FaultScore

2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 headlight problems

12 of the 627 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are about the lighting — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,900 miles.

F

12

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Exterior Lighting 8 66.7%
Headlights 2 16.7%
Switch 2 16.7%

Lights across every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year

2001 12 5.8%
2004 12 5.8%
2005 10 4.8%
2007 25 12.0%
2009 10 4.8%
2014 40 19.2%
2015 28 13.5%
2016 16 7.7%
2017 16 7.7%
2019 16 7.7%
2020 11 5.3%
2023 12 5.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 230,000 miles Moselle, MS Crash 1 injured

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER 2 YEARS. ONE OF THE FIRST CONCERN WAS MY HEADLIGHT DAYTIME BULBS MELTED TO THE HARNESS AND THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MELTED THRU THE NUMBER SO I STARTED CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT. BUT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INDECENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY WHEEL BEARING HUB GAVE OUT N THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO SUPPORT THE TIRE ONTO THE TRUCK SO MY FRONT DRIVER TIRE WENT FLYING OFF N MY TRUCK COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP INTO THE GROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY SELF, MY FINDER, THE WHEEL SENSOR, N THE DRIVER DOOR. AFTER GETTING ALL THAT FIXED I'M AFRAID OF THE OTHER HUBS GIVING OUT. ALSO WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AIR IN THE PEDAL N THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BC THE SENSOR GOT DAMAGED OR IF THE ABS BOX IS DAMAGE FROM CORROSION AND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER SEEM TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE REPLACED MANY OF PARTS ON THIS TRUCK N WHEN I DO IT SEEMS LIKE ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

NHTSA complaint #11235344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chambersburg, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

EVAPORATED SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10915372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Boynton Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I BOUGHT THIS SILVERADO NOV. 2000, WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I HAD REPLACED MY LEFT FRONT DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT. TO DATE I HAVE REPLACE THIS SAME LEFT FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT NO LESS THAN 9 TIMES. MY WIFE HAS A SUBURBAN AND IT IS A 2009 AND WE HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT APPROX. 4 TIMES. YOU CAN NOT DRIVE DOWN A ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND LOOK AT AN ONCOMING CHEVY TRUCK/SUV WITHOUT SEEING A DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT OUT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NOTICE OR RECALL OF ANY TYPE. CHEVY IS GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10557918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winnetka, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

IF DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE FOR SAFETY WHY IS IT THAT 2009 (NEW BODY STYLE) THRU APPROX,2004 THE RIGHT FRONT BULB BURNS OUT SO OFTEN.(THE LEFT ONE HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED) S/N.THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF TV AND NEWSPAPER ADDS ABOUT PRODUCTS LIKE HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KITS.DEALERS HAVE SALES ON GETTING YOUR HEADLIGHTS BRITE AGAIN (FOR SAFETY REASONS) ISNT THIS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AND WHY IS IT HAPPENING NOW.IF IT IS CHEAP PLASTIC THEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AT FAULT FOR CUTTING CORNERS

NHTSA complaint #10409570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80 miles Vallejo, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WIRES THAT ARE IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HOOK UP TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BREAK DO TO USE OF THE TILT-STEERING. THEY CAN BREAK AND SHORT OUT CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION OR NOT WORK AT ALL. OR TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY LIKE IN MY CASE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS ONE NIGHT AROUND 10.00 PM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY LIGHTS QUIT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10334605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Weedsport, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK BEFORE DAYLIGHT, THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. I WOULD THEN ADJUST THE TILT STEERING AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE TILT A LITTLE MORE THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON AND I WOULD DRIVE AWAY. UNTIL ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THERE OWN. ALSO THE WIPERS WOULD FLINCH WHEN I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10245763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles ST. Paul, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

THE STALK FOR THE COMBINATION TURN SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPER, CRUISE CONTROL, BROKE RESULTED IN UNRELIABLE OPERATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND UNRELIABLE TURN SINGAL OPERATION. IN THE CASE OF THE 2001 SILVERADO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED WHEN THE TURN SIGNALWAS SELECTED. SINCE THIS SAME CONTROL WAS USED FOR SEVERAL CRITICAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS, AND CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION, I EXPECT CERTAIN FAILURE MODES COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL SILVERADO AND OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME COMBINATION CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10187969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,800 miles Stevens Point, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

ON A RECENT VACATION TO CANADA, MY TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING ON MY 2001 SILVERADO. I CHECKED THE FUSE AND THE TURN SIGNAL RELAY AND BOTH WERE GOOD. I NARROWED THIS DOWN TO A BAD TURN SIGNAL MULTI-SWITCH. I ALSO HAD A SWITCH GO OUT ON MY 2002 SUBURBAN. AFTER TALKING TO A DEALER, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON OTHER SILVERADO WITH THE SAME SWITCH. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS COSTING MY A LOT OF MONEY AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS ON THE WAY HOME BECAUSE I COULD NOT SIGNAL.

NHTSA complaint #10160205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conroe, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FOR 15 FAILURES AND OR PROBLEMS WITH GM 2001 CHEVY TRUCK. *BF THE STEERING ROD ASSEMBLY WOULD POP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, THE SHIFTER BOOT RIPPED IMMEDIATELY, THE TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE AND BENT THE TAILGATE, THE PCV VALVE WAS USING 4 QUARTS OF OIL AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THE BATTERY EXPLODED AT 40K MILES, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ON THE INSIDE HAD WORN DOWN THE METAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE STEREO BURNED OUT, THE LIGHTS HAD BURNED OUT, THE VALVE COVER WERE LEAKING OIL BEFORE 100K MILES, THE FUR WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH HAD BROKEN AT 50K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT AT 1K MILES AND THE DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PRE-IGNITION KNOCK AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROLS RIPPED AT 60K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETE GONE OUT AT 118K MILES AND THE SEAT BELTS LATCH SYSTEM HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10109401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Fairdale, WV 1 injured

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

PARKING BRAKE, DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, O2 SENSOR, UEL GAUGE .

NHTSA complaint #10093032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Blythewood, SC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PARKING BRAKE HASN'T WORKED SINCE AROUND 20000 MILES, BRAKE WILL DEPRESS, BUT WON'T KEEP TRUCK FROM ROLLING. LOUD PISTON SLAP, KNOCKING FROM ENGINE MOSTLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, GOES AWAY AFTER WARMED UP. THIS IS A Z71 AND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUTTONS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO PUT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. POWER MIRRORS DON'T WORK A LOT OF THE TIME. AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS STAY BURNED OUT MOST OF THE TIME. TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW BUT THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME. A LOT OF OTHER TRUCKS OF THIS SAME MODEL HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. GM SHOULD ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE THEM RIGHT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10072959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brashear, MS Crash

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8016860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

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