Hello Art,
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -- part of the US
Department of Transportation -- maintains a number of databases that
contain information about problems with vehicles such as the Chevy
Express.
You can see a list of the databases at the main NHTSA website:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/
I took a look through several of these databases, and here is what I found.
==========
RECALLS:
There has only been one recall notice for the 2000 Chevy Express. It
does not directly involve problems with the brakes, although there is
a tangential connection. Here is the recall report from the recalls
database at the Department of Transportation website:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/results.cfm
Make : CHEVROLET Model : EXPRESS Year : 2000
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 00V085000
Recall Date : MAR 16, 2000
Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 10468
Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VANS EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE WARNING
INDICATOR. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE
THAT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FLUID FLOW SWITCH
ASSEMBLY.
Consequence:
IF THIS OCCURS, POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS
AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THREE SCREW CLAMPS TO THE POWER STEERING
HOSE JOINTS. IF THE CLAMPS ARE NOT THE SCREW TYPE, DEALERS WILL
REPLACE THE CLAMPS.
Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 11, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR
VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO
NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT
CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782. ALSO CONTACT THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE
AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
==========
DEFECTS
I also checked the defects investigations database at:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectsearch.cfm
but there were no reports of defect investigations for the 2000 Chevy Express.
==========
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS
The DOT also maintains a database of Technical Service Bulletin
summaries (issued by the automobile manufacturers), which can be
searched at:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/tsbsearch.cfm
[NOTE the item at the bottom of the search page, that explains the
site contains only summaries of the TSBs -- the full TSB can be
obtained from the Department of Transportation, by following the
instructions on this page]
A search for TSB's for the 2000 Chevy Express returned 28 results,
only one of which pertained to the brakes:
=====
Technical Service Bulletins Summary
Make: CHEVROLET
Model: EXPRESS
Year: 2000
Service Bulletin Number: 061000
NHTSA Item Number: 617715
Summary Description:
SUBJECT REGARDING BRAKE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS APPLIED TO 3,500 SERIES
SINGLE REAR WHEEL VANS ONLY.
=====
I'm afraid this is only moderately helpful, as it does not provide
details of what the issue was that required a TSB to be published.
Furthermore, I have no idea What a "single rear wheel van" is. But it
is apparent there was an issue regarding the brakes on at least some
of these vehicles.
As I said above, the full text of the TSB can be obtained from the
Department of Transportation by following the instructions they
provide.
==========
COMPLAINTS
Lastly, I had a look at the consumer complaints database:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsearch.cfm
There were plenty of complaints for the 2000 Chevy Express, and some
of them involved the brakes (and may well sound familiar to you).
However, you should be aware that virtually all major vehicles in
production have a substantial number of complaints filed about them --
it would be the rare model car, van or truck that did have at least
some complaints in the database about the brake system.
Some of the complaints were:
-----
ODI ID Number : 10060242 Date of Failure: March 3, 2004
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Summary:
BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. 4 BRAKE JOBS AND IT ONLY HAS
55,000 MILES AND WE BABY THIS VAN.
-----
Complaint Number: 867046
Summary:
VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES PERTAINING TO BRAKE PADS .
BRAKE PADS ARE TOO WEAK, AND THERE IS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR ON FRONT
WHEELS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE BRAKE IS TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE
BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN. EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATED ON FRONT
WHEEL RIMS. BRAKE ROTORS SHOW SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT GENERATED BY
BRAKES.
-----
Complaint Number: 724435
Summary:
MAJOR PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. COMPANY WILL NOT FIX
-----
Complaint Number: 859859
Summary:
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS
INSPECTED THE VEHICLE.
-----
Complaint Number: 861230
Summary:
VEHICLE WAS PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT WHILE APPLYING BRAKES FROM 0-45
MPH.ALSO, ABS BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE AND ENGAGE
WHILE PULLING FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF
DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT
NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS
-----
Complaint Number: 877709
Summary:
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON BRAKE
PADS, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE PREMATURE WEARING
OF THE BRAKE PADS REQUIRED THE ROTORS TO BE TURNED.
-----
...and so on.
These searches can all be repeated at the DOT site by using the
drill-down menus -- just select the year, then make, then the model
and the databases will return all relevant recalls, compalints, etc.
I hope this information will help you get a permanent fix on your brake problem.
If any of the information here is unclear, please let me know prior to
rating this answer. Just post a Request for Clarification, and I'll
be happy to assist you further.
Good luck.
pafalafa-ga
search strategy: Used bookmarked sites for the Dept of Transportation databases. |
