2000 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems

SEAT BELTS

The contact owns a 1999 N/A Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that there was an open recall associated with the VIN. The contact was provided the information for NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V122000 (SEAT BELTS). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who refused to complete the recall repairs. The contact was informed that the part for the recall repair was no longer being manufactured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part was no longer manufactured. No additional assistance was provided; however, the contact was informed that the recall would remain open. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11724148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE SPARE TIRE THAT IS STORED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE APPARENTLY BROKE FREE AND FELL TO THE STREET. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE METAL CABLE, USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A WINCH TO SECURE THE FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE, FAILED DUE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE CORROSION. SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO SECURE THE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, IT SIMPLY FELL OFF. I REALIZED IT HAD FALLEN OFF ONLY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN BACKING UP SLOWLY AND BOTH HEARD IT FALL, AND BACKED INTO THE TIRE ON THE STREET. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, THIS TIRE (WEIGHING APPROX. 40 LBS.), MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF WITHOUT ME EVEN KNOWING, AND CAREENED IN ANY DIRECTION POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH AND INJURING SOMEBODY. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, THERE IS NO SECONDARY SAFETY FEATURE THAT CHEVY HAS PROVIDED TO SECURE THIS SPARE TIRE IN CASE THIS CABLE BREAKS. AS STATED EARLIER, THE CORROSION UNDERNEATH THIS VEHICLE IS INCREDIBLE, AND THIS THIN METAL CABLE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO STORE THIS HEAVY TIRE. NOT ONLY DID THE CABLE CORRODE, BY THE RIM ON THE SPARE TIRE IS DESTROYED, AS IS THE PLATE UTILIZED TO HOLD THE RIM IN PLACE WITH THE CABLE. I REALIZE MY VEHICLE IS HIGH IN MILEAGE, HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED DUE TO THE NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLE STILL ON THE ROAD. I'M SURE THIS DOES NOT ONLY AFFECT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND YEAR CHEVY HAS PRODUCED.

NHTSA complaint #11043299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINES RUSTED THRU. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL 80S 90S AND 2000 2001. 2002 CHEVYS WITH RUSTED BRAKE LINES WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #11024916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 YEARS. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2005, BUT I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN 2011. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE IT'S NOT A OPEN RECALL ANY LONGER.

NHTSA complaint #11022981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

WAS DRIVING AROUND 45MH AND WAS COMING TO STOP SIGN BUT WHEN I WENT TO USE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I KEPT PUMPING WHICH SEEMED TO HELP JUST ENOUGH TO TURN INTO THE DRIVE WAY OF A MALL THAT HAPPENED TO BE CLOSED. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT OR I WOULD HAVE SMASHED INTO SOMEONE. SHOP SAID MAIN BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH, A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CHEVY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT. VERY SAD CHEVY........

NHTSA complaint #10907383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED AND THE WIRING WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10889184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

PASSENGER REAR BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WITH COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHILE REPAIRING THE REAR LINES DURING THE BLEEDING PROCESS. GM'S STATEMENT THAT THEIR VEHICLES STILL HAVE BRAKING TO 2 WHEELS DURING A LINE FAILURE IS INCORRECT. WHEN THE LINE RUPTURES THERE ARE NO BRAKES AT ALL. THANKFULLY THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON HIGHWAY THE DAY BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANY COLLISIONS .I'VE OWNED OVER A DOZEN CARS IN MY LIFE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON BRAKES LINES. IT'S UNFATHOMABLE THAT GM WOULD USE INFERIOR AND NON-CORROSION RESISTANT METAL IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SYSTEMS IN ANY CAR. THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS IF THERE HAVEN'T BEEN 100'S ALREADY.

NHTSA complaint #10886189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

RUSTED BRAKE LINES TO REAR DRIVER WHEEL LEAKS FLUID RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO STOP. COLLISION NEARLY OCCURRED AS RESULT OF LOSS OF BRAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10824746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SUBURBAN AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON SEPTEMBER 29,2015 WHEN I NEEDED TO BRAKE FOR TRAFFIC. THE BRAKE STARTED TO STOP BUT THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES AND HAD TO GO INTO THE DITCH IN ORDER TO PREVENT A SERIOUS COLLISION. THERE WAS A MAIN BRAKE LINE FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT THEY HAVE YET TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POOR DESIGN. THIS ISSUE IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR RUST FAILURE ON BRAKELINES ON THIS VEHICLE AND YET CHEVROLET HAS YET TO NOTIFY ANYONE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE ANYONE IS KILLED. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 18 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AT THE TIME. IF I HAD NOT ACTED QUICKLY, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING.

NHTSA complaint #10786196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

EMERGENCY BRAKE WENT OUT AROUND 30,000 EST FIRST TIME. I REPLACED THE SHOES NOT SURE WHAT YEAR/ BUT NOW THE LEFT SIDE NO SHOE LEFT. THE CLIPS DO NOT HOLD THE SHOES IN PLACE AND END UP WEARING OUT THE SHOE AND DISKHAT. NOTE: THIS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN. FOR YEARS I NEVER USED THE EBRAKE NOW I HAVE CONVERTED THE SUBURBAN OVER TO A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND NEED THE EBRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10781792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR...I PUMPED THEM AND WAS ABLE TO STOP TO AVOID COLLISION...I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND SAW BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE FUEL TANK...I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE....THE CHEAPEST ESTIMATE WAS 600.00 DOLLARS TO FIX...I WILL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MYSELF IF IT'S NOT TO DIFFICULT.

NHTSA complaint #10747165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

TOTAL BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE (INCLUDING EMERGENCY BRAKE) ON MY 2000 CHEVY SUBURBAN. THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING LOWER THAN USUAL WHEN PRESSING ON IT. I CHECKED THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NOTICE THAT IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY. I THEN ADDED FLUID TO THE FULL LINE ON RESERVOIR AND THAT SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NEXT MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 20 MPH. I PRESSED HARD ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON A LAST FAILED ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I SHIFTED TO LOWER GEARS, REVERSE, AND PARK WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AHEAD ON THE INTERSECTION OR TRAFFIC ON THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT APPROACHING AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE SUBURBAN SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN TO A SAFE SPEED WHERE I COULD TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY OFF THE BUSY ROAD. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST OVER 1000 TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10712738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS COMING UPON AN INTERSECTION WITH MY 2000 CHEVY SUBURBAN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE FEELING SPONGY TO ME. I DECIDED TO APPLY HARD PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SEE IF IT WOULD STOP IN A HURRY IF I NEEDED IT TO. AS I DID THIS, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THEN WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES! I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY PUMPING THEM BUT LUCKILY I WASN'T TRAVELING VERY FAST AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE SUBURBAN UNDER CONTROL. THANK GOD MY WIFE AND 4 YOUNG CHILDREN WEREN'T IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS AND NOTICED IN JULY OF 2014, THIS EXACT PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO GM AS A POTENTIAL RECALL BUT GM'S REPLY WAS THAT IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE! PLEASE ADVISE GM OF THIS IN THE HOPES OF SAVING FURTHER LIVES IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10660340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD. COASTING TO STOP AND PARKED. SAW COPIOUS AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER VEHICLE. WALKED TO NEARBY PLACE OF BUSINESS WHO HAD CONTAINER OF BRAKE FLUID. I EMPTIED CONTAINER IN RESERVOIR AND DROVE TO GARAGE WHERE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AGAIN. DIAGNOSIS WAS BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. VEHICLE WAS IN SE PA FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE AND IN ABOVE AVERAGE CONDITION. COST TO REPLACE LINES WAS $350.

NHTSA complaint #10658575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON OCTOBER 17, 2014, I WAS DRIVING MY SUBURBAN TO GET NEW TIRES INSTALLED AT MY LOCAL BIG O TIRES STORE. WHILE I DRIVING THERE THE BRAKES WERE FINE. ONCE I PULLED IN TO THE BAY OF THE STORE, UPON THE 2ND OR 3RD TIME I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES! LUCKILY THERE WAS LITTLE MOTION ON THE SUBURBAN, MOVING IT TO PARK STOPPED THE MOTION. NOT AT ANY TIME DID ANY ABS OR BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON THE DASH TO ALERT ME OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, NOR ANY INDICATIONS OF SPONGY BRAKES. JUST SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE MECHANICS AT BIG O TIRES ALERTED ME OF A LEAK COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE MIDDLE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE SUBURBAN FROM THE FRAME. THEY LIFTED UP THE SUBURBAN AND PROCEEDED TO INSPECT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WHERE RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT AND THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD BURST OR BROKEN, CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. I STARTED TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT BOTH GMC & NHTSA ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO DATE. IN FACT FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I CAN GATHER ONLINE IS THAT THE NHTSA HAS BEEN INUNDATED WITH COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM AND GMC REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME AT VERY LOW SPEED IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT. WHAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION? I CAN THINK OF A MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WHERE THIS COULD HAVE PLAYED OUT TO MUCH WORSE CIRCUMSTANCES. BRAKES ARE PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SAFETY MECHANISM ON ANY VEHICLE. HOW DARE GMC MAKE THE CLAIM THAT IS IT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE!

NHTSA complaint #10648593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS BACKING UP MY SUBURBAN TO ATTACH AND MOVE MY CAMPER. I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE, BRAKES WERE FINE AT THAT TIME. UPON THE 3RD OR 4TH TIME I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE BACKING UP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES. I WAS ON FAIRLY LEVEL GROUND, SO MOVING IT TO PARK STOPPED WHAT LITTLE MOTION I HAD. THERE WAS NEVER AN INDICATION OF SPONGY BRAKES. NEVER AN INDICATOR ON MY DASH OF A BRAKE ISSUE, I JUST IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL BRAKING FUNCTION. AT THIS TIME IT'S SUNDAY AND I'M WAITING ON MONDAY TO CONTACT A MECHANIC. I HAVE FLUID LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE SIDE FRAME MEMBER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, UNDER THE REAR DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I STILL DON'T HAVE AN INDICATION OF FAILURE ON MY DASH. I REALIZE CARS RUST, I LIVE IN MICHIGAN. BUT THE FAILURE IS WHAT DISTURBS ME. SUPPOSEDLY GM HAS A DUAL LINE SYSTEM, BUT I HAD NO OR VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER ON A 6000LB VEHICLE. HAD I BEEN IN MOTION OR EVEN TOWING MY CAMPER, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION STILL OPEN ON THESE VEHICLES. IT IS NOT TERRIBLY TIME SENSITIVE THAT THIS VEHICLE GET FIXED, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO INSPECT I'LL NEED CONTACT IMMEDIATELY. OTHERWISE I WILL GET IT TO A MECHANIC FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10627830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY. I APPLIED MY BRAKES QUICKLY TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST REACHED THE FLOOR BOARD. I COULD FEEL MY FOOT JUMPING ON THE PEDAL AS MY TRUCK WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP. A WEEK AFTER THE INCIDENT MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON AND THE DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND GM HAS MUCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW BUT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES BEFORE FAMILY'S LOOSE LOVED ONES. DO THE RIGHT THING GM ACKNOWLEDGE THESE NUMEROUS FAULTY BRAKE ISSUES AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX OUR VEHICLE INVESTMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10598549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LAMPS LIGHT AT RANDOM TIMES. THE FIRST REPAIR CENTER/DEALER TOLD ME THEY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND IT IS THE EBCM MODULES. THEY WERE PROBLEMS ON 1999-2001 MODELS OF PICK UP AND SUBURBANS. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO IGNORE THE LAMPS AS IT WOULD BE A HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT BUT THE ABS SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE. HE ALSO INSTRUCTED THAT GM KNOWS VERY WELL THE PROBLEM THEY HAD AND CORRECTED IT ON THE 2002 MODELS. THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY 2 ADDITIONAL DEALER SERVICE CENTERS. ALSO BY A TOP AUTO REPAIR SHOW ON THE RADIO. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON THE WEB YOU CAN SEE THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN FAILURE SINCE 2005.I ASKED EACH OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS WHY GM HASN'T RECALLED THEM AND THEIR ANSWER IS I DON'T KNOW OR THERE HAS TO BE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE BEFORE THEY WILL. ANOTHER WAS THE NHTSA HASN'T GOTTEN INVOLVED. A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE MEANS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WILL LOCK UP AND SKIDS/LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #10587600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

REAR BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. FOUND EXTREME RUST.

NHTSA complaint #10576390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING ON PAVED ROAD AND SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE TURN. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND COULD NOT STOP NORMALLY. BRAKING WAS VERY POOR. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT AND THIS WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE. CAUSE WAS DUE TO SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINE. I HAD 7 PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND I AM GRATEFUL WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.

NHTSA complaint #10574199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CHEVY WITH THE 4.8L OR 5.3L ENGINE, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF. CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK, AND SHORTENING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. EPA SHOULD BE INVOLVED, AS MOST OF THESE VEHICLES EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. IT IS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, $2500+.

NHTSA complaint #10564337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS TOWING THE CAMPER, OR BOAT !!!!! WHICH IS WHY I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE !!

NHTSA complaint #10561522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING HOME, AND THE BRAKES WERE VERY SPONGY, THEN THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO GO OUT ON ERRANDS AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, I HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER TILL I CAME TO A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10557211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10499784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.