NHTSA Complaint #755882 — 2001 CHEVROLET S10

I OWN TWO 2001 CHEVROLET S10 LS 2 WHEEL DRIVE EXTENDED CABS. BOTH HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. A. THE MOLDING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOWS ON THE DOORS IS LOOSE AND COMES OFF EASILY. ONE OF THE TRUCKS HAS ALREADY THE MOLDINGS REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM ON THAT TRUCK. B. THE REAR END CLUNKS/CLANKS WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND YET. C. THE TAILGATE ON BOTH TRUCKS WILL NOT LATCH COMPLETELY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ONE TRUCK HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE TRUCK WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED IN A BODY SHOP. THE FRAME AND BODY COMPONENTS OF THE BOX WOULD NEED TO BE STRAIGHTENED IN ORDER FOR THE TAILGATE TO LATCH PROPERLY. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON EITHER TRUCK YET. D. THE MOST DISTURBING PROBLEM IS THE STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF THE BRAKES. BOTH TRUCKS HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE IN A QUICK STOP OR EMERGENCY SITUATION, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FIRM YET NO BRAKING POWER IS FELT AND THE TRUCK SURGES FORWARD WITHOUT SLOWING. BOTH TRUCKS HAVE HAD THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP (THE ABS FAILED TO ENGAGE). ONE TRUCK HAD ALL THE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 500 MILES. THIS CORRECTED THE LOUD RUMBLING SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS FROM THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT IMPROVE THE ABS. THE OTHER TRUCK NOW WITH 22,000 MILES SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE SERIOUSLY UNBALANCED OR THE ROTORS ARE BADLY WARPED. HOWEVER, THE ROTORS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE IN SPEC AND THE WHEELS WERE BALANCED. STILL THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND IS INTENSIFYING DAILY. THE SHOP WHICH CHECKED PROBLEM CALLED GM AND WAS TOLD A "PULSE" IS NORMAL IN ALL VEHICLES WITH 4 WHEEL ABS SYSTEMS. I DRIVE OVER 1000 MILES A WEEK. I THINK I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABS BRAKES ENGAGING AND WHEELS ABOUT TO FLY OFF. I HAVE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER 2001 GM TRUCK OWNERS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO ARE ALL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES.