2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Brakes

In the past I have sent several emails to Chevrolet corporate office re the ABS brake system on my Tahoe which first failed with only 130 miles on the vehicle. Vehicle almost tipped over but I recovered the braking system and stopped vehicle only inches from going off a cliff and into the ravine below. I love my Tahoe which now has 109000+ miles on it but the ABS brake system has never worked and on several occasions almost wiped out myself and a passenger because brakes failed to engage. I filed several complaints with the Chevrolet dealer in Austin, TX where I bought my Tahoe and also here in Taos, NM where I currently live. Recently I had the Chevrolet dealer here in Taos run a diagnostic on my ABS brakes. Result was that the brake system was defective and would cost $2000 to repair! I feel Chevrolet should pay for the repair since my Tahoe was delivered from the factory with defective ABS brakes. As it is, my Tahoe cannot be resold since the system as is could kill anyone in this vehicle if they did not know how to recover when pedal is all the way to the floor and vehicle is picking up speed rather than slowing down. Certainly even I could hit an elk standing in middle of highway because I would not be able to recover brake system in time.

EMERGENCY BRAKE WEARS ITSELF WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED TO THE POINT WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT DOES NOT WORK. *TR

REAR STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR & HAD TO PUMP BRAKES. HAD TO TURN OFF TO BERM OF ROAD TO KEEP FROM HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. HAD TO HAVE REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED AND THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED ALL BRAKE LINES BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I HAD ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED FOR OVER $600 DOLLARS. THE TAHOE HAS ONLY 41000 MILES ON IT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN & IT TAKE A FEW SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, TAKING MUCH LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE BRAKES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.

MY ABS LIGHT IN ON AND WHEN I PUSH DOWN ON IT MAKES NOISE PLUS IT PUSH BACK A LITTLE

THE STEEL BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE REAR BRAKES HAS CORRODED AND IS LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE STEEL FRAME FORWARD FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AS I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AFTER DRIVING OVER 150 MILES ROUND TRIP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN CITY TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTERIOUS, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE IF THE LINE WOULD HAVE FAILED DURING THE TRIP! AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS BRAKE LINE FAILURE LOOKS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM!

METAL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND CORRODED. LINES PLACED IN AN AREA OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY WILL RUST AND CORRODE THEN CAUSING THEM TO BURST AT VERY UN-OPPORTUNE MOMENTS. CAUSING WRECKAGE. MY VEHICLE LOST ITS BRAKES ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A STOP TO TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY, WAITING FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CLEAR. I STARTED BRAKING AND LOST MY BRAKES, SO I TOOK THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I GOT MYSELF HOME AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE

ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE JERKING AND MAKE A NOISE AT SLOW SPEEDS.

ABS LOW SPEED ACTIVATION. ANY TIME COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS AROUND AND UNDER 10MPH. VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR BRAKES LOCKING UP WHEN SIMPLY TRYING TO COME TO A STOP.

AT LOW SPEEDS COMING TO A STOP, MY ABS HAS BEEN ENGAGING AND NOT ALLOWING ME TO STOP WHEN APPROPRIATE. I HAVE AVOIDED SEVERAL REAR ENDING INCIDENTS, 3 TODAY. I HAVE SEEN THAT THER HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT MY VIN HASNT BEEN INCLUDED. I REALLY NEED THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT ARE WITH ME ON NORMAL OCCASIONS. THIS HAPPENS AT NEARLY EVERY STOP, STOP SIGN, LIGHT, PARKING ECT.

LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND JUST LOST THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEV TAHOE LT THIS WEEK. HAD BEEN GOING DOWN I-494 AT 65 MPH MINUTES BEFORE THIS. FOUR BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, SNOWY AND ICY, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN TO MY SIDE STREET, AND THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. HIT THE BRAKES, THE ABS ACTIVATED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES, BUT I MANAGED TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING, AND LIMP IT HOME. IN THE GARAGE NOW GETTING FIXED, ESTIMATED $500 - $1,000. WITH SOME GOOGLING AND TALKING TO 4 GARAGES, IT SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM. AMAZING TO ME THAT GM HAS NOT BEEN FORCED INTO A RECALL OVER THIS. THIS COULD BE FATAL, IF IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ABS WARNING AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

CORRODED/RUSTY BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING SUDDEN BRAKE LOSS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN A WORK ZONE. USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO AVOID COLLISION.

WHILE DRIVING MY CHEVY TAHOE I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE USE OF THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAD NO INDICATION THAT THE BREAKS WERE GOING BAD UNTIL I LOST THEM COMPLETELY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT TWO BREAK LINES WERE BUSTED AND THAT THE REST WERE CORRODED. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS DONE 5 CHEVY BREAK LINE SYSTEMS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AN APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH CHEVY TRUCKS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE BREAK LINES ONLY LAST A FEW YEARS BEFORE THEY ARE CORRODED AND RUSTED AND EVENTUALLY THE BREAK WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE THIS IS UNSAFE AND I THINK CHEVY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY BREAK LINE ISSUES WITH ANY OTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE.

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

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 676 APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP I PUSHED ON THE BREAKS AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FORCING ME TO TRY TO AVOID A COLLISION IN FRONT AS I TRIED TO TURN INTO THE MIDDLE LANE VEERING RIGHT I HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TAHOE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO SAID MY BREAK LINES WERE CORRODED ANT THE BREAK FLUID CAME OUT OF THEM ILVE IN NORTHEAST PA WHERE SALT ON THE ROADS IF USED A LOT IN THE WINTER.

A BRAKE LINE BURST FROM ABS MODULE TO RR BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. LOST HALF THE FLUID AND FLUID CONTINUED TO DRAIN WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. GM CLAIM THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DUAL BRAKE SYSTEM APPARENTLY DOES NOT PREVENT COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. WIFE WAS VERY UPSET AS THE PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY AT THE FLOOR. LUCKILY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THRUWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT AND WASHED FREQUENTLY. REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED. GM SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES AND TRUCK OF THE DANGER OF COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF MILD STEEL THAT IS SUBJECT TO RUSTING THROUGH AS THIS IS LIFE AND DEATH SAFETY ISSUE.

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.

I STARTED TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ONE OTHER LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT IT WAS FOR VEHICLES IN 'SNOW-BELT STATES'. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM CARMAX IN CHARLOTTE NC WHICH WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR 'SNOW-BELT STATES'. I HAVE SINCE LOST MY ABS SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS NOW PART OF THE RECALL AND IS MY VEHICLE STILL ELIGBLE?

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.

STARTED CAR AND BRAKE FELT SQUISHY AND UNRESPONSIVE. NO BRAKING POWER AND FOOT COMPLETELY DEPRESSED TO FLOOR IN ORDER TO EVENTUALLY STOP WHEN TRAVELING JUST WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR OR LESS THAN 10MPH. WAS REAR BRAKES. SAME THING HAPPENED TO FRONT BRAKES IN APRIL 2015. VEHICLE DRIVING FINE. STOPPED TO GET GAS AND WHEN STARTED CAR UP BRAKES WERE SQUISHY AND FOOT HAD TO BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP AND THAT WAS TRAVELING WITHOUT USING ACCELERATOR OR GOING LESS THAN 10MPH. BOTH TIMES COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ALL HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID. DIDN'T SEEM LIKE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AT ALL. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT SPEED IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES.

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

BRAKES FAILED DO TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES. DRIVING ON 55 MPH ROAD STOPLIGHT TURNED JUST AS I APPROACHED IT STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND IT SLOWLY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, I WAS LUCKY, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER WITH LOSS OF LIFE. I WAS TOLD ALL MY BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500.00. *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

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *TR