Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE01001GENERAL MOTORS CORP.01/08/200105/22/2001VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER
 Alleged that the vacuum brake booster can fail resulting in loss of brake effectiveness and extended stopping distances.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
04/25/20055000003/01/2000
 Abs controll unit will not shut off after engine has been shut off. fuse has to be removed to prevent overheating unit.new unit is over $1000.00
07/21/20034510005/28/1999
 The electronic brake traction control module failed, and runs all the time. the fuse has to be pulled to keep module from running, even when key is turned off. i had a dealer check the problem and they said the module was faulty and needed to be replaced if i wanted the abs system to work. i was told the cost to replace the module would be about 795.00 for the part and 1.5 - 2 hours labor----- about 1,000.00 +. due to the high cost of replacing this part, i'm sure many people like myself, are driving without the abs system working. i understand this is a problem mostly with the 1999 model, and that other year modules will not work on a 1999. i feel that this item is something that a lot of people are having trouble with, and that general motors should replace with an improved part.
05/10/200236250105/15/2000
 After the 36,000 mile warranty, 250 miles over to be exact. the abs pump kept running after i shut the engine off. estimated repair $1200.00. called the chevy dealership(ben mynatt of concord, nc) and they even said that they was having a problem with the abs pumps failing on the silverados. attempted to contact the main office for chevy and they give the same runaround about having problems but will not fix the problem. somebody please explain this problem or if that chevrolet will ever make a recall! also for a good note- my next door neighbor just found out yesterday his went out as well!
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
11/01/20045000007/02/1998
 Abs brakes activate at slow speeds
06/01/20042800003/07/2002
 Problem with abs brakes low-speed activation with brake pedal going all the way to the floor causing foot to hit gas pedal in forward and reverse. this problem is what has called for a recall in canada and newer gm vehicles. when will a recall be issued to fix this safety hazzard in older model pick-up trucks? your site shows gm shows three incidents in 100,000 vehicles, well i personally know more than 3 people in my area who are having this problem. in winter time the brakes actually lock up causing the vehicle to skid. this appears to be more than just a cold weather problem. every time i drive the vehicle (a 1999 chevrolet silverado pickup) this happens.
01/07/200505/09/2000
 Abs brake system on 1999 chevy truck. nhtsa action # pe05020 contacted dealer, talked to service manager and owner will not do anything about the problem said id have to pay for it because they dont reconize any recalls or defects
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
05/05/201071400
 Brake line failed on 1999 chevy silerado 4wd pick up. crashed into the back of a ups freigt truck at stop light. i applied the brake pedal app. 50 yards to try to stop my truk the brake pedal went to the floor i was helpless cars on one side telephone poles on the other luckily put truck in 2nd gear to slow the truck down some then crash ed hard into the back of freight truck.luckily not killed .brake fluid was flowing out of rusted brake lines under drivers side seat under frame.truck is possibly a total loss .gm had me tow at my own expense to verify the broken tubing break line,had my mechanic look at the brake lines and said it definately rupured and we took pictures of rusted break lines as evidence.gm investigator asked me if i was injured and what i wanted from them.i reponded to be made whole for all the bills and dmages from the accident from their rusted and faulty brake equipment.
06/29/2009811
 My antilock brakes are not working properly. atlow speeds mthe antilock motor comes on and pushes back against the brake pedal. i have had this repaired 4 times with new speed sensors on the front brakes and still i am having this trouble. *tr
04/08/200575000104/05/2003
 Abs module failure on 1999 chevrolet silverado ck 1500 - when this system failed, the red brake light indicator also came on. in order to stop the pump from running continually, we were instructed to remove the fuse. this pump ran even with the engine off. the dealership said the module cost $800 to replace. we have also found that this is not an uncommon problem with this particular model. it is a huge problem for us now because the truck will not pass inspection since the red brake light burns also. we are told that the brake light is on because the abs light is on. we were told the truck could pass inspection with only the abs light on but not with the brake light on because of safety issues. that is, if there were another brake system failure and the brake light was on, there would be no further warning. we feel as though general motors should be responsible for this as they have to know this is a recurring problem with this model. we contacted them for help but were told we had to take the truck to a dealer to be diagnosed. the problem is clear and unmistakable as to what it is. we are living pay check to pay check like a lot of people and cannot afford to take it from place to place to have it diagnosed. we were also told that if we had bought the truck new, had all the service done at gm and had purchased several gm vehicles, we might be eligible for some assistance on this module from gm. if it is true that the red brake warning light is connected to the abs light, we are paying for that feature of gm by being forced to fix this module when other vehicles not so equipped can choose to not fix it and still pass inspection. our truck is currently in the garage waiting to get the part. it seems that any used parts are very difficult to find and in our case, our mechanic cannot find one. we are facing a repair bill of $860 just for this abs module. *nm
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
06/29/2009811
 My antilock brakes are not working properly. atlow speeds mthe antilock motor comes on and pushes back against the brake pedal. i have had this repaired 4 times with new speed sensors on the front brakes and still i am having this trouble. *tr
09/06/200693000112/06/1999
 Dt*: the contact stated when the brake was applied, the pedal felt spongy. the abs kicked in at 10 mph. there was a nhtsa recall, # 05v379000, regarding the service brakes, hydraulic: antilock. the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. updated 04/05/07*jb
02/13/200699000112/03/2005
 Was traveling approximately 25 miles per hour toward intersection. applied brakes but oddly pedal seemed to go to floor with zero braking action. subsequently, my vehicle entered intersection during red light. was struck on drivers side by 18-wheeler crossing intersection and then my vehicle's forward momentum caused a frontal impact to 18-wheeler crossing intersection from the passengers side. air bag did not deploy. vehicle was a total loss. my wife sustained a fractured rib, bruised sterum and cervical spine dislocation. my two children ages 6 and 9 sustained cuts to the head from flying glass requiring stitches and glue. i attempted to have general motors inspect the vehicle; however, they were un- willing to pay a $500.00 fee for wrecking yard to move vehicle for inspection. brakes and air bag failure !!!! both problems that have been previously identified by other vehicle owners. *jb
03/13/200679000103/16/1999
 Dt*: the contact stated the abs engaged while applying brake pressure at speeds of 10mph or less. the vehicle was seen by a dealer and the front brakes were replaced. although the problem persisted, no further repairs were made. there is a nhtsa recall, # 05v379000, regarding the antilock brakes. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the vin.
09/10/200551380504/26/2005
 Loss of breaking below 5 mph. anti lock brakes quit working. coming to a stop, at about 5 mph, brake pedal pushes back against foot, all breaking ceases and howling or burrrrr noise is heard. if you force the brake pedal down as in panic stop, pedal goes almost to floor and braking resumes. if you let up on the brake pedal and reapply pressure, breaking returns to normal operation. this is an intermittent problem, but repeatable. there are no warning lights on the dash. the gm dealer says my vehicle is not involved in the abs recall as it is in minnesota. dealer says i have to will probably have to replace the hubs and sensors to fix problem. they are aware of the problems with the brakes, but at this time, they say it is my responsibility as the recall does not affect my vehicle. *nm
01/01/200507/28/2002
 I own a 1999 chevrolet k-1500 pick-up truck. i'm experiencing the same problems with the anti-lock brakes as the other 1999 trucks in the investigation issued 5/02/05. i agree this is a safety issue and believe gm needs to recall the vehicles asap. in the recall please include the chevrolet c/k 1500 pick-up trucks.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
10/30/200548948103/03/1999
 The antilock brake system has failed on my 1999 chevrolet with less than 49000 miles. the vehicle id is 2gcek19t1x1186889 i bought this vehicle new and have never abused it. berglund chevrolet in roanoke estimated the cost of fixing this at $1000 dollars. how long would this fix last? how safe is a vehicle that will not go 50000 miles without a major component on the brakes failing???i searched the internet and found a forum with several complaints on this problem. *nm
01/08/200448000105/10/2000
 Failure of abs system on 1999 chevoret c1500 pickups. i have heard from many mechanics that the 1999-2003 kelsey hayes (tm) abs module is failing in a considerable amount of vehicles. mine has failed and the abs system no longer works. gm has not recognized this a major defect and does not warrant any repair. *nm
08/29/200552904101/29/2000
 When applying brakes, abs seems to be malfunctioning. *nm
02/21/2004
 In 1999, i purchased 2 1999 chevrolet pickups as graduation gifts for my son and daughter. recently, my daughter visited and i used her truck to run an errand. seeing the brake indicator light on, i was concerned. she said some 2 years ago, after turning off the ignition, a loud hum continued. eventually, someone pulled the fuse to the anti-lock brakes to stop the hum. she said the dealer told her it was a common defect in that model and either spend $1,000 for a new module or leave the fuse out with no anti-lock brakes. she felt she needed the $1,000 more than anti-lock brakes. then, i contacted my son an found he had the same defect occur on his truck and had spent over $800 for the repair.
01/05/2003480001
 The abs pump on my '99 k1500 chevy truck has gone bad. the pump stays on at all times, unless you pull out the fuse for the pump. by disconnecting the fuse, the abs brakes are disabled for the truck. the replacement for this part is around $1000. this appears to be a fairly common problem on this model truck. note that the dealer recommended fix, short of replacing the unit, is pulling out the fuse. *jb
03/18/200386700210/11/2001
 The abs control module(pump) began to malfunction on my 1999 chevrolet k1500 z71 which caused it to continually run without shutting off. upon inspection i found that the pump had already been replaced once by the previous owner who purchased the truck new. i then began research on the part and found numerous other people who have experienced the same problem with their trucks and had to pay for repairs in excess of $750.00. i also discovered that gm changed the design of the control module due to an extremely high failure rate, however, they leave it up the consumer to purchase the updated part once the original stops working. *jb
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
08/16/19994000103/07/1998
 Truck will not stop. *tr
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM - DRUM
01/01/19991
 Rear brakes lock up when brakes applied lightly. dealer replaced rear drums. brakes still lock up. *ak the rear brakes lock up during rain or when the ground is wet. *yh