46 complaints reported

2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Brakes

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
46
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2014

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Jul 2014 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND SEVERAL TREES. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A LEFT LEG INJURY, MULTIPLE HIP ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,597.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Jul 2014

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP MY VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 5 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN MY BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLE IN THE PATH WAY OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. I THOUGHT MY LIFE WAS ABOUT TO END SO I HIT THE GAS AND ENDED DRIVING UP ON THE CURB TO GET OUT OF ONGOING TRAFFIC. MY BOSS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR DEPARTMENT VEHICLES THAT WERE TAHOES BECAUSE OF AN ANTILOCKING BRAKE ISSUE. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL ON MOTORTREND AND THE RECALL EXPLAINS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I ALMOST DIED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THE GUY RAN MAN VIN NUMBER AND STATED THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER AND THE FEMALE ON THE PHONE STATED THAT RECALLS ARE DONE BY VIN NUMBERS AND MAYBE MY NUMBER WAS ACCIDENTALLY SKIPPED. THIS IS OFF MOTORTREND. RECALL DATE: AUG 29, 2005 MODEL AFFECTED: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE SUMMARY: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. CONSEQUENCES: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 1353718 NOTES: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2001/CHEVROLET/TAHOE/RECALLS/#IXZZ38LPOMMDC. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2014
Jun 2014

ABS BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN TRYING TO STOP THEN IT WOULD NOT STOP CORRECTLY AND ALMOST RAN OVER CURB ONTO SIDEWALK. REPLACED SENSOR TWICE BEFORE THE LIGHT AND BRAKES WORKED CORRECTLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Jun 2014

DRIVING HOME AND PRESSED ON BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT AND PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPED BRAKES AND JUST BARELY STOPPED BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER CAR. TAHOE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED TO NOTHING. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM!! MANY PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT THEIR BRAKE LINES UNTIL THEY CRASH. PLEASE GET GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MORE CUSTOMERS ARE HURT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2014
Apr 2014

I HAD JUST COME OFF THE HIGHWAY AND FORTUNATELY WAS COMPLETING A PARALLEL PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I ESSENTIALLY ROLLED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP. A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND NEAR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL. WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED I OPENED THE DOOR AND LOOKED BACK AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I SAW COLORED FLUID SPRAYING OUT SIDEWAYS FROM THE REAR. SUBSEQUENTLY HAD BRAKE LINE REPAIRED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Apr 2014

THE PARKING BRAKES DO NOT WORK HAVE OWNED THE TAHOE FOR 2 YEARS AND NEVER USED THE PARKING BRAKES NOW ALL THE SUDDEN THE PARKING BRAKES MAKES A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES TO WARRANT A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE DOES GET KILLED OR INJURED .ALSO THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE BRAKES AND ABS BUT ONLY IN THE SO CALLED SALT BELT AND THE OWNERS THAT DON'T LIVE THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE SAME THING FIXED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD COVER IN THE FIRST PLACE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2014
Mar 2014

I HAD TO REPLACE 2 BRAKE LINES THAT FAILED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS .THE BRAKE LINES ARE COVERED IN RUST, THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND IS NOW DISCONNECTED.THE DEALER STATED ABS PROBLEM WAS FRONT WHEEL SENSORS, AFTER THEY REPLACED BOTH SENSORS THEY THAN DETERMINED IT WAS MY ABS COMPUTER.I TOLD THEM TO LEARN HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT ON SOMEONES ELSE'S VEHICLE AND REMOVED IT. THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN COATED WITH A LITE UNDERCOATING FROM THE FACTORY, AS THE COATING FALLS YOU CAN SEE EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE EXPOSED METAL SURFACES. IN MY OPINION THE METAL WAS NOT PREPARED CORRECTLY BEFORE IT WAS COATED, FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.THE SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE DEALER STATED, THE RUST CONDITION SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT.I HAVE PURCHASE NO CORROSIVE BRAKE LINE AND WILL CHANGE LINES AS NEEDED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Feb 2014

BRAKE LINE FAILURE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL. BRAKE LINE CORRODED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Feb 2014

IN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE, AS I FOUND OUT LATER, ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUST AND CORROSION. NO WARNING AT ALL (E.G. SOFT PEDAL) AND THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ON IT. I REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES AT A COST OF NEARLY $1400.00. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
Aug 2013

MY BRAKE LINES KEEP BURSTING. I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING, I WAS IN PARK, APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PUT IT GEAR AND THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, I JUST SPENT $400 TO HAVE THE REARS REPLACED WHILE ON THE ROAD. I WAS STUCK OUT OF STATE. NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN. PLEASE HELP, I CAN'T AFFORD A REPAIR RIGHT NOW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2013
Aug 2013

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY SHE HAD TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, THE TRUCK NOT STOPPING. SHE GOT IN THE SLOW LANE AND HAD TO GO VERY SLOW TO HER DESTINATION. THANK GOD SHE'S A GOOD DRIVER OR SHE COULD'VE KILLED HERSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I MET HER AT HER DESTINATION TO CHECK OUT MY TRUCK AND FOUND THAT WHEN YOU STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE FLUID POURED OUT FROM UNDER THE CHASSIS OF THE TRUCK IN THE AREA OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR.SO I LOOKED AT THE REST OF MY BRAKE LINES AND THEY ARE FULL OF RUST. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
Aug 2013

2001 TAHOE BRAKES FAILED...LINE RUPTURE, CAUSING MY WIFE TO PLOW THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION AND NARROWLY AVOID A CRASH. THIS IS MY THIRD GM BRAKELINE FAILURE. THE OTHER TWO OCCURRED ON A 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, AGAIN WITH INSTANT, NO WARNING, LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. FORTUNATELY, THOSE EVENTS WERE IN PARKING LOTS AT VERY LOW SPEED. YES, THERE IS SOME, MAYBE 30% OF BRAKE POWER LEFT ON THE TAHOE, BUT THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS MAGNIFIED GREATLY ONCE SPEED IS ABOVE 15 MPH. I CAN CITE AT LEAST SIX OTHER ACQUAINTANCES WITH SIMIALR BRAKE LINE FAILURES ON GM VEHICLES FROM THE Y2000 ERA DESIGN. SOMETHING IS GROSSLY WRONG WITH GM, AND PERHAPS OTHERS, BRAKE LINE COMPONENTS. JUST VISUALLY EXAMINE THE BRAKELINES AND THEY APPEAR READY TO CRUMBLE AT MANY PLACES DUE TO SUBSTANTIAL EXTERIOR CORROSION. NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM ON THE MANY VEHICLES OWNED OVER THE YEARS. MAKE THEM FIX IT AT THEIR COST, PLEASE. I CAN'T THINK OF A SINGLE MORE CRITICAL SYSTEM FOR DRIVER SAFETY ON A VEHICLE THAN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IT HAS TO BE PHYSICALLY RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2013
Jun 2013

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON I-95 INTO BALTIMORE WHEN HE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE 2001 TAHOE IMMEDIATELY LOST BRAKING POWER. HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM BUT THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER OPERATING PROPERLY. THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MINIMAL STOPPING POWER. `HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING GARAGE BY DRIVING SLOWLY AND IN LOW GEAR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND EXAMINED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND THAT IT HAD LEAKED OUT OF A CORRODED AND BROKEN BRAKE LINE AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE CHASSIS. ALL OF THE METAL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING OF ANY IMPENDING BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN MARYLAND SINCE PURCHASED NEW AND THERE IS RELATIVELY LITTLE SNOW THAT FALLS IN THE WINTER AND AS A RESULT THERE IS ALMOST NO OTHER CORROSION ON THIS VEHICLE SO SEEING THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT AN INFERIOR GRADE OF STEEL WAS USED ON THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE BRAKE LINE IN THE AREA OF THE FAILURE IS LOCATED ABOVE THE FRAME AND IS NOT VISIBLE FROM BELOW AND THEREFORE CANNOT BE INSPECTED FOR CORROSION. WHEN THE OIL IS CHANGED AND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES ARE CHECKED BUT IN THE AREA OF THE FAILURE AS STATED THEY CANNOT BE INSPECTED. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF METAL BRAKE LINE AND BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THEM WITH A BETTER GRADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AS IT IS REASONABLY FORESEEABLE THAT FATALITIES WILL BE THE LOGICAL CONSEQUENCE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THESE INCIDENTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Apr 2013

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 CHEVY TAHOE AT MODERATE SPEED WHEN THE ABS AND PARKING INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON. IN ADDITION THERE WAS PULSING WHICH I BELIEVE IS FROM THE ABS SYSTEM WHEN I TRIED SLOWING DOWN FROM 25 MPH. I DID RESEARCH ON TSB AND DID FIND THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AFFECTING GM SUV FROM 2000-2006 REGARDING SPEED SENSOR AND CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES . I INFORMED THE CHEVY DEALER OF THIS TSB AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND WANTED ME TO PAY IN EXCESS OF $1200 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THE DEALER REPRESENTING GM IS NOT ACTING IN GOOD FAITH. AS I TOLD THEM THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING UNREASONABLE CONSIDERING THE ASSISTANCE FROM TAX PAYER. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE. REGARDS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2011
Feb 2013

BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR BEFORE HOLDING - NO HYDRAULICS. BRAKE LINE FAILURE/RUPTURE WITH HEAVY LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER DRIVER SEAT AREA. SUSPECTED CORROSION. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Sep 2012

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE. LIGHTLY APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED AND BLEW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2012
Aug 2012 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER. THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND SEVERAL LACERATIONS. PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2012
Jul 2012

WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. WE DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED . RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES BUILT AT THIS TIME. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY CHEVROLET AT THIS TIME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2012
Apr 2012

WAS COMING TO A STOP AT INTERSECTION. AND COULD NOT STOP, BRAKES FAILED.. MECHANIC SAYS ALL LINES ARE COMPLETELY CORRODED.. EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED, SEEMS MANY OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE SAME ISSUES, SHOULD BE RECALLED HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2012
Feb 2012

TRUCK BRAKES LINES JUST ROTTED OUT COMPLETELY HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE LINES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe has 46 Brakes complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.