2001 Chevrolet Tahoe PARKING BRAKE

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON MY 2001 CHEVY TAHOE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING BAD PARKING BRAKE / E BRAKE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I RARELY NEED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM AT A COST OF APPROX. $575. MANY OTHER 2001 TAHOES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.. I HAVE REPLACED THE PARKING E BRAKES TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED THE TAHOE AND NOW THEY HAVE FAILED A THIRD TIME. I NEVER USE THE PARKING BRAKE!! VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION HAS FAILED AND I HAVE ALREADY BEEN PULLED OVER FOR NOT HAVING A SAFETY STICKER FOR THE PARKING E BRAKE. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG BURNING SMELL FROM THE REAR TIRE / BRAKE AREA, I AM SURE THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH FIRE FROM THE FRICTION THE BAD DESIGN HAS CAUSED. PARKING BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL, OR REVERSE. ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE PARKING E BRAKE ACTUATOR LEVER IS MISSING AND THE PARKING E BRAKE CABLE IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, THIS SAME LEVER IS REPORTED ONLINE AS MYSTERIOUSLY MISSING FROM OTHER CHEVY TRUCKS AS WELL, IT IS BAD WHEN THE SAME PART ON VARIOUS VEHICLES IS MISSING ON THE SAME SIDE, COINCIDENCE OR BAD ASSEMBLY LINE PROCESS, MAYBE DEFECTIVE PART THAT BREAKS. REPAIR IS OVER 1000 DOLLARS. PARKING E BRAKE FAILS TO HOLD THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND IS ENDANGERING LIVES. VIRGINIA LAW AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS ARE NOT BEING MET DUE TO A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW OF MISSING PARTS AND A SAFETY DEVICE NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON A VEHICLE. MISSING SAFETY PARTS FROM THE ASSEMBLY IS HAZARDOUS, IF PARTS WERE NOT MISSING, THEN THEY FELL OFF AND IS STILL DANGEROUS. *TR

PARKING BRAKE ON 2001 TAHOE FAILS TO HOLD VEHICLE. IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION UNTIL FIXED. I HAVE NEVER USED THE BRAKE AND IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS DEFECT IN 2001 TAHOE THAT WAS NEVER RECALLED. CHEVY NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THE DEFECTED PARKING BRAKE IN ALL MODELS. *TR

2001 CHEVY TAHOE - EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE NOT FUNCTIONING. HAS NOT BEEN FUNCTIONING FOR YEARS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AND I NEVER USED IT, BUT WHEN I WAS PARKED ON A HILL RECENTLY, I TRIED TO USE IT BUT IT DID NOT WORK. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SAFELY PARK WITHOUT POSSIBLY HURTING INNOCENT PEOPLE OR DAMAGING PROPERTY, SHOULD THE MANUFACTURER BE RESPONSIBLE? *TR

MY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER USED IT. I TRIED TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT PASS IT DUE TO THE BRAKE. THEY SAID GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE HAND BRAKE THREE TIMES. THE HAND BRAKE LOOSENED AND A PIECE OF METAL WITH CABLE ATTACHED TO IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AND NEARLY STRUCK AN OLDER COUPLE. GM ADVISED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS, BUT HE HAS NOT DONE SO AT THIS TIME. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,600. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

PARKING BRAKE FRICTION PAD PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE. IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PARKING ON A STEEP SLOPE WHEN TOWING A HEAVY LOAD IF THE TRANSMISSION LOCKUP MECHANISM SHOULD FAIL. OPERATOR MANUALS STATE TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARKING A TRAVEL TRAILER. REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACING THE BRAKE SHOES AN DRUMS IF NECESSARY. *TR

FAILURE OF EMERGENCY BAKE SYSTEM. BOTH REAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 54,828 MILES ON VEHICLE BECAUSE EMMERGENCY BRAKE PAD HAD WORN ALL PAD MATERIAL OFF AND WAS RUBBING METAL TO METAL CUTTING INTO THE SURFACE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PART OF THE ROTOR. *JB

WENT TO HAVE A VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION DONE ON THE 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE AND IT FAILED BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE /ARKING BRAKE WAS STICKING, AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES WERE METAL TO METAL. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. SO TO MAKE IT INSPECTION WORTHY I HAD TO PAY $250.00 TO REPLACE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES!! I HAVE READ THIS IN MANY INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET. *AK

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.

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY TAHOE. THE PARKING BRAKE HAS ALWAYS BARELY WORKED BUT I NEVER HAD IT REPAIRED BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A CRUMMY BRAKE. AFTER READING SOME WEB SITES I NOW REALIZE IT IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPAIR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BUT THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALIZE IT IS NOT WORKING. THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS MY CAR FROM ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AND KILLING SOMEONE IS THE TRANSMISSION. YOU REALLY SHOULD MAKE GM DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *NM

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

PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, UPON INSPECTION THE CONTACT FOUND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY WORN. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE BEING USED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE BRAKING, THE REPAIRMAN DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE BRAKES BUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOR DID THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DISPLAY ANY NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT BASED ON THE VIN AND NOTED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SEVERAL SERVICE RECORDS CONCERNING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *AK

APPLIED PARKING BRAKE WHILE ASSISTING ANOTHER MOTORIST WITH A DEAD BATTERY. AFTER REENTERING MY VEHICLE I STARTED TO BACK UP AND NOTICED THAT MY PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT HOLDING. I TESTED THE BRAKE AS DESCRIBED IN OWNERS HANDBOOK. THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD. I FEEL LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WHILE I WAS ASSISTING THE MOTORIST WITH THE DEAD BATTERY. HAD THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED/CRUSHED BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. I ALSO OWN A 2001 CHEVY TRUCK AND IT HAD A RECALL ON THE PARKING BRAKE. WHY HAS GENERAL MOTORS NOT RECALLED THE PARKING BRAKE ON THE 2001 TAHOE. I GUEST IT WILL TAKE A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY BEFORE THEY WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND DISCOVERED THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE STILL DOESN'T HOLD, MORE WORK IS NEEDED. UPDATED 02/27/06. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY TAHOE I COULD NOT GET MY CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK .I TOOK IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THE FACTORY PARKING BRAKE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE SHOE IN ALIGNMENT WERE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY. THEY NOW HAVE AN UPGRADE CLIP AFTER THE FACT. THE BRAKE SHOE CAUSES $200 OR MORE IN DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR AND PADS AND MORE CONCERNING THAN THAT IS YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL THE PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK! GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT TAKE THIS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO HAVE A RECALL OR WARRANTY THE REPAIR THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU DAVID. *NM

2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE EMERGENCY BRAKE WORE OUT PRE-MATURELY AT 18,000 MILES OF FREEWAY DRIVING. ALWAYS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND AND KEPT IN A GARAGE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID BRAKES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THEY WANTED OVER $300.00 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SHOES IN THE SEPARATE EMERGENCY BRAKE DRUMS. THIS IS MORE THAN A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB ON THAT CAR TYPICALLY COSTS. *NM

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON MY 2001 CHEVY TAHOE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING WORN COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE METAL. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I RARELY NEED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS ITEM AT A COST OF APPROX. $275. I UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL OTHER 2001 TAHOES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL HOLD ONTO THE OLD PART FOR AWHILE ONCE THE REPAIR IS COMPLETED.

2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE PARKING BRAKE DEFECT: EACH YEAR NOW FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT DESIGN ALLOWS THE BRAKE SHOE (1 PIECE) TO SHIFT POSITION WITHIN THE DRUM CYLINDER RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR AND EVENTUALLY BRAKE PAD FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO TAKE STEPS TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS THE ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFECTY INSPECTION AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. IT COSTS ME ABOUT $350 ANNUALLY TO HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE PADS REPLACED. PLEASE HAVE THIS SAFETY PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOULY INJURED OR KILLED. I DO HAVE THE PREVIOUS WORN PADS IF NEEDED FOR REVIEW.

THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT PREVENT VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. DEALER HEARD OUR COMPLAINTS SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS "SERVICED" THE BRAKE. INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION AFFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE CAN NOT BE REPARIED TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. WITH THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE FREELY ROLLS ON EVEN GENTLE SLOPES. THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING WHEN IT IS PARKED IS HAVING THE GEARBOX IN THE 'PARK' POSITION. THIS IS NOT ONLY HARMFUL TO THE TRANSMISSION BUT WE ARE REMINDED DAILY THAT THE CAR HAS NO MECHANICAL MEANS OF STOPPING IF WE LOSE OUR HYDRAULIC BRAKES.

PARKING BRAKE FAILED INSPECTION AND HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. PARKING BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL, OR REVERSE. ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR IS 400.00. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET. IT MAKES ME VERY ANGRY TO READ ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE PARKING BRAKE AND ALL OF THE MONEY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO PAY TO FIX IT TEMPORARILY. WHAT MAKES ME EVEN MORE ANGRY IS THAT GENERAL MOTORS/CHEVROLETT SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A DEATH FIRST?

DT: CONSUMER'S WIFE PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY WHICH HAD A SMALL INCLINE AND APPLIED BRAKES TO PARK, AND THIS PARTICULAR STYLE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. FELT IT WAS WORN OUT. HAD TO BE REPLACED BY OWNER. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT, BUT FELT IT WAS POORLY DESIGNED BY GM. *AK

SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE DETERMINED TO BE PARK BRAKE SHOE CONTACTING DRUM WHEN PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY WITH RE-DESIGNED PARTS, BUT FAILED AGAIN. PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD. *JB