2001 Chevrolet Silverado Complaint Log

PARKING BRAKE FAILURES

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TWO MORE FRONT SPEED SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER REPORTING THIS ISSUE TO HOT LINE BACK IN FEBRUARY, 2004 ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE, TREAD LOST ON LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES, HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *BF DAMAGE WAS CAUSED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, YOU HAVE TO TAP ON IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE. THEN IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL, THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD REAL FAST.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH STEELTEX RADIAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 2001 SILVERADO TRUCK. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING AND FISH TAILING DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY FOUND EVIDENCE OF DEFORMATION AND RIM FLANGE GROOVING, THEY ALSO STATED THE TIRE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WHILE BEING IN AN OVER-DEFLATED STATE.*JB

NO CRASH. LOW COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDED COOLANT A COUPLE OF TIME AND LIGHT WOULD REAPPEAR AFTER A WEEK OR SO OF DRIVING. DEALER EXAMINED TRUCK AND FOUND HEAD GASKETS LEAKING FROM LOOSE HEAD BOLTS AND APPARENTLY FACTORY DEFECT. COST OF $1100 TO REPAIR. MILEAGE AT 65,000. FIRST REPAIR.*AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED THE 30,000 MILE MARK VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SOFT SPONGY FEEL ON THE ABS BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WAS NORMAL. CONSUMER DISAGREED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. GETTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP WAS DIFFICULT. *AK THE BRAKING WAS ESPECIALLY POOR WHEN CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD IN THE TRUCK. THE DEALER CHECKED THE BRAKES AND INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *NM

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ROTORS RUSTED AND THE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER MAD COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST SERVICING SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUSTING AND PITTING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *SC

WELD ON FACTORY RIM BROKE LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK.*AK

GAS GAUGE HAS STARTED TO ACT UP - BOUNCES AROUND, DUMPS DOWN TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL SENSOR LIGHT IN DASH COMES ON EVEN THOUGH TANK MAY BE FULL. BEGAN DOING THIS AFTER 60,000 MILES. DID HAVE IT DO THIS ONCE BEFORE BUT DID NOT REPEAT UNTIL RECENTLY SO I NEVER HAD IT CHECKED OUT. I HAVE BEEN TO MY MECHANIC (WHO'S GMC TRUCK IS ALSO DOING THE SAME THING) AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER TELLS ME $600.00 TO REPAIR BUT I FEEL THIS MAY BE A RECALL ISSUE AFTER GETTING ON LINE AND READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER 1999 - 2001 SILVERADO OWNERS. I ALSO HAVE (2) CHEVY VANS THAT ARE COMPANY VEHICLES WHERE I WORK THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM - (1) BEGAN AT 60,000 ALSO.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS TOWING A TRAILERTHE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREADS SEPARATED FROM THE TRAILER. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND COLLIDED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. VEHICLE AND TRAILER WERE TOTALED. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE SLID BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE A LOUD TAPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. WHEN DRIVING THE NOISE GOT LOUDER WHILE ACCELERATING . CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

STARTED COLD VEHICLE. BACKING OUT OF GARAGE I HAD NO POWER BRAKES NOR POWER STEERING. REMOVED POWER-STEERING PUMP RESIVOIR CAP AND AIR AND FLUID BELCHED OUT. AFTER THAT IT PERFORMED NORMALLY.*AK

DT: CONTACT HAS NO BRAKES BETWEEN 0-10 MPH. BRAKES DO WORK AT OTHER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WA SEEN BY A LOCAL DEALER WHO WANTED TO CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. THE CALLER SAW A RECALL FOR CANADIAN VEHICLES IN REGARD TO WHAT MAY BE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT ALTHOUGH THERE WERE THREE NEAR MISSES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS A YEAR AGO.*AK *SB

THE FUEL GAUGE IN MY 2001 CHEVY PICKUP DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. I CAN FILL IT UP COMPLETELY WITH GAS AND MY GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY. SO I NEVER KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE ANY GAS! THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE ON A LATE MODEL TRUCK!. *JB

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO 4.8L PICKUP, PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2001. FOR THE PAST YEAR, WHENEVER I FILL THE FUEL TANK THE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY GOES TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON. THE ONLY WAY TO ACCURATELY KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE TANK IS TO RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER AT EACH FILL UP. THIS APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON CHEVY PICKUPS AS I'VE TALKED TO NUMEROUS CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS OCCURS ON SEVERAL DIUFFERENT MODEL YEAR TRUCKS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHEVY SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, WHO SUGGEST OWNERS LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM UNTIL YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, BECAUSE THE SENDING UNIT IS INSIDE THE GAS TANK ALONG WITH THE PUMP. THIS REPAIR IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE IT INVOLVES EITHER DROPPING THE GAS TANK OR REMOVING THE BED TO GET TO THE AFFECTED PARTS. I BELIEVE THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD ORDER A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS. A NON FUNCTIONING GAS GAUGE IS AN ANNOYANCE AT THE LEAST, AND DANGEROUS AT THE WORST IF DRIVERS WERE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL ON A CROWDED STREET OR HIGHWAY, OR BE STRANDED WITHOUT FUEL IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME INDICATES GM IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE OWNERS' REPAIRS. THANK YOU.

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

SEVERE BRAKE ROTOR RUST, ROTORS REPAIRED ONCE, LESS THEN THREE WEEKS SEVERE RUST RETURNED. VERY POOR BREAKING PERFORMANCE UNDER LOAD. TOOK BACK TO DEALER SECOND TIME THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR. REPAIR ORDER SHOWS NORMAL CONDITION. TRUCK ONLY HAD 16000 MILES NOW WITH 26000 MILES STILL VERY POOR BRAKING. *JB

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ABS SYSTEM.*MR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE BAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE T STOP. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *NM

EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, VEHICLE GEAR IN PARK, VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN HILL. * BF COUNCIL FOR CONSUMER STATED THAT INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILED BRAKE. CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE LEAVING TWO MINOR CHILDREN INSIDE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING AND ATTEMPTED TO CATCH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER HER BODY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAIN SEVERE BODILY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE CAUSING INJURIES AND DAMAGES. *TC

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER LOST SLIGHT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL AND RAN OVER THE DRIVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED COMPLETELY , EMERGENCY BRAKE RUSTED COMPLETELY , MASSIVE RUST UNDER TRUCK , BRAKE CALIPERS RUSTED , POWER STEERING WENT OUT ,A.C. FAN WENT OUT, SHORT IN WIRING IN DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS, THIS A 2001, 56,000, MILES, LOW MILEAGE TRUCK TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, I LOOKED IT UP, THERE IS RUSTING AND TOTAL CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS IN MANY DIFFERENT STATES, OVER ALONG PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN WHEN THE ROTORS ARE REPLACED THEY ARE RUSTING COMPLETELY AGAIN. CHEVY IS SELLING AN EXPENSIVE TRUCK, AND THEN PROFITING AGAIN ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, AND MAKING A PREMIUM PROFIT ON THAT TOO.! THEY ARE NOT BOTHERING TO FIX A DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE CHEVY SILVERADO, MY FIRST AND LAST CHEVY. *NM

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THEIR EMERGENCY BRAKE HAVE FAILED THE TEST. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *LA

2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS. *MR THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY K-S FUEL INJECTION AS BEING THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE LIGHTS AND LOW POWER, THE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN WHICH THE REAR HOUSING WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING OIL, THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE DRIVESHAFTS WERE REMOVED, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS NOISY AND WAS REPLACED, THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS BAD, AND A FAULTY "NSDU" SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *SC

FUEL GAUGE MOVES FROM EMPTY TO FULL AND BACK AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, AND AT TIMES FAILS TO WORK AT ALL. AFTER TAKING IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO SAVE MY MONEY THAT IT WOULD ONLY GO OUT AGIN, THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL THAT GM HAS JUST IGNORDED. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN WITH OTHER CHEVY OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

PURCHASE NEW IN 2001, AROUND 35,000 MILES THE FUEL LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR NO REASON, EVEN WHEN TANK WAS FULL. WHILE DRIVING THE SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD SHOW LOW FUEL AND THE FUEL GAGE WOULD SHOW EMPTY. TOOK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC STUDENT AT SCHOOL THAT THE SENDING UNIT AND WIRING WAS BAD. I RECEIVED A GM NOTICE ABOUT THE FIX BUT DEALER SAID THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM I HAVE 72,000 MILES ON TRUCK AND IT STILLS JUMPS TO EMPTY FOR NO REASON.

FRONT WHEEL SPINDLES AND HUB RUST CAUSING ACTIVATION OF ABS SYSTEM WHEN IT SHOULD NOT ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS STOP AND GO DRIVING OR SLOW BRAKING IN PARKING LOTS. THIS ACTIVATION OF THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSES INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND UNEXPECTED LACK OF BRAKING CONTROL. GM DEALERS IN 12701 AREA ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE ABS BRAKES SENSORS FAILED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO REAREND A VEHICLE. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO GM DEALERS ON CLEANING OR REPLACING THE SENSORS. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES AND THE DEALER WANTS $140 TO REPAIR WHAT I THINK IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN OR LOCATION OF THE SENSOR.*AK

2001 K3500 W/ 8100 V8. VEHICLE USES 3 TO 4 QUARTS OF OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (EVERY 3,000 ML.). I'M NOT GETTING MUCH ACTION FROM THE DEALER & MY WARENTY IS ALMOST OUT!!*AK

THE CONSUMER INDICSATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING ON THE INSIDE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY DIDNT STO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PAST 16,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED, THE WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. EVER SINCE THAT TIME, THE ABS HAS CONTINUED TO ENGAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2004. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY DURING THE RECALL REPAIR FOR THE ABS TO FAIL AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ABS FRONT SPEED SENSORS, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT NEEDED TOB E REPLACED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED LATER AND THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED, HOWEVER IN JULY 2008, THE ABS BEGAN TO ENGAGE AGAIN AT LOW SPEEDS. AGAIN, THE RIGHT FRONT SPEEDSENSOR WAS BAD. UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

A COMPLAINT ODI#10000512 ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON A 2001 SILVERADO. HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME BUT I LIVE IN TEXAS, THERE WAS NO SNOW, AND I WAS JUST TURNING THEM ON TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD, YET THE RIGHT WIPER FAILED

REPLACED BOTH WHEEL HUBS ON FRONT OF 2001 SILVERADO 2500 HD (AT 39000 MILES) DUE TO ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I SPENT 900.00 ON THIS REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS GOING ON VACATION AND PULLING A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER. THE REPAIR TECH SAID THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM...I NOW WONDER

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED RIGHT AWAY. ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE ROTORS WERE MADE CHEAP. *SC

GAS PEDAL DOES NOT MOVE AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE TO PEDAL. WHEN PEDAL MOVES IT CAUSES A SURGE OF VEHICLE. *AK

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IN MY 2001 SILVERADO IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE 2004. ABOUT THE TIME I NOTICED IT WAS STUCK, I HAD HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS WITH CHEVROLET'S. *JB

WHEN GOING TO STOP AT ANY TIME, THE ABS BRAKES WILL KICK ON AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO CRASH. IF I DO NOT HURRY UP AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES, I WOULD NOT STOP AT ALL AND I WOULD REAR END THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS, I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD THAT RIDES WITH ME IN THE TRUCK AND I HOPE NOTHING HAPPENS TO HER OR I WILL SLAP A LAWSUIT ON CHEVROLET.*MR

WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT 10 MPH CONSUMER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

GAS GAUGE HAS STARTED TO ACT UP - BOUNCES AROUND, DUMPS DOWN TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL SENSOR LIGHT IN DASH COMES ON EVEN THOUGH TANK MAY BE FULL. BEGAN DOING THIS AFTER 60,000 MILES. DID HAVE IT DO THIS ONCE BEFORE BUT DID NOT REPEAT UNTIL RECENTLY SO I NEVER HAD IT CHECKED OUT. I HAVE BEEN TO MY MECHANIC (WHO'S GMC TRUCK IS ALSO DOING THE SAME THING) AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

HUSBAND NOTICED THAT 2001 CHEVY SILVERADO EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/75R16 TIRES WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT...UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT SIDE FRONT TIRE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT TIRE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES. ALTHOUGH TIRE IS DEFECTIVE THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH MY PARTICULAR TIRE SINCE IT WAS NOT ON A FORD VEHICLE AND NOT PART OF THE TIRE RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK. TIRE THAT IS FALLING APART WAS REPLACED WITH A FULL SIZED SPARE TIRE UNTIL NEW TIRES CAN BE PURCHASED.*AK

DT: ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. AT SPEEDS OF 10-15 MPH. PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED, AND SERVICE RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE BOTH CABLES OF THE TAILGATE BROKE AT THE SAME TIME. CONSUMER FELL OFF AND BROKE HIS ANKLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *NM

FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S,SIZE LT245/75R16, DOT VN11B103600. A BUBBLE DEVELOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRES, CAUSING SHIMMYING AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH. *AK FIRESTONE SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. *SC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT END WAS CAUSING THE STEERING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CHEVROLET 2500 HD CREW CAB 4X4 SOUTH ON US 59 IN HOUSTON TEXAS THE TREAD FULLY SEPARATED OFF THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T 245/75R16, LOAD RANGE E, DOT NO.VN11BAC5300 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 ON APRIL 21, 2004. JUST PRIOR TO SEPARATION, TRUCK STARTED VIBRATING (SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH). THE VIBRATION THEN BECAME VIOLENT FOLLOWED BY LOUD NOISES. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED LARGE CHUNKS OF RUBBER FLYING ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY, FOLLOWED BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE ENTIRE TREAD. THE ENTIRE EVENT ONLY LASTED SECONDS. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FINDING THE TIRE STILL FULLY INFLATED, BUT MISSING THE ENTIRE TREAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT DAMAGE HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $4018.38. I HAVE ROTATED MY TIRES ON REGULAR BASIS AND MAINTAINED CHEVROLETS RECOMMENDED PRESSURES. I CAN PROVE THE TIRE THAT LOST IT'S TREAD HAD BEEN AT 80 PSI FROM DECEMBER 2003 TO DAYS PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION. I FILED A CLAIM WITH BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC AND PAID TO SHIP THE TIRE TO THEM. THEIR RESPONSE DATED 5/5/2004, CLAIM REF. NO. [XXX] WAS "WE HAVE CAREFULLY INSPECTED YOUR TIRE. WE DID OBSERVE SIGNS THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WHILE BEING IN AN OVER-DEFLECTED STATE CAUSING THE DETACHMENT YOU EXPERIENCED... WE MUST RESPECTFULLY DENY YOUR REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION." MY TIRES HAVE BEEN AT CHEVROLET RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW. I HAVE ALSO NEVER EXCEEDED THE GVWR, GAWR FRT OR GAWR RR LOAD RATINGS. WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET IS THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT VS. FILING WITH MY INSURANCE BECAUSE FIRESTONE HAS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I HOPE THIS AGENCY CAN HELP PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM FUTURE INJURIES AND DRIVING UP OUR INSURANCE COSTS. IF ALLOWED, POST MY EMAIL AS [XXX] - I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THRU THIS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE REAR DRIVERSIDE SEAT BELT IN MY 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WILL NOT RELEASE TO LET ME USE IT.I FIRST NOTICED IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO AFTER I HEARD ABOUT A GM SEATBELT RECALL. WITH IT NOT WORKING, I AM UNABLE TO PUT BOTH CARSEATS IN THE BACK.

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES FAILED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SPEED CONTROL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HE REPLACED IT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS DUE TO RUST, THE PADS, BRAKE BLEEDER SCREWS DUE TO RUST, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *NM

OUR 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD TRUCK, WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, WAS PRESENTED TO FIRESTONE ON SATURDAY APRIL 10, 2004 AT 10AM TO SHOW THEM EXCESSIVE CRACKS SURROUNDING SIDEWALLS CONSISTENTLY ON ALL FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES. THEY GAVE US A REPORT OF THE TREAD WEAR ON THE BOTTOMS WHICH WAS NOT THE CONCERN WE HAD AND OFFERED US A PRO-RATED RATE OF 45% OFF OF THE MANUFACTURES SUGGESTED RETAIL WHICH WOULD COME TO $489 WITH COSTS. WE EXPLAINED THAT THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTING AND DAVE, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE GREENSBURG, PA FIRESTONE TIRE & SERVICE CENTER EXPLAINED THAT CLIFF FROM FIRESTONE'S ENGINEERING DEPT, THE REGIONAL MANAGER HAD TOLD HIM THAT THERE ARE THREE STAGES OF DRY ROT AND IF THE TIRES WERE DRY ROT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO FIT A PENNY INTO THE CRACKS. THIS IS WHERE WE LEFT OFF AS OF TODAY AND WILL BE COMMUNICATING FURTHER WITH THEM.