2000 Chevrolet Silverado Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems: ABS that engages at low speeds and lengthens stopping distance, badly rusted rotors and calipers, and corroded steel brake lines that leak fluid. Many of these reports arrive between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, though some come in much earlier, and a recurring theme is that the ABS activation began gradually and got worse. Other, less frequent complaints cover parking brake failure, transmission behavior, tailgate hardware, and intake or exhaust manifold bolt breakage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS activates at low speed, longer stopping distance

   • 287 complaints (22%)
   • median 54,300 mi at 5.4 yrs old (213 state mileage)
   • 38 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 30 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Owners describe the antilock system engaging during gentle stops — pulling up to a light, creeping in traffic, or stopping below about 10 mph — with the pedal pulsing or pushing back and the truck rolling further than expected. Several report the ABS light staying off while the system still behaved this way. Dealers and shops commonly pointed to corroded or dirty front wheel speed sensors and hub bearings, cleaning or replacing them, and in some cases the symptom returned afterward. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 100,000 miles, often at low speed on dry pavement and sometimes becoming more frequent over time.

   Recall 05V379000Recall 00V0550003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the truck at walking pace and brake gently to see whether the pedal pulses or the truck rolls on; have the front wheel speed sensors and hub bearings inspected, and ask whether the ABS recall work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs brakes engage each time I come to a slow stop( I.e. Pulling up to a stop sign or red light) extending my stopping distance. Dealer states that the ABS speed sensors and front hubs must be replaced but cannot tell me what is wrong. The ABS warning light does not come on although according to the dealer( kelly Chevrolet, butler, pa) the system is malfunctioning.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096530, filed 2004-10, 99,000 miles

   “The brakes continued to fail so I proceeded to have the brakes replaced. Then the anti-lock system began to fail on a regular basis. I had that system cleaned, that did not solve the problem, so I had the wheel bearings and sensors replaced. That solved my problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10142457, filed 2005-11, 62,925 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rusted rotors, calipers, and leaking brake lines

   • 268 complaints (21%)
   • median 60,344 mi at 5.9 yrs old (192 state mileage)
   • 29 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $786 (median of 24 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Complaints describe rotors that rusted or flaked apart at low mileage, calipers seizing so pads wore to metal, and steel brake lines along the frame rail corroding through until the pedal sank to the floor and fluid dripped under the driver's side. Owners often found the problem only when braking failed, and repairs ranged from replacing rotors and calipers to having new lines bent and fitted. Shops and dealers typically treated these as wear or corrosion items rather than warranty work. Rotors and calipers were often reported under 60,000 miles; line corrosion shows up more often past roughly 100,000 miles.

   Recall 00V3450001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look along the frame rail under the driver's side for rust, damp spots, or weeping lines, check rotor surfaces and caliper condition, and ask whether the brake lines have ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took delivery of my truck on 6/1/00 and realize that it is no longer under warranty. But I have had a lot of problems with the rear brakes. The rear calipers freeze up suddenly, cause the pads to wear down to the metal and then destroy the rotors. The problem always seams to start at the right rear inner pad. By the time you notice a problem, the damage is severe. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10046822, filed 2003-11, 29,171 miles

   “Wheels on 2000 chevy Silverado were squelling and chirping while driving. Truck has 54,000 miles on it. Took truck to brake specialist who found all rotors and calipers badly rusted. 2 calipers were frozen up. They advised GM used rotors w/o chromium in them to retard rust. Parts are being repaired at this time. Estimated repairs just under $1900.00. I have asked for the parts to be given to me. Updated 12/22/05.”

   NHTSA complaint #10121410, filed 2005-12, 54,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Parking brake will not hold the truck

   • 58 complaints (4%)
   • median 46,500 mi at 4.2 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2011

   Owners report the parking brake failing to hold on a slope or failing a state inspection, sometimes without ever having used it. Several complaints describe the parking brake shoe or its retaining clip dropping and dragging inside the drum until the lining wore away; one notes a redesigned clip was later available. Dealers in some cases attributed the damage to driving with the brake applied. Reported from about 12,000 to 77,000 miles, on trucks where the parking brake was rarely used as well as ones used regularly.

   Recall 05V161000

   What to check: Set the parking brake on a slope and confirm it holds the truck; ask whether the parking brake shoes or retaining clips have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Failure of parking brake at 25,000 miles. Brake shoe dropped into drum wearing drum out. Shoes were still intact. Cost to me was $450.00 and denial of dealer of any defects in system. Dealer claimed damage was done due to driving with emergency brake on. Loud bell sounds if vehicle is moved with brake on. No one would drive with bell sounding.”

   NHTSA complaint #10003580, filed 2003-01, 25,000 miles

   “Chevy, has redesigned a clip in the park brakes on the 2000 Silverado trucks. The original clip was found to fail when driving on rough roads. This allowed the park shoes to rub the drum. This caused the park brakes to fail and forces the owner to replace both drums and buy the redesigned clip. This should have been recalled! There are tens of thousands of trucks out there with no emergency brake.”

   NHTSA complaint #10109987, filed 2005-02, 40,000 miles

Buying note. Brakes deserve the most attention on this model year: brake the truck gently at low speed, inspect rotors, calipers, and the lines along the frame for corrosion, and check that the ABS and parking brake recalls were done. Also test the tailgate cables and latch, and listen for an exhaust tick at cold start.

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.