2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year center overwhelmingly on the brake system — most often corroded steel brake lines that let the pedal drop to the floor, and low-speed ABS activation that makes the truck hard to stop. Owners also describe extensive underbody rust on the frame, brake pipes and fuel lines, and a number of reports involve air bags that did not deploy in a crash. Many of these reports come in on high-mileage trucks, but brake-line and ABS complaints appear at low mileage as well.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Corroded brake lines and sudden pedal-to-floor

   • 441 complaints (72%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 11.3 yrs old (393 state mileage)
   • 43 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $980 (median of 33 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2023

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and having it sink to the floor with little or no warning, often during ordinary stops at low speed or while slowing for a light. Inspection usually finds steel brake lines rusted through, sometimes above the frame or at the clips, and independent shops or dealers replace several lines or the complete set. Some owners note the brake warning light came on only after the line had already failed, and several mention having to use the parking brake or downshifting to stop. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 240,000 miles, with many cases in the 60,000-110,000 mile range and often in vehicles driven in winter-salt regions.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the truck put on a lift and inspect every steel brake line, especially above the frame rail, at the ABS module and where lines pass through clips. Ask whether any lines have been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving along and stopped at red traffic signal behind another vehicle, when we started moving other vehicle decided to turn, I hit my brake pedal and it went to the floor. I pulled over and checked to see the problem and found the rear brake line had rusted and ruptured. I replaced the rear brake line and fluid and have the old parts if required to see.”

   NHTSA complaint #10340954, filed 2010-07, 70,250 miles

   “I own a 2000 chevy SILVERADO 1500. The vehicle has experienced three separate brake failures due to severely corroded/rusted brake lines. The first occurred in 2008, the second in 2010, and the most recent was last week. We have had to replace several of the lines as a result. Luckily, the loss of breaks has happened in areas/situations where we were able to avoid a crash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10418555, filed 2011-08, 103,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS activates at low speed, soft or long pedal

   • 139 complaints (23%)
   • median 95,500 mi at 10.2 yrs old (124 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2019

   Owners report the ABS kicking in while braking gently at low speeds — around 3-10 mph — with the pedal pulsing or traveling further than expected, so the truck does not stop as intended. Some say the ABS light comes on without warning and the brakes then feel soft. Dealers and manufacturers variously cited wheel speed sensors, recommended cleaning the sensors, or said the vehicle was outside a related campaign; some owners paid for repairs themselves. Mostly reported between about 14,000 and 175,000 miles, frequently on trucks used in stop-and-go or cold, icy conditions.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test braking at walking pace on a quiet road and note any pedal pulse, ABS noise or long pedal travel; ask whether the wheel speed sensors or ABS unit have been serviced, and whether the truck was included in and repaired under any ABS-related campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My anti-lock brakes would kick in when I would slow down almost to a stop. They would not let me stop. No warning lights were on and my brake system has been working great. Is there a recall on this problem, seems to happen to a lot of chevy owners?”

   NHTSA complaint #10747310, filed 2015-08, 173,526 miles

   “This problem occurred last year, but I am just now reporting it looking at the recent recall of this same pickup. I own a 2000 half ton Chevrolet pu 4x4. I noticed the anti-lock brakes weren't working very well at low speeds and made a noise before finally stopping the truck. It was getting noticeable at higher speeds as time went on. I took it to the car dealer where I bought the truck. Not only did the anti-lock brake sensor need replacing, but so did all four rotors. They were rusted so badly that they were flaking away. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10120221, filed 2005-05, 14,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Underbody and frame rust

   • 102 complaints (17%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 12.5 yrs old (97 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2021

   Complaints describe severe corrosion of the frame, cross members, rear leaf-spring and shock mounting areas, bed cross members and rocker panels. Some owners were told the truck could not pass inspection or could not be safely lifted because the frame was rusted through over the rear axle or at the torsion-bar cross member. Others report gas tank straps corroding through and the tank dropping, and brake lines rusting out in the same areas. Typically reported on trucks over about 90,000 miles, most of them in the 130,000-220,000 mile range and often in areas that use road salt.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the frame rails, cross members, spring and shock mounts and gas tank straps closely, ideally on a lift; a corrosion-related bulletin notes that underbody components can show corrosion, so check for perforation rather than surface rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This truck has had issues since I first purchased it. Brakes would not stop the truck in a safe distance which ended up with me having an accident with it. The brake line rusted out after less than 100,000 miles and needed to replace them all. Now with 173,000 miles the gas lines are leaking and the frame is rusted so bad that it cannot be put up on a lift to fix the brake lines.”

   NHTSA complaint #10826071, filed 2016-02, 10,000 miles

   “Rear brake line rusted out. Thank god I was going slow and there was not much traffic. When fixing the brake line I notice the rear dust shields were completely gone and the frame had alot of rust. Fast forward 8-20-12 when working on the front brake lines because they rusted out too. I had the truck up on jack stands. Came home to find the front end on the ground. The frame broke completely into, at the cross member for the torsionbars. I have been told that is one of the strongest parts of the frame. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10475955, filed 2012-09, 95,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in a crash

   • 26 complaints (4%)
   • median 147,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2026

   Owners describe front-end and side impacts, including one high-speed rear-end collision and one where the truck struck a tree head-on, in which the front air bags did not deploy. Some also question whether the seat belts restrained occupants properly, describing steering-column movement and contact with the steering wheel. In one case an owner reported a passenger-side bag deploying even though it had been switched off. Reported from about 14,000 to 200,000 miles, at both lower-mileage and well-used trucks.

   What to check: Ask whether the truck has been in a reported collision and check for stored air bag or seat belt codes; confirm the air bag on/off switch works and that no air bag warning lamp stays on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle hydroplaned from the left lane into the right lane. The front of my vehicle impacted a vehicle in the right lane, my vehicle then continued into a retaining wall on the side of the interstate. I impacted the retaining wall head onat approx 35 MPH. My vehicle was then struck in the passenger side by another vehicle. My airbags did not deploy in the accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10098568, filed 2004-11, 109,000 miles

   “I was driving my 2000 chevorlet SILVERADO 1500 extended cab pick up approximately 35 MPH and struck the right side of a 20 ft. Cattle trailer that was being pulled by another truck making a left turn in front of me. My truck was total loss. The air bags did not deploy. I received neck and head injury, cracked ribs, complex concussion and injury to my hip from the accident. I was wearing my seat belt. A police report was filed..”

   NHTSA complaint #10343083, filed 2010-07, 160,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel odor, leaking and corroded fuel lines

   • 66 complaints (11%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2022

   Owners report a gasoline smell around the truck that grows stronger over time, sometimes accompanied by an evaporative-leak code, and in some cases fuel spraying from a corroded pressure line near the exhaust. Others describe gas tank straps rusting through so the tank drops. Service bulletins for this engine family describe intake valve deposits causing rough idle, extended crank, no-start or misfire and recommend a fuel injection cleaner kit, Top Tier fuel and maintenance cleaning. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles, with a few at lower mileage, and often noticed as a smell before any visible leak.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Smell for fuel around the tank and underhood, look for wet or heavily rusted fuel lines and tank straps, and ask whether the truck has had the intake/fuel injector cleaning service a bulletin describes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 replaced rear brake line had corroded through less than 40,000 miles on 2000 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 4x4 regular cab. Also noted driver side rockerpanel rusted through. 8-2011 gas tak strap both completely corroded through dropping gas tank on the ground. Noted during replacement that truck bed cross members are rusted or rusting through so bed will no longer be attached to anything once completely corroded.”

   NHTSA complaint #10417870, filed 2011-08, 130,000 miles

   “Started smelling gas from under my truck. Looked for a leak and could not locate at that time. Then got a code po 457, evap leak. Then after driving noticed odor of gas getting stronger as time went on . Checked under the truck again and found gas spraying from the pressure line right onto the exhaust ! Huge potential fire hazard ! After further investigation fuel lines are very corroded and now compromised. This is a fire bomb waiting to go !”

   NHTSA complaint #11342978, filed 2020-08, 140,351 miles

Buying note. Brake lines and underbody rust are the items that decide whether a truck of this year is worth owning, so inspect both before purchase and budget for replacement of corroded lines. Beyond that, check ABS behavior at low speed and look for fuel odors, since these come up repeatedly in owner reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.