2001 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 72 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 42 | 58.3% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 13.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Service Brakes: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Electrical System: 3; Suspension: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2001: 3; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 6; 2007: 7; 2008: 5; 2009: 5; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10029843 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE SYSTEM WAS SO EXCESSIVELY RUSTED AND CORRODED THAT THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE HAD TRIPLED. THE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS BUT REINSTALLED SAME BRAKE PADS. THERE EXISTS ONLY 2.5 INCHES OF SURFACE ON THE ROTORS LEFT FOR PADS TO HIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,096 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053002 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
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 PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING PUMPS, I REMOVED MINE, FOUND HALF BROKEN, AFTER REPLACING POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING AND BRAKES RETURNED TO NORMAL. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162960 · 2006-07-20 (July 20, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CPS NEEDED REPLACING.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,707 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211335 · 2007-12-10 (December 10, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET C3500HD. WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS ALSO A LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER TWO MINUTES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 210,848.
Owner-reported narrative. 210,848 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175888 · 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)
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 SENSOR AND PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED. GM DEALERSHIPS WHERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251240 · 2008-12-09 (December 9, 2008)
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, BRAKE DISC, ROTORS, ETC...) AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND IT SEEMS THAT ENOUGH GAS IS NOT GETTING TO THE ENGINE AND IT SEEMS THAT BRAKES WEAR QUITE TOO OFTEN. I KNOW THIS MAY COST THE COMPANY ALOT TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277993 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)
2001 CHEVY SILVERADO DIESEL - DOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY - MOTOR STARTING SKIPPING AND THEN HAD A LOSS OF POWER. DIESEL FUEL CAN BE SMELLED. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND CHECKED THE TRUCK. DIESEL FUEL WAS FOUND BLOWN ALL OVER THE UNDERCARRIAGE INCLUDING THE EXHAUST. I WAS WORRIED THAT THE TRUCK WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A CHEVY DEALER TO GET CHECKED OUT AND FOUND OUT IT WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY INJECTORS THAT CHEVY IS AWARE OF BUT IF THE TRUCK IS OVER 7 YEARS OLD AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE "DEFECTIVE INJECTOR WARRANTY". I DON'T UND…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244005 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE, THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE DID NOT HAVE ANY OIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT A WASHER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE OIL PUMP IN THE TRANSFER CASE TO LOOSEN AND PUNCTURE A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE COMPONENT. AS A RESULT, THE OIL DRAINED OUT. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A SMALL HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSFER CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759657 · 2002-03-22 (March 22, 2002)
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SURGED WHILE EASING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS BEING BUMPED FROM BEHIND ON OCCASION. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT CONSISTENT, BUT I HAVE NOTED ON THE DEISELPAGE.COM THAT OTHERS ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008417 · 2002-04-23 (April 23, 2002)
INTERMITTENTLY BRAKES WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT HAS BEEN TO DEALER 7 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT PROBLEM SEEMS TO RESURFACE. *AK CONSUMER STATES 4 WAY EMERGENCY FLASHERS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK MUST FIDDLE WITH SWITCH OR TURN SIGNAL TO OPERATE, BATTERY WILL NOT SHOW GREEN EYE, WATER IS LEAKING LEFT SIDE TOP AND RIGHT SIDE OF DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD, AND FRONT END AND STEERING SHIMMY AT 30-40 MPH. *YD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008417 at NHTSA ↗