This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My husband, 3 year old, any myself were driving back from a doctor appointment when we had to make a sudden stop because of a driver 2 cars ahead of us that quickly applied brakes to make a quick right hand turn. The driver in front of us in turn had to apply his breaks on and when my husband applied the brakes on our 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche there were no brakes!! our 3 year old was asleep in the backseat!! we hit him of course because we could not stop (going downhill on a busy highway) we ended up having to coast up the hill in the middle of the lane because there was nowhere safe for us to pull off. There were almost several other accidents due to it being a blind spot for drivers coming over the hill both ways and we were stuck there because we had no way to stop ourselves again. So after all that we ended up needing our truck towed and the brake lines are corroded and had busted!! so not only do we have a tow bill now we are responsbile for replacing them! the estimate is $800!!! thanks GM! we will be selling this one soon! GM won't do a recall on these after all the complaints and accidents about the brake lines on here" seriously" we had no clue about any of this until today! the mechanic that is fixing ours today told us he has 2 more that have the exact same issue and have to be replaced on theirs too! I guess it takes people dying or getting seriously injured before the car manufactures have to take responsibility. And what makes it even worse is that the whole brake line replacement is available (for us to purchase) and it's only about $160!! nice to know the safety of our family, friends, and other motorists aren't worth it to them. Just 2 miles earlier we drove though a school zone!!!!! as the kids were leaving for the day! thank god they lasted that 2 extra miles and no one was seriously injured or killed.
The vehicle's ABS and brake lights are on. I took the vehicle in for repair and a state inspection. The part to repair the ABS and brake light are on national back order with no definite availability date. The truck is not usable because of the failed state inspection.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle failed to stop when the brake pedal was depressed to the floor. The contact pumped the brake pedal and the vehicle came to a stop. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the brake lines were rusted and fractured. As a result, the brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. While driving at 8 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond and the brake warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake line needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
Upon start up of the truck, the ABS light stayed illuminated and started chiming at me. Everytime I start the truck this happens. I had my brakes inspected and they were fine. I currently do not have ABS. I took the truck to a mechanic this last week and had it looked into. It is a known problem with the Chevy Avalanche and they informed me that there is a part for this problem but it is on indefinite backorder. What and how does that happen? the ABS system is throwing fault codes stopping it from working properly but there is not a part to replace it. Per Chevy!
- Marysville, WA, USA
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I was getting in my truck to go shopping and after driving for a short distance I notice my brake pedal went to the floor causing me to head into traffic almost causing a accident. When I got the truck home I notice dripping of brake fluid on driver side door. Further checking I discover my brake lines is rusting and cause a major leaks underneath my truck.
After applying pressure to brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop and the brake pedal was to the floor. Once the truck coasted to a stop, we pulled to the side of the road and found brake fluid leaking underneath the truck. We had the truck towed to our local dealership. The dealership replaced all metal brake lines that left us with a bill of over $2,000 for parts and labor. The entire truck is in beautiful condition and rust free except for the faulty brake lines! GM should recall this issue.
I just picked up some mulch for around my house with my 8 year old son and I got home and I was backing up to unload the mulch and when I went to hit the brakes the pedal went to the floor and the brakes light came on, luckily I wasn't driving down the road when it happened. The mechanic said the brake line was rusted out, that shouldn't be happening on a 5 year old vehicle with only 39,000 miles on it.. it also happened a second time not long after that, I cant remember the exact date on that one either. There has been lot of problems with this vehicle : heating, brakes sensor, wheel bearings, E brake problems, fuel pump rot, water pump, rusted under carriage, O2 sensor, multiple brake and rotor replacements [4], noise in steering column and front end, gauge cluster replacement, windshield fluid reservoir leaks, power window motors, dome override light, dead battery problems, I went thru 4 batteries in 5 years, it just kept going dead if I didn't use the vehicle for a couple days. I only have 72,000 miles on the vehicle now as of 12/19/2014. Lots of problems for a $ 50,000 truck. Ill never buy a Chevy again.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while driving 25 mph attempting to engage the brakes, the vehicle failed to stop and the pedal pressed to the floor. The contact had to engage the emergency brakes in order for the vehicle to stop. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the brake line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN number was unavailable.
Applied brakes and brake peddle went to the floor. I swerved to the right to avoid an accident.got out of vehicle and saw the brake lines were rusted and had ruptured.
I was traveling West on wendover avenue in greensboro, North Carolina approximately 8:20 am on Thursday October 2, 2014. While traveling a traffic signal was turning red and I began slowing. As I was attempting to slow down the brake pedal continued to travel to the floor and the brake light warning and service brake system light came on. I was quickly closing in on the vehicle in front of me and reduced my speed by standing on the braked and using engine speed shifting from drive to 3rd to 2nd and then to first gear. I was able to stop within a foot of the car in front of me. After this I pulled over to inspect my vehicle. I located a blown brake line that was severely corroded on the drivers side along the frame of the vehicle. Brake fluid was leaking out. In addition, the other brake lines appear to be extremely corroded as well. This is a major concern considering brakes are such a critical component to safe driving. It appears the brake lines are not made for a suitable quality for such a critical system. The exhaust pipe, which is under the vehicle as well, is not corroded and is made out of suitable quality material. If there are other vehicles out there on the road with similar materials the results may be injurious or deadly. Please help to address and rectify this situation with Chevrolet.
While driving in town locally, the braking system failed while trying to stop at a traffic light. I was able to eventually stop the truck by applying extreme pressure on the brake pedal. I pulled the truck over safely & noticed brake fluid on the ground under the driver's door. I had the truck towed to a local mechanic who inspected the braking system. All of the brake lines under the driver's door were severely rusted along with the one line that had failed.
I use my Avalanche only in the summer to tow a small trailer in my community. I used it in the winters from 2004-2008. I was backing the truck up and applied my brakes and smelled smoke and my brake light went on. I looked under the truck and it was leaking brake fluid. I got down under the truck to get a better look and noticed the brake line was completely rusted through causing all the fluid to leak out. My wife drove the truck to the grocery store that morning and I am so thankful this happened in my driveway because the brakes were fine one minute and it only took a second for the fluid to come out. In seconds I did not have any brakes. This is the first truck I have owned and I am shocked that something like this could happen. Brake lines should be much stronger than what I have on the truck. This is not something that you check on a regular basis. I don't use this truck for off road, plowing, driving in the snow. This is supposed to be a strong vehicle that cost me $44,000 in 2004. I would have been killed if this happened while I was on the road.
Driving in heavy traffic on I 95 South on the way to vacation, brakes failed when I attempted to slow down. I rear ended another vehicle. Had truck in shop for week and found several problems with lines and 2 leaks. I heard that there is a known metal defect with 2001-2004 brake lines. I can't find any recall information.
While pulling out of driveway, pressure was applied to the brakes to stop at the end of the driveway. The brake pedal immediately went straight to the floor with the alarm then coming on in the vehicle to service brakes. There was no resistance or stopping power to the brakes. Using the emergency brake the vehicle was stopped before it went across the street into the ditch. The vehicle was backed up into the driveway and a puddle of brake fluid was found under the drivers side door area of the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was noted that the metal high pressure brake lines had rusted and ruptured leaking brake fluid causing the failure.
On the above listed date at approximately 0730 hours, I was running errands after getting off work and before returning home. I started to drive down a sloped road approaching a traffic light at a four way intersection. The traffic light turned red as I was approaching it and I applied the brakes while traveling at 30 mph. Upon application of the brakes, the pedal went straight to the floor with zero functioning of the brake system. The brake light then illuminated and a notification came across to "service brake system". I down shifted down from "D" to "3-2-1", all the while pumping the brakes. It wasn't until I reached around 5 mph that it seemed that the brakes had any affect, and I came to a stop in the middle of the intersection. Since I was roughly a mile from my house at this point I limped my truck home, mostly using gearing "2" and "1". I parked the truck, entered my house and informed my wife as to what happened. Then I returned to the truck to find a puddle of fluid under and around the drivers door. I checked the master cylinder reservoir and it was completely drained at this point. There is no doubt if someone would have been in front of me or coming through the intersection at the time this incident occurred I would have been involved in an accident. At no time prior to this have I had any indication of the brakes going bad, ie: Brake warning light or ABS, soft brake pedal or fluid loss. It seems as if this happened all at once. The vehicle was then towed to a mechanics garage later on that day to be repaired.
Rear brake likes blew out due to corrosion. Brake lines corrode at each point that they are fastened to the vehicle. No other major corrosion on the vehicle. Front brake lines also corroded but not yet to the point of failure. Stopping the truck was almost impossible.
Traveling appx 35mph applied brakes to make left turn, peddle went to the floor. No traffic in front of me or we would have hit them. Brake fluid pouring from under truck, under driver side door area. Brake line ruptured due to rust. Local mechanic replaced ruptured line. I inspected all line few months later and found they were also in bad shape due to rust. Took to local GM dealer $550 to replace all brake line. GM should have picked up cost for not using non-corrosive brake line. Very luck me and my kid didn't get hurt.
I came around a curve and there was road work going on and had to stop real quick. The brake pedal went to the floor. All the brake lines were rotted. I had to change every brake line on my truck.
Was hooking up my trailer to tow. Had my daughter step on the brakes to check the lights. The pedal went to the floor and alarm went off. Found brake fluid squirting onto the ground. Had to have all the brake lines replaced due to rust behind the drivers front wheel. Found out this is a common problem with this type and all the Chevy trucks. All in the same area.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- West Frankfort, IL, USA