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2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, most often about the brakes (50% of complaints, typically around 69,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Silverado 3500 model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
Brakes
36 complaints · 50%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, power assist, disc.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH attempting to engage the brakes, there was an abnormal noise coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the ABS failed and no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
The ABS sensor caused the left front brake to chatter when almost to a stop. On wet pavement the wheel would slide. I took my truck to my dealer for repair. They said that rust was forming between the casting and the sensor and lifting the sensor up. They have seen this several times. They took the sensor out and…
Engine
24 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that his vehicle would not start intermittently. Within the last two years, the vehicle was towed to the dealer three times and driven to the dealer an additional three times for the same failure. The dealer notified him the first time the failure…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost all power. At times it would restart immediately and sometimes it would not restart at all. The contact called the dealer who stated that there were no recalls and to contact NHTSA. The contact called the manufacturer…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, storage.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving 30 MPH, the contact noticed that the oil pressure began dropping and the service engine light illuminated. He stated that diesel fuel was entering into the crankcase. He took the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealer regarding a recall notice he received in 2004…
My truck has excessive undercarriage rust, to the point of reduced material thickness on the frame and all frame mounted components. Have experience one fuel line failure and fear additional failures of fuel and brake lines. Also all suspension mounting points have large metal flakes coming off.
Suspension
4 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: front.
Consumer complained about an engine problem. It did not maintain the throttle. Engine went into neutral without a cause. Also, a suspension problem due to bolts place din upside down position which might cause vehicle to flip. Also, wires and plastic bolts melted.
My truck has excessive undercarriage rust, to the point of reduced material thickness on the frame and all frame mounted components. Have experience one fuel line failure and fear additional failures of fuel and brake lines. Also all suspension mounting points have large metal flakes coming off.
Electrical
4 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: ignition.
While driving, approximately 70 MPH, the truck shuts down completely. No power brakes no power steering, no power anything. After 5 to 10 seconds truck starts back up on its own, sometimes. Very dangerous when hauling a heavy load. This happened more than once, was intermittent and varied in frequency. I changed crank…
Vehicle is stalling and not starting and brakes have to be replaced more often than any normal vehicle/truck/van. This occurrence has been happening for the last 2 years. Took the vehicle to many mechanics and even the dealer. All types of things have been replaced (fuel pump, starter, tune-up, spark plugs, brakes…
Steering
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: column locking, hydraulic power assist, linkages.
I have a 2001 Chevrolet c3500 pickup, I am a trailer puller for fema while working in ca, and driving down a steep mountain side when I applied my brakes, my power steering went out also my power brakes became real hard . Later I called my dealership talked with a technician, I was informed that they were having…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving 65 MPH the contact lost control of the steering , but was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to, and currently remained at a local repair shop. The main bolt holding the steering assembly was sheared and diagnosed as the cause of failure. The…
Lights
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: back up lights, hazard flashing warning lights.
The dimmer switch for interior lighting is prone to failure. When it fails, all dash and gauge cluster illumination will cease to function, causing dangerous driving conditions after dark. The driver will not be able to see any gauges or climate control features, which may cause a crash.
Visibility and wipers
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, windshield.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls
Lights: interior lighting
Risk: These conditions could result in reduced braking capability, which could lead to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will change the location of a wire connection in the underhood bussed electrical center. Owner notification began july 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain pickup trucks equipped with 6.6l diesel engines fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." these vehicles have a brake system warning light in the instrument cluster that may not illuminate when the brake fluid is low. In addition, when the brake fluid is low, the vehicle may not meet the partial system requirements of fmvss no. 105.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Crank position sensor failure - stall
Summary
In a letter dated november 7, 2007, general motors (gm) reported to the office of defects investigation (odi) that it will conduct a safety recall (07v-521) to replace the crank position sensor (ckp) in approximately 12,000 model year (my) 2001 chevrolet silverado and gmc sierra vehicles equipped with 8.1 liter engines manufactured on or before november 15, 2000.according to gm, the ckp can fail intermittently or permanently.a permanent ckp failure would result in an engine stall without restart.an intermittent ckp failure could cause the service engine soon light to illuminate, the vehicle to run rough or the engine to stall but allows restart.as a remedy, an improved ckp will be installed
Hydraulic pump failres
Summary
Gm is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between may 1999 and october 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early october 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes. Gm made additional changes in november 1999, february 2000, may 2001, and february 2004.odi will continue to monitor this problem and will take further action, if warranted, in the future.for further technical details see the attached engineering analysis report.
Hydraulic pump shaft failures
Summary
The preliminary evaulation is being upgraded.during the ea odi will limitits investigation to only those vehicles equipped with a hydro-boost system, which provides power assist to the braking and steering sytems.vaccuum brake booster vehicles are excluded.odi hasexpanded the scope of the ea to include model years2003 and 2004, asduring the pe, odi learned that the hydroboast pumps were modified in febraury 2004.therefore,odi has expanded the scope to include the additional model years.odi's is concerned because thisisa sudden failure that affects two critical systems of the vehicle, brakes and steering, at the same time.the ability of the operator to handle the dual failures is a concern. F
Questions about the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (36 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles); engine (24 complaints, typically around 64,500 miles); fuel system (7 complaints, typically around 96,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 26, 2001 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Silverado 3500 model year since 2000, with 72 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.