2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE Complaints

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY TAHOE & A 2003 GMC SIERRA. BOTH VEHICLES MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR MOVING SLOWLY OVER BUMPY AREAS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SHAFTS ARE BAD. THE GMC HAS ALREADY HAD THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THE TAHOE I PURCHASED USED AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAID HE HAS TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY PACK THE STEERING SHAFT WITH GREASE. MY FATHER IN LAW HAS A CHEVY TRUCK AND IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WITH SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM ON A VARIETY OF YEARS THAT THIS IS NOT RECALLED. IF YOU CAN CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND IF THERE IS ANY SOLUTION OTHER THAN CONTINUALLY RE-GREASING THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING JOB. TALKING WITH OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE HEARD THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR OUT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AS FAR AS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE AROUND CONSTANTLY AND I AM SOMEWHAT WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *JB

ROUTINE CHECK ON BRAKES FOR MY 2001 CHEVY TAHOE FOUND AT MEINEKE CAR CARE CENTER THAT MY ALUMINUM CALIPERS ON REAR OF BRAKE SYSTEM WERE LOCKED IN PLACE WEARING THE REAR BRAKES OUT. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE 40% USED. INFORMED BY LEE, MANAGER, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE CALIPER, UNEVEN WEAR AND LOCKING UP. JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT 10 MPH. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V379000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2004 CONCERNING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PARKING BRAKE RUBBED DOWN THE BRAKE PADS AND SHOES CAUSING THE PADS AND SHOES TO BE REPLACED PREMATURELY EVERY TWO YEARS. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RARELY USED AND DOES NOT HOLD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A SPECIAL SPRING THAT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED TO KEEP THE BRAKE FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE PADS AND SHOES.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING EBCM FAILURE, THIS MODULE WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF 06 AND HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER 06. ONE DAY THE ANTI-LOCK WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE TRACTION LOCK LIGHT. THE COST TO REPLACE IS IN EXCESS OF $1000. *JB

OUR TAHOE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE NOT HOLDING. BOTH PARKING BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THEN 2 YEARS LATER WE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME PARKING BRAKE ISSUE. THIS TIME ONE OF THE ROTORS WAS DESTROYED WITH ABOUT A 1/4" GROOVE IN IT WHICH MADE THE REPAIR EVEN MORE COSTLY. OUR REGION IS TOTALLY FLAT, SO WE DON'T EVEN USE THE PARKING BRAKE! THERE IS NO REASON WHY THERE SHOULD BE ANY WEAR ON THE PARKING BRAKE WHAT-SO-EVER. ESPECIALLY TWICE IN THE 5 YRS WE'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. AFTER ASKING AROUND AND RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS RECURRING ISSUE WITH THIS BRAKE DESIGN AND UP TO THIS POINT IT HAS ALL BEEN AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. OLD BRAKE DISCS ARE NOT AVAILABLE BUT DESTROYED ROTOR IS. *NM

2001 PARKING BRAKE WORN DOWN TO METAL TO METAL AT 25,000 FREEWAY MILES. PARKING BRAKE WAS ONLY USED WHEN CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT ON LEVEL GROUND. LOCAL DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL TO WEAR OUT IN THAT MILEAGE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE FROM NEW JERSEY, THE ABS LIGHT ACTIVATED ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC TO PULL THE FUSE TO PREVENT THE ABS PUMP FROM BEING RUINED. UPON DOING SO, THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ACTIVATED. MY CONCERN WAS THAT IF AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM AROUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY WARNING. RESEARCHING I FOUND GM HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN APPROXIMATELY TWENTY STATES, BUT NOT IN SC. I FEEL THIS IS AN ACROSS THE BOARD SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES ON THE RECALL. THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR REGARDLESS OF THE LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL THAT RESEARCH SHOWS THESE FAULTY ABS SYSTEMS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN SALT BELT STATES. *NM

WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE DESERT AT 74 MILES PER HOUR IN 115 DEGREE TEMPERATURE WHEN OUR GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S P265/70R16/111S HAD A COMPLETE BLOW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. OUR TIRES ARE ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OLD AND WE HAD A COMPLETE SAFETY CHECK INCLUDING TIRE PRESSURE BEFORE LEAVING ON OUR TRIP. THE TIRE SIDE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED ON THE EXTERIOR WALL OF THE TIRE. *JB

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE WHEN THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO. 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE / 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THEY ACTIVATE ON MODERATE BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. INCIDENT DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. I NOTICED THAT GM HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM - BUT IT DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NOT REGISTERED IN A STATE THAT SALTS THEIR ROADS. MY VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AND OPERATED IN MAINE (RECALL STATE), BUT I HAD IT REGISTERED IN SOUTH DAKOTA - I AM ACTIVE DUTY NAVY. *JB