ABS Valve Body / Pump Harness chafed through brake hydraulic line near transmission crossmember. This resulted in a hydraulic leak and loss of brake pedal feel / partial loss of brakes. Fortunately failure occurred in the driveway--I had 4500 Lbs of sailboat trailer hitched to the van and was about to go on a long trip. Design issue. Wiring harness should not be located so as to chafe on hydraulic lines. This is not the first chafe related failure on this vehicle.
Chevrolet Express brake failure problems
15 of the 651 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Express describe brake failure, most of them for the 2001 model year.
- owner complaints
- 15
- worst model year
- 2001
- typical mileage
- 31,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20151
- 20131
- 20121
- 20101
- 20081
- 20072
- 20052
- 20021
- 20013
- 20001
- 19971
Often reported together
What owners say
I was in a front end Collison due to a brake failure and when I have a steel gate at about 30 mph no airbag deployed. Car was towed by the Upper Darby Police Department and it is totaled. I sustained injuries. There was no airbag light brake warning light came when I attempted to use the emergency brake when regular failed
Hole warn in front passenger side brake line from battery cable going to engine starter motor. The shielding on electrical cable rubbed and wore a hole in the brake line causing fluid to flow out and caused brakes to fail. No one was injured and no accident. I was backing out of the driveway the brakes failed, next I saw a large puddle of fluid on driveway, I just put it in park. The battery cable crosses over the break line and both are fastened to the frame near each other. I can provide break line and photo. The van has 60,000 miles on it, I purchased it new in 2005.
2007 chevrolet gm3500. Consumer writes in regards to braking system failure. The consumer stated while driving the brakes locked up. The consumer was able to pull the vehicle to the shoulder. The brake lights did not illuminate. After sitting a few minutes, the vehicle went back to normal operation. The brake failure would continue to occur often. The consumer stated the engime light would illuminate when the failure occured. The vehicle was repaired following a service bulletin, but was too soon to tell if the failure would recur.
Total brake failure. Brake line completely rusted through went through a intersection at 50 MPH no brakes
2013 coachmen freelander -chevrolet express 4500 cutaway. Mileage -19,662; brake line rusted out and brake fluid leaked out. Brakes failed while on the road, warning message "service brakes'". Made it to a chevrolet dealership and brake line replaced. *dt updated 10/5/18*jb
Brakes failed while driving down a hill in 2nd gear.
Mounting brackets for both front brake caliper hoses were bent forward, causing hoses to contact insides of front tires when wheels were turned. Right/passenger hose wore through, causing loss of brake fluid and loss of braking. Driver managed to stop vehicle safely. Vehicle was then towed to shop for repairs.
This vehicle has had multiple incidents of cutting out and stalling causing loss of steering and brakes, and just before it completely shuts down it will power back up. In april 2011 an operator stated "intermittently when making a left hand turn at approx. 10 - 15 MPH with acceleration the traction light comes on and van cuts out for a few seconds like someone shut off the key, it powers most of the way down and then will come back on its own." during this time the steering and brakes are compromised. In november 2011 an operator stated "powers down while operating, brakes lock up and power steering locks up, van pulls to the right in corners, seems to be ABS with no brakes applied in corners/" in november 2012 it was reported from 3 different operators that the van cut out and each of them almost lost control of the vehicle. Reports included going 40-45 MPH into a left hand curve, the engine suddenly started to lose power and there was a loss of steering and brakes, and the right hand tire went into the ditch on the right. Another operator said the engine died and the vehicle almost went into the ditch, the vehicle was cold and they had just begun their trip. The 3rd operator said the wheel locked up at 40 MPH within the first 1/2 mile. Most of these incidents seem to happen within the first 3 miles of operation.
On friday january 29th 2010 I was involved in an accident. I rear ended a SUV. My 2001 chevrolet express van would not stop due to anti lock brake failure. When I applied the brakes the anti lock system took over and the brake pedal went to the floor. My vehicle continued forward never slowing down until I struck the vehicle ahead of me. I would have been able to stop if the anti lock brakes had not taken over my vehicle. I had a more than a five second space between the vehicle in front of me.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
- Risk
- If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc trucks at 1‑866‑996‑9463 and hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.
Recall number 05V043000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
- Risk
- Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.
- Remedy
- Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463; or hummer at 1‑866‑486‑6376.
Recall number 04V045000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. One or both front brake rotor/hubs were built with an out-of-specification gray iron that can fail during the life of the vehicle.
- Risk
- If a driver continues to drive with a cracked rotor, the cracks could continue around the wheel mounting bolt circle and ultimately result in a wheel separation.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
Recall number 98V033000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Express brake failure
Which Chevrolet Express years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2001 (3 complaints), 2005 (2 complaints) and 2007 (2 complaints).
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