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Chevrolet Silverado

Silverado • Brakes • Engine noise • Fire • Transmission • Misc. complaints --- News • Brake Problems Plague Silverado Owners • GM Buys Back Some Models With Noisy Engines

Dale of Walton KY (8/6/03):
While working in the back of my 2001 Chevrolet Silverado I stepped from the bed onto the tailgate. Both support straps on the tailgate broke and I fell onto the crank of my landscape trailer.

After first believing I broke my ribs, I found that I severely bruised my ribs and whatever other muscles are in the area. I have incurred doctor and hospital charges as well as 2 days off work for myself and one day for my wife. NHTSA has two other complaints of this type, one other person injured. I have not yet filed my claim with NHTSA. Vehicle to be repaired later this week, hopefully under warranty.

In March 2004, GM announced a recall of 4 million pickups to fix this problem.

Jack of Pagosa Springs CO (7/4/03):
I purchased a 2002 Chevrolet Silvarado HD2500 with an 8.1 L engine; it was purchased at Turner Chevrolet in Montrose, Colorado and was purchased new. The truck now has 12,000 miles on it and I am satisfied except for one MAJOR design or manufacturing defect: the truck burns a quart of oil every 800 miles or so. The dealer in Durango Colorado said this was normal for that engine; my answer to that is, "it is not acceptable". If it is true, I should have been advised at time of purchase and I would have bought the diesel instead.

I also have a 2003 Avalanche and am very satisfied with its performance and it is not an oil burner. I would expect some sort of remedy on the 8.1 L oil burner.

Larry of Allentown PA (1/26/03):
1999 Chevy Silverados have a problem with ABS. System motor has a defect. Chevrolet knows that this system is bad and should be recalled, but they choose to ignore the problem, repairs cost $1000.00. My truck only has 28500 miles.

Damage Resulting: Makes the truck unsafe.

June of W. Los Angeles CA (9/3/03):
Purchased new Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, c\Crew Cab in April 2003. In beginning of August noticed small circular pockets of paint missing from hood and top of cab. Dealer determined that there is a problem with the paint. Today the dealer has had the truck for 17 days in an attempt to repaint the hood and top of cab. They are now working on the second attempt at successfully painting my vehicle. First attempt removed paint to primer and painted. Paint blistere. Now they are removing paint to bare metal and going to reprime and paint. Don't know what we are going to get. Truck has 6,185 miles on it.

I believe we are going to get a substandard paint job to that applied in a factory environment. Of course GM is reluctant to communicate with us or provide any assurance that the partial painting of my new truck will be as good as a factory paint job. If the repainted area fades at a different rate or is succeptable to corrosion at a different rate as the rest of the truck this may not show up until long after warranty is up on the paint. We have been promised to get the truck back this friday Sept. 5, 2003, 18 day's in the shop. We still make payments on a truck we don't have possesion of and are probably going to recieve a truck back that in the long run is going to be a real problem. It is a shame that GM can't produce a $40,000.00 truck with a quality paint job. Very frustrating !

Nicole of Barney, GA, writes:
I leased a new 1999 Silverado on 7/19/99. On 10/27/00 with 18,158 miles on it, the vehicle cut off while I was driving. For 27 consecutive days, the truck was in the shop. First the starter sensor was replaced, then a crank sensor was replaced, then an oil leak was repaired, then I had a brand new engine put in, then my brakes were worked on, then oxygen sensor #1 was replaced, and other complaints were looked at.

On 11/24/00, I picked up the truck from the service department. I drove one mile to my bank and the "service engine soon" light came on. I drove back and it was determined that Oxygen Sensor #2 had now failed. While I waited the two hours for them to fix that, my rear air vents were also replaced because they didn't work. I returned home.

On 11/25/00 (one day later), after 25 miles of driving, the "service engine soon" light has come back on. I will return the truck Monday. The service manager says he will have to replace the torque converter now. My driver side window will also be getting a new window regulator. The passenger side window needs repair also. There is a "thud" sound when I back the truck up and also when braking and turning sharply at the same time.

Also, it may be of interest to know that the engine was replaced because GM had left a spare part (stray nut) inside and it destroyed the engine. My dealer has also told me to expect a recall on my accelerator because too many complaints are on file because it tends to stick. After everything else ... who would want this piece of junk? I've asked GM to repurchase the truck and they have refused.

This vehicle cost us $509 a month. As the consumer, we are expected to pay on time, to properly insure the vehicle, to maintain it, etc. We have done all of this. GM is expected to provide us with a safe and mechanically sound vehicle. For $33,000 we do not expect loss of our vehicle for this lenght of time. When this round of repairs is over, the total days for repairs will be well over 30.

One payment of $509 came due while the truck spent the whole month in the shop. We've spent hours on the phone with GM, our dealer and the BBB. Everyone has the same story: "Your warranty has been honored."

Nicole might want to check with a Lemon Law attorney who might have a point of view that differs somewhat from GM's.

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