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2001 Chevrolet SilveradoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 877 owner complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

17
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid5.0× the Silverado median · #3 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints877156 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage50kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 6, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado has problems

877 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic30633
Engine and engine cooling911
Power train646
Tires565
Structure538
Parking brake514
Air bags4846
Service brakes402
Vehicle speed control385
18 other systems24526

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2001 Chevrolet Silverado recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 07V-521 · Nov 7, 2007 · 11,974 vehicles

Risk. IF THE SENSOR BECOMES COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING AND WILL NOT RE-START.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 05V-379 · Aug 29, 2005 · 1,353,718 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Parking brake

Recall 05V-161 · Apr 22, 2005 · 90,242 vehicles

Risk. IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Tailgate: hinge and attachments

Recall 04V-129 · Mar 17, 2004 · 3,662,211 vehicles

Risk. ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

50kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 218 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 93% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
42under 30k miles202under 100k miles16100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Service brakes, hydraulic

21 owners mentioned a cost

$600median

Middle half: $434 – $900

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other Silverado year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silverado median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2001 Chevrolet Silverado safety ratings

2001 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2001 Chevrolet Silverado frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
13 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado, and the recalls they led to.

  1. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREDP05009 · closed May 31, 2006
    No recall
  2. THROTTLE STICKING CLOSEDEA02015 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  3. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEEA04005 · closed Sep 28, 2004
    Led to recall 04E-067
  4. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  5. HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRESEA04012 · closed Feb 28, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-005
  6. Brake line corrosion failureEA11001 · closed Apr 8, 2015
    No recall
  7. THROTTLE STICKINGPE02021 · closed Aug 1, 2002
    No recall
  8. STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTUREPE03026 · closed Nov 3, 2003
    No recall
  9. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEPE03049 · closed Feb 19, 2004
    No recall
  10. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE03057 · closed Apr 9, 2004
    No recall
  11. UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONPE05020 · closed Sep 13, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-379
  12. CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALLPE06016 · closed Sep 14, 2006
    No recall
  13. Brake line corrosion failurePE10010 · closed Jan 5, 2011
    No recall
In owners' words

What Silverado owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WITH A STEEP INCLINE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKES AND HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE, WHICH ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO CATCH…
Complaint 10532300 · Jul 29, 2013 · 194,000 miles
2001 CHEVY SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON FRAME AND BRAKE LINES AT LOW MILEAGE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THE FUEL LINES WERE CORRODED.
Complaint 10511091 · May 1, 2013
THIS IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN FIXED. I SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS ABS CRAP IS WORTHLESS ! WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BREAKS TOTALLY LOCK UP AND YOU CAN NOT STOP. I ALMOST RAN THROUGH A STORE FRONT WINDOW. THE DEALERSHIP AND GM ITSELF IS TOTALLY UN…
Complaint 10480872 · Oct 17, 2012 · 90,000 miles

Own a 2001 Silverado?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.