : service brakes, hydraulic:antilock:control unit/module.

- Painted Post, NY, USA

problem #39

Jan 142011

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
This concern has been occurring for over a year now. The ABS light comes on and when you apply the brakes there is a loud noise and the vehicle does not stop right away but continues to move. On several occasions I almost hit the car in front of me. Took it to the dealer and was told the ABS module is going and the price to fix it was absorbent. To me this is a safety concern that should be addressed by Chevrolet and NHTSA.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #38

Aug 022010

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 49,612 miles
I was driving my Suburban in town at low speed when the brake pedal went to the floor as I tried to stop the truck. Fortunately it was not a complete brake failure and I was able to stop it after a much longer than usual stopping distance. The truck was brought to a local Chevrolet dealer and the advisor noted that the brake lines were very rusted and leaking fluid. All the break lines had to be replaced at a significant cost to me. I have taken good care of this truck and the brake lines should not have failed due to excessive rust as they did. Chevrolet should have treated the steel brake lines or used a different metal to make them when the vehicle was manufactured to avoid this problem and possible serious and fatal accidents due to it.

- Ridgewood , NJ, USA

problem #37

Oct 192011

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Brake line to left front wheel ruptured and brake pedal went to floor. After inspecting brake lines it is obvious that every metal brake line is rusted from end to end and it appears that other metal brake lines are seeping fluid as well.

- Washington, NJ, USA

problem #36

Oct 122011

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
I was driving my 2001 Suburban and when I stepped on the brakes, the pedal went to the floor. No warning or brake light came on. I was able to limp the truck home and I saw the rear axle was wet with brakefluid. The left rear brake line had rotted and broke. The truck is very well kept up and I always pressure wash the undercarriage after the snow & winter.

- Avon, MA, USA

problem #35

Oct 102011

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 107,009 miles
After towing our travel trailer 60 miles, my wife was backing Suburban into the driveway and pulled forward to adjust the trailer angle and lost all steering. When I went to see what it was doing, noticed that the brakes were also very difficult to operate. Was able to back the trailer into the driveway with much effort to adjust the steering. Hate to think what would have happened if it went while towing a trailer on the highway with the rush hour traffic. Verified fluid was full and belt and pulley were spinning normally. Mechanic suggested to check pulley, was able to move it forward from the power steering unit easily with a screw driver.

- Southborough, MA, USA

problem #34

May 032011

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 119,571 miles
Failed brakes due to brake fluid lead in corroded brake lines.

- Kyle, TX, USA

problem #33

Sep 172011

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 80,015 miles
After entering the parking lot of the local shopping center I applied the brake pedal to park in the marked space but the truck did not stop, the pedal travel all the way down but no breaking effect at all, fortunately that section of the lot was mostly empty and I let the truck roll to almost a stop, push the brake pedal again and did not stop so ended up using the parking brake to stop the truck. No warning light ever came on so I went to check the rubber hoses and brake lines under the truck finding a brake fluid dripping from the area under the driver's seat, close to a big rubber " doughnut " ( chassis mount ). I pushed the brake pedal and fluid sprayed again from that area. There are several brake pipes running to and from a sensor or equalizing valve mounted on the chassis in that area. After towing the truck home I went under it and follow the tubing leaving from that area to the front and the rear of the truck, and it is all rusted with the exception of the flexible hoses going to the calipers. I own two other cars ( not Chevy's) that are older and used under the same conditions as the Suburban and the brake piping looks like new on those, so I'm inclined to think this condition is particular to Suburban or Chevrolet in general. Would this incident had not occurred in a parking lot it would have ended in an accident or a fatality. I'm calling the local Chevy dealership Monday to check for any outstanding recall for my truck but never received a recall notice. This truck was bought new and have always been used in Maryland, the winters are not extreme here and my only theory for the excessive rusting is that the brake lines are too cheap. Truck will be parked indefinitely and available for inspection if requested.

- Takoma Park, MD, USA

problem #32

Aug 102011

Suburban

  • 113,854 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that when applying the brakes, the brake pedal was depressed into the floorboard. The vehicle did not respond and the contact drove into the curb to prevent a crash. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic and located the failure as a ruptured brake line, caused by corrosion. The mechanic replaced the brake line and the master cylinder. The failure and current mileage was 113,854. Updated 9/16/11 updated 2/23/12

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA

problem #31

Jul 302011

Suburban

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the brakes were applied, but the pedal depressed to the floor. The vehicle continued to move forward until crashing into a median. As a result, the median moved and crashed into another vehicle head on. A police report was filed. An independent mechanic examined the vehicle and stated that the brakes lines were completely rusted through. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock). The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 110,000.

- Glastonbury, CT, USA

problem #30

Mar 152011

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 70,775 miles
While towing my travel trailer back from a trailer inspection I noticed the brake on my 2001 Chevy 2500 Suburban for uncomfortably close to the floor. Upon arrival after slowly limping home using mostly the trailer brakes I found that a rear brake line had ruptured and the rear master cylinder tank was empty. A local auto shop cut the line and added a new section. Per the mechanic the ruptured line is rusted along with the adjacent lines. The cut out section was thrown out before I could save it.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #29

Feb 162011

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 104,150 miles
Main brake line leak, located on top of chassis leading to rear brakes, leaked at clip point under passenger door where road salt residue can sit and corrode line. Line was also heavily rusted in other areas of line on top of chassis. Entire line needed to be replaced!

- Franklin Square, NY, USA

problem #28

Jan 192011

Suburban

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban K1500. The contact stated that the ABS braking system failed due to rust and a leak. While stopping at slow speeds, the brakes do not stop the vehicle and the pedal extended to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who replaced the ABS control module; reprogrammed the computer, the front hubs and the bearings on both the right and left front wheels for $2,000. The vehicle was never taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.

- West River, MD, USA

problem #27

Sep 152010

Suburban

  • 108,650 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The contact was driving approximately 10 mph when the ABS system activated independently. The contact stated that when the failure would occur, the vehicle would become increasingly difficult to stop. He called the manufacturer and was advised that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:anti lock). The vehicle was not repaired and the failure became progressively worse. The failure mileage was 108,650 and the current mileage was 111,821.

- 375 North American Blvd, OH, USA

problem #26

Dec 022009

Suburban

  • 99,000 miles
Anti-lock brakes engage at low speeds over 50% of the time. Started in early December. We had early season snows last year. Passed inspection later that month. Had it in for service at local auto service business & no obvious issues. Talked to Chevy dealer and they said they'd have to investigate. Recently found GM recall no. 05068, but Chevy says I don't have it. I've run over curbs and been close to hitting parked cars & walls.

- Great Falls, VA, USA

problem #25

Jul 292010

Suburban

  • 135,000 miles
Huge safety issue !!!!!! 1. vehicle Maine state inspection 2. two rear and side brake lines are severely rusted and will not pass state inspection 3. must replace brake lines; side line replacement requires removal of 30 gallon gas tank! have not yet repaired.

- Gorham, ME, USA

problem #24

Jul 132010

Suburban

  • 104,000 miles
2001 Suburban K2500 complete loss of braking due to corrosion and rupture of brake lines from master cylinder to ABS unit and from ABS unit to right front wheel. This is the same problem as current investigation PE10010.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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