2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE A SPONGE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED AND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY DUE TO BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,845.

ON MAY 20, 2015 OUR 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE EXPLOSION DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATION. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON LONG AFTER THE FACT WHEN TESTING THE BRAKES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.THE STEEL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL RUPTURED TOTALLY UNEXSPECTEDLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE AND ONLY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, NO RECALL. THE NHTSA MUST DEMAND THAT GM RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL THESE INFERIOR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES BEFORE DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR. I AM SUBMITTING THIS FORM TO MAKE IT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE DEATH AND SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE IF NOT ADDRESSED ON ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT INJURED OR KILLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON. THE CONTACT DETACHED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS/BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 CHEVY TAHOE, THAT WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, IN COLUMBUS OHIO. SHE WAS DOING 35 MPH DOWN A CITY STREET, WHEN SHE WENT TO STOP, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER RUNNING A FEW RED LIGHTS AND ALMOST GETTING INTO 2 ACCIDENTS, SHE SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND INTO A PARKING SPACE. I HAD IT TOWED TO JACK MAXTON CHEVY AND THEY SAID THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $5000.00 TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. I DID NOT DO THE REPAIR AND AM CURRENTLY WEIGHING MY OPTIONS. *TR

STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED. ALL OF THE UNDER BODY LINES SHOW A LOT OF RUST. REAR FEED LINE FROM ABS BLOCK RUPTURED AT REAR AXLE. I REPAIRED THAT LINE, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BLEED THE SYSTEM THE REAR FEED LINE AND THE IN FLOW LINE POPPED LEAKS. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH BRAKING TO STOP. *TR

MY WIFE WAS EXECUTING A TURN, HEADED DOWNHILL, AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, ONLY TO HAVE IT TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOT STOP THE TRUCK. I HAD BEEN TOWING A TRAILER WITH SURGE BRAKES THE DAY BEFORE, WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE ACTIVATED WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED FRONT BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ANTILOCK ACTUATOR, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. I HAD ALSO HAD IT INSPECTED RECENTLY AND IT PASSED SAFETY. IN LOCATING THE BURST BRAKE LINE, IT WAS ABOVE THE FRAME RAIL, IN A SPOT I WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BE VISUALLY INSPECTABLE. I AM REPLACING ALL THE LINES IN THE TRUCK WITH THE SAME MATERIAL USED BY BMW AND VOLVO NOW, AND CONSULTING WITH MY SERVICE TECH ABOUT RELOCATING THE ANTILOCK ACTUATOR TO AN ACCESSIBLE AREA UNDER THE HOOD, FOR LESS LINE EXPOSURE TO ELEMENTS. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGED MOST OF IT'S LIFE, AND UNDERCARRIAGE WASHED AFTER EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAVE A 2006 TAHOE AT WORK, GARAGED ALL IT'S LIFE AND RARELY DRIVEN IN WET WEATHER, 60,000 MILES, THAT HAD A REAR BRAKE LINE FAIL IN 2011 OR 2012. I'LL FILE A SEPARATE COMPLAINT FOR THAT, BUT AS A FLEET VEHICLE, IT'S MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY. IT'S ALSO ESSENTIALLY THE SAME VEHICLE AS MY 2001, WHICH HAD IT'S LINES LAST LONGER, BUT STILL FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. I WANT GM TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. MINE WILL BE FIXED WITH BETTER MATERIALS, SO I DON'T WANT A RECALL ON MINE, TO HAVE CHEAP COST-CUTTER PARTS INSTALLED. I WANT THEM RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE LIKE MY DAUGHTER, AN INEXPERIENCED NEW DRIVER, HAS TO DEAL WITH A LOSS OF BRAKES DURING A NORMAL LIFE AND MAINTENANCE ROUTINE OF HER VEHICLE. *TR

THE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE HAS SEPARATED FROM THE MOLDING CAUSING THE LIFTGATE GLASS WINDOW TO BECOME UNSAFE SINCE IT IS NOW HELD ONTO THE CAR BY ONLY ONE RUBBER HINGE BRACKET. THE GLASS IN THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT CLOSE AND COULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE CAR WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO CARS FOLLOWING MY CAR. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AND MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO PURCHASE A NEW REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW AT A COST OF NEARLY $1000. I AM NOW ON RECORD AS HAVING STATED IN WRITING THAT, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT COULD CAUSE THE REAR GLASS TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ODOMETER ON MY CAR READS 40,000 MILES. *TR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP ANTILOCK FIRES NOISILY THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE KEEPS ROLLING FORWARD (IN TRAFFIC- INTO BUILDINGS- INTO FENCES- ONTO CURBS) ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE FAILING AND MAKING THE SYSTEM NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN HEAVY (BUMPER TO BUMPER) TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, I HAD A GUT FEELING TO GET OFF THAT MAIN ROAD SO, I TOOK A RIGHT ONTO A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD. NOT EVEN A MILE DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP FROM THE BACK OF THE TAHOE - SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE BUMPER FELL OFF AND HIT THE ROAD. LOOKED THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SOMETHING SHOOT STRAIGHT BACK (WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WITH A CAR'S WINDSHIELD) AND THE THING CURVED UP AND WENT OVEN AN EMBANKMENT. HUSBAND GOT OUT WHILE I LOOKED UNDER THE BACK OF TAHOE - THE SPARE TIRE HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND IT WAS THE TIRE THAT WENT DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THE BRACKET HOLDING IT HAD BROKEN. HAD I STAYED ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE SHOT THROUGH THE CAR'S WINDSHIELD BEHIND ME AND CHANCES ARE 100% THE PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED. TOOK THE TAHOE TO THE DEALER FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND THEY FIXED IT. TELLING ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THIS TAHOE HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES, NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, NEVER TOWED, NEVER ABUSED, AND NEVER BOTTOMED OUT. MY TAHOE IS 2001 AND JUST TURNED 122,000 MILES - DON'T DO A LOT OF DRIVING AND I KEEP IT SERVICED. DO TAKE CARE OF WHAT I OWN. JUST IN CASE YOU OWN A 2001 TAHOE, MAY WANT TO HAVE THE BRACKET CHECKED. MINE HAD JUST SNAPPED - THERE WAS NO RUST - NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. THAN GOODNESS NO ONE WAS HURT/KILLED. LAST YEAR THE TAHOE HAD A BENT ROD, FRONT END BRACKET/TIE ROD BROKEN, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO OUT OF 4WD, HAD IT IN THE SHOP - ALL PROBLEMS HAVE COME BACK- I SPENT OVER 4,000.00 AND I'M NOT SPENDING ANYMORE - THIS TAHOE JUST TURNED 122,000 MILES. WHAT THE HECK. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL MY CARS AND THIS ON JUST KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS. (I'D HAVE TO FIND THE LIST FROM THE SHOP - BUT I HAVE NO MORE MONEY TO FIX IT OR BUY ANOTHER - AND I JUST LOVE THIS THING :( *TR

OUR SON AND A FRIEND WERE TRAVELING ON MAJOR STREET APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT CONTROLLED INTERSECTION, APPLIED THE SERVICE BRAKE TO HAVE IT PUSH TO THE FLOORBOARD. HE NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING STOPPED TRAFFIC AND SWERVED ACROSS THE YELLOW LINE ONTO A SIDE-STREET IN ATTEMPT TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT A CRASH, NEXT TO THE POLICE STATION. ALL THE BRAKE LINES REQUIRED REPLACING DUE TO THE HIDDEN RUST ON THE LINES AS THEY ARE MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE FRAME. OUR SON HAD JUST RETURNED FROM COLLEGE WITH THE VEHICLE, HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH THIS COULD HAVE HAD TRAGIC RESULTS. THE REPAIR SHOPS WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AS A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR GM MODELS HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS WAS A VERY TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR, AND WE CONSIDER OURSELVES LUCKY TO NOT HAVE A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION. *TR