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 Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I started my Suburban like any other day, step on brakes to release the shifter, put into drive with no problem, I went onto the highway aka freeway with no problem, I needed to make a panic stop, and the brake pedal went straight to the floor, trying to use the emergency brake pedal, that also failed.. When did a American made product like the Chevy Suburban gat such a cheap manufacturing of brake components... My previous car, 1987 Volkswagen vanagon camper never needed steel brake lines replaced. The rubber hoses I can understand... But steel brakes lines should last longer than 25 yrs.
My family and I (2 adults and 2 children) along with 2 other boys (age 14) were driving down a hill and experienced a complete brake failure. My husband attempted to stop at a light and discovered that the brakes were inactive. The road declined steeply for some time and it was a nightmare as he tried everything (e.g., shifting to lower gear, emergency brake, park) to stop the car. As we were close to a major highway and river, my husband had no choice but to stop the car by crashing into an embankment. Given the speed of the vehicle, it was a horrific crash. I'm still recovering from multiple broken bones. My son had to have extensive surgery on his face. We are lucky to be alive. It appears brake failure in this age and model of Chevy is not uncommon and the company is aware of this problem. How can they stand aside and risk so many lives? …
I am the original owner of a 2000 Chevy Suburban. I keep it well maintained with proper service. On nov 1, 2003 I engaged my parking brake on an incline, I left the car for approx. 90 seconds and my passengers stayed in the car. When the passenger driver turned off the engine to follow me, the car swiftly rolled down the hill, jumped the curb and hit utility boxes and a house. The passengers experienced minor back pains. The accident could have been much worse if people were outside and in the path of the car. Upon research, I have found many complaintsabout the emergency brake system on the Suburban's. What is the emgerency brake for, it not to hold the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving approximately 4 MPH on dry road surfaces, the ABS engaged when the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred whenever coming to a stop. In 2005, the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the contact had not experienced a failure at the time. The remedy was insufficient and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000. Updated 04/08/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact started the ignition and the brake pedal extended to the floorboard without warning when it was depressed. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake cable failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
While driving at 30 miles per hour applied the brakes and brake pedal became soft and went to the floor. The vehicle barely came to a stop before I hit anything. No warning lights or messages appeared before this happened. Found brake fluid leaking from rusted metal tubing on frame just behind driver's side front wheel.
We experienced problems with the brakes on our 2000 Suburban last fall and took it in for work. We were told the rear rotors were completely rusted and would need replacement, and the front rotors required significant machining to repair. The brakes still weren't right, and we noticed the antilocks were kicking in even on slow dry stops. The dealer discovered the antilock unit was defective and replaced it. We've begun noticing 'grabbiness' in the brakes and took it back in. After only 10,000 miles since putting new rear rotors on, we again need new rotors. The first time we were told trucks from the northeast (we bought it at an upstate ny dealer) always needed new rotors because of all the salt. The truck has maybe been in ny for 20% of its lifespan. This most recent time we were asked if we had been trailing a boat in the outer banks. …
This is an old complaint but is being submitted because Chevrolet and GMC have failed to correct this. The emergency brake on the 1500 series Suburban has been broke since the first year of owner ship. I contacted chevorlet and GM by email 22 ddec 2001 and all I received was acknoweledgement of the letter. I attempted to get it repaired last year in June at wallace chevorlet dealer with negative results. To date nothing from GM or chevorlet has been done to recall and correct these vehicles. Two notes here: this defect results in vehicle inspection failures in states requireing inspections. Note two: it's a serious safety defect because it flat out dosen't work and I tow a 5,000 lb trailler and all the brakes are important. As I stated eariler chevorlet and GM to date has done nothing. One last point the 2500 series Suburban has a properly design emergency brake. …
I am the original owner of a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban purchased from mac haik Chevrolet in houston. I have complained about the inability of the parking brake to hold the vehicle in my driveway, and have had the rear pads/shoes replaced and the brakes adjusted more than once. Each repair seems to last a few thousand miles so I gave up returning to the dealer for repair. However, I have been informed that the vehicle will not pass a safety inspection required in texas and do not feel that I should have to pay to have this repaired now that I have learned that there is a TSB that addresses this concern (02-05-26-002a-(01/28/2003). I am requesting that this issue be researched more thoroughly. If more drivers actually used their parking brakes on a regular basis this would be more commonly reported.
I was traveling at 40 MPH when traffic stopped ahead. Applied brakes but brake pedal depressed to the floor with only very minor braking. Avoided accident by using emergency brake and swerving on to the right shoulder. There was no warning on the instrument panel of low brake fluid, lack of braking capacity or any other pending brake malfunction. After getting vehicle safely home a visual inspection revealed a major loss of brake fluid from the master cylinder and brake fluid leaking from above the vehicle frame, below the drivers side floor board. Major corrosion has occurred in the vicinity of the leak. Although this is a 2000 vehicle, it only has 74,480 mile of use. An internet search reveals that an NHTSA action number : ea11001 has been established for similar complaints.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles May experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas.
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a clearance condition between the front right-hand brake pipe and the body cross sill that could decrease to the point of allowing contact during the life of the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front right-hand brake pipe for wear. If there are signs of wear, this section of the brake pipe will be replaced with a new designed brake pipe section.
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
Brake line corrosion failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Defect Petition DP10-003 on March 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (MY) 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.DP10-003 was granted and on March 30, 2010, Preliminary Evaluation PE10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility…
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
In a letter dated August 29, 2005, GM notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that May result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).GM's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently…
Brake line corrosion failure
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,…
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.
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
Brake complaints in other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA has 98 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Chevrolet Suburban, 35% of the model year's 282 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet Suburban brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-379 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Aug 29, 2005); NHTSA recall 00V-345 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Oct 30, 2000); NHTSA recall 00V-222 (vacuum, Aug 8, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet Suburban brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries 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.