2001 Chevrolet Tahoe: brake failure

Filed Jul 9, 2021 · Brakes · NM

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.

Filed Nov 25, 2016 · Brakes · 170,000 miles · MN

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.

Filed Jul 28, 2016 · Brakes, Fuel system · 137,000 miles · OH · crash

My daughter was running less than 35 MPH through town went to stop at a red light, brake pedal went to the floor and both front and rear brake lines failed leading to me rear ending the car in front of me. Upon inspection both front and rear brakes were leaking fluid due to rust and corrosion. I had to have my car towed home and have been un able to drive it since.

Filed Jan 18, 2016 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · MD

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.

Filed Sep 14, 2015 · Brakes · 183,320 miles · PA · crash

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.

Filed Jul 17, 2015 · Brakes · 103,803 miles · NY

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.

Filed Feb 11, 2015 · Brakes · 137,400 miles · OH

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.

Filed Nov 16, 2014 · Brakes · 71,000 miles · PA

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.

Filed Aug 28, 2014 · Brakes · 180,000 miles · MI

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.

Filed Aug 17, 2014 · Brakes · 170,000 miles · PA

Brakes failed due to brake lines rusted through.

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Brakes · 130,000 miles · TX

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.

Filed Feb 24, 2014 · Brakes · 121,000 miles · NC

Brake line failure, resulting in loss of brake control. Brake line corroded.