Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My son rear ended a semi-tractor trailer truck in a snow storm last week. He was wearing his seat belt. Air temps previous week were in the -20 to -40 range. Temperature at time of accident was -15. I raise this as indicated below. My concerns are: 1. The air bag did not deploy. There was $6000 damage to our 2004 Chevy k2500 crew cab pick-up to include grill, radiator, both quarter panels, hood, bumper and forward engine components. The impact speed was estimated at 25 MPH. That should have deployed the bag. I realize that there were no injuries and my insurance would have covered the bag, but I think (as did everyone else who have seen the damage) that the bag should have deployed. 2. ABS system failed. Truck rear end slid to right toward traffic. My son was able to regain control. …
On 11/23/2011 at 6:45 am est, I was headed down a snow covered road when I noticed a plow truck coming towards me at a high rate of speed. I then hit the brakes at normal pressure and the pedal went to the floor with next to no resistance, having no brakes I downshifted the automatic transmission slowing me but not fast enough, I collided with a fire hydrant at the top of a steep embankment on the side of the at approximately 35mph and knocked the fire hydrant out of the ground. Had the fire hydrant not been there, I could've fell more than 50 feet down to my demise. Luckily, the hydrant was shut off and the only damage (because the plow frame absorbed most of the impact) was the front bumper. …
I was driving approx. 25 MPH within 100 ft. Toward a red light. A truck pulling a trailer pulled across the road in front of me. I pressed on the brake pedal. The pedal held for a second and then quickly dropped to the floor. I was able to swerve to the right of the truck, missing it and pushed the emergency brake. Realizing I encountered total brake failure I cautiously drove the truck into a mcdonald's parking lot at the corner. There was no brake warning light come on. I looked under the truck. On the drivers side under the drivers door the underside was soaked with brake fluid. Where the 4 brakelines are bundled together directly on the frame under the drivers door, one of the brake lines has a split in it. The truck is presently being evaluated for repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle took a long time to slow down when the brake pedal was depressed. On another occasion, when barely depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle completely stopped, causing the contact to jerk forward. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). There were no warning indicators illuminated. An independent mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 325,400.
I am unhappy that GM made a recall for the problem my Silverado is exhibiting however since I do not live in the neighboring state I cannot have my problem fixed. I also live in the "salt belt" being in kansas, I live 20 miles from the state of mo. I am having the exact problem as the recall - 05V379000. I wish I knew who I could contact to aid me in solving this problem. It sounds like this results in a crash due to constant corrosion. If you look at statistics of kansas city. We are equivalent to kansas city mo. I'm feeling very frustrated about this.
When coming to a stop sign I applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. I was able to steer into a parking lot and coasted to a stop. I had no brakes front or rear. When I stopped at the previous stop sign the brakes worked as usual. After having the pickup towed to a repair shop I was told and shown that the brake lines at the frame behind the left tire had rusted through. This failure came with no warning and at no time did the dash brake light come on.
Traveling on road at posted speed of 35mph approaching a highway intersection. Tried to make a normal stop and brake pedal went to the floor. Truck went through red light and through intersection of a section of highway that is 8 lanes wide. If not for early time of day it would have been a lot more traffic and killed someone. Stopped truck by slamming into park. No brake warning light prior to this or after.
My brakes failed without warning in a parking lot. Carefully, I made it home with no brakes and found the brake lines were all corroded and leaked brake fluid. Brake lines are supposed to be made from non-corrosive material. Fixing brakes on this model pickup is a massive undertaking. One brake line is located under the bed of the truck. When the consumer examined the brakes on the vehicle, he was shocked to see the extent of corrosion on the meal brake line. He was also shocked to find that for one of the brake lines, he had to remove the truck bed, in order to see it. The first rupture occurred on the line running from the metering or proportional valve to the rear brakes. There was no way he could see that area. The second failure occurred during bleeding and testing of the first repair. The third leak appeared by the movement of the line during the second repair. …
Within a residential neighborhood approaching a stop sign at 30 MPH +/- and applied brakes evenly and smoothly. Pedal went to the floor and limited braking available. Proceeded cautiously to a park 2 blocks east. Parked and inspected vehicle. Found brake fluid leaking drivers front at upper back of caliper. Limped vehicle home, placed on stands, pulled wheel and found metal end of flexible brake line adjacent to the hollow bolt that connects to caliper was now multiple layers of rust saturated with brake fluid. Ordered in a replacement line and replaced. Old line retained and excess rust flaked back to reveal a pin hole rust through roughly 1/2 inch above caliper mounting point. Residual braking at time of failure was not capable of stopping a vehicle quickly in traffic or at highway speeds. …
My 2000 Chevrolet k2500 Silverado has 60,000 miles. The rear brakes do not function as designed. The interior brake pad, on the disc breaks, only come in contact with the rotor for 1/2 of an inch or less. I couldn't figure out why my anti-lock brakes engaged all the time and I think it is because an undue amount of braking pressure is placed on the front disc brakes as the rear brakes are clearly not engaging properly. I had midas review the brakes and they claim this is common. The rotors have to be replaced because all they do is rust since the brake pad hardly touches the rotor. I called my dealership who also said this is common. Have there been any investigations into Chevy truck accidents and how the brakes function? Do Chevy truck owners even realize their 5,000-6,000 pound trucks, often used for towing, are not stopping as they were designed to stop? …
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with vacuum power, 4-wheel disc brakes. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems." these vehicles were built with a kinked brake booster vacuum supply hose.
Remedy: Dealers will re-route the brake booster vacuum supply hose.
NHTSA investigations
Hydraulic pump shaft failures
The preliminary evaulation is being upgraded.during the ea odi will limitits investigation to only those vehicles equipped with a hydro-boost system, which provides power assist to the braking and steering sytems.vaccuum brake booster vehicles are excluded.odi hasexpanded the scope of the ea to include model years2003 and 2004, asduring the pe, odi learned that the hydroboast pumps were modified in febraury…
Hydraulic pump failres
GM is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between May 1999 and October 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early October 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes.
Brake complaints in other Silverado 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
NHTSA has 78 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 59% of the model year's 132 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-222 (vacuum, Aug 8, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.