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.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the brakes failed while entering a residential driveway. The contact was able to hear brake fluid spraying out of the vehicle and onto the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 115,000.
Trying to stop. Brake pedal went to the floor. Vehicle did not slow down. Able to avoid accident because no vehicle was in front of me. Pulled to side of road and had vehicle towed. Terrible safety hazard and $1000 repair bill for new brake lines and master cylinder. All lines were brittle and corroded.
Due to a sudden bursting of the brake lines, 3 of the 5 lines in the cluster below the drivers door, the master cylinder emptied out causing the truck to have no brakes. This happened when my daughter and her three children were driving in a busy Washington, DC suburb. Thank god no one was hurt! very dangerous! after inspection, the brake lines were corroded in several locations inside the plastic retainer clips that hold them to the frame.
I entered my 2003 model year Chevy Silverado 2500 hd truck on April 19, 2013 at my residence. I started the vehicle and pressed on the brake pedal to put the automatic transmission into drive. Upon pressing the brake pedal, it immediately went completely to the floorboard and no brake stopping action was apparent. It is imperative to recognize that I routinely apply the manual parking brake when I park the truck, so in this instance when the brakes severely malfunctioned the truck was prevented from moving forward as the vehicle went into drive. I placed the truck back into park and pressed the brake pedal numerous times attempting to recover my vehicle brakes, to no avail. It should be noted that I was parked facing a downward angle when I experienced this terrible brake failure. And had I not employed the parking brake in advance there surely would have been a collision resulting in personal injury and property damage. After my attempts to recover my truck brakes proved futile, I discovered a large puddle of brake fluid on the ground directly under my driver's side compartment. It was determined all steel brake lines were severely rusted and the two (2) brake lines running from the truck's master cylinder to the ABS module had a number of rust deterioration holes in the steel lines rendering the truck unusable and unsafe. My truck has only 36,095 miles on it. I can not comprehend how this "latent defect" in the 2003 year Chevy Silverado trucks brake systems could go unrecognized by the manufacturer and a recall not initiated and corrective action not taken. An immediate recall is warranted and adequate repair compensation to me in particular is certainly justified, along with all others who have experienced this same "latent defect". the manufacturer must take immediate action to correct this dangerous situation and provide me compensation.
Vehicle in driveway, brake pedal went to the floor. All brakelines were rusted and had holes in them. Mechanic replaced all brakelines, lines were all in very poor shape. (rusted)
- Port Deposit, MD, USA
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Mid August 2012 approximately 5 pm average temperature was 76 degrees and roads were dry. While driving on interstate 83 southbound near harrisburg pa at approximately 55 mph I attempted to brake while exiting the highway. When applying the brakes the (brake) pedal traveled all the way to the floor. I immediately lost safe braking distance. I attempted to pump the brakes to utilize what brake power I had left while down shifting to use the engine to assist is slowing the vehicle down. While using the shoulder of the road, I was able to come to a complete stop in approximately 2/10 of a mile. I then had the vehicle towed. Upon inspection, I found one of the brake lines had ruptured thus releasing brake fluid and causing brake loss. After further inspection I found all of the brake lines have significant corrosion. A temporary repair was made to the ruptured line however it has been recommended by a local Chevy dealer that all the lines be replaced. I was told (by the service manager) the cause of the excessive corrosion is from the treatments used on highways for winter driving. He also told me he is replacing brake lines on at least 3 trucks a month. I spoke to other garages in the central Pennsylvania area. Those garages confirmed they are seeing an increase in General Motors vehicle brake line repairs.
Mid August 2012 approximately 5 pm average temperature was 76 degrees and roads were dry. While driving on interstate 83 southbound near harrisburg pa at approximately 5pm I attempted to brake while exiting the highway. When applying the brakes the (brake) pedal traveled all the way to the floor. I immediately lost safe braking distance. I attempted to pump the brakes to utilize what brake power I had left while down shifting to use the engine to assist is slowing the vehicle down. I was able to come to a complete stop in approximately 2/10 of a mile. I then had the vehicle towed. Upon inspection, I found one of the brake lines had ruptured thus releasing brake fluid and causing brake loss. After further inspection I found all of the brake lines have significant corrosion. A temporary repair was made to the ruptured line however it has been recommended by a local Chevy dealer that all the lines be replaced. I was told (by the service manager) the cause of the excessive corrosion is from the treatments used on highways for winter driving. He also told me he is replacing brake lines on at least 3 trucks a month. I spoke to other garages in the central Pennsylvania area. Those garages confirmed they are seeing an increase in General Motors vehicle brake line repairs.
While inspecting fluid levels, I noticed the brake lines were severely rusted. I continued to inspect the lines to the rear of the truck, they too were severely rusted. While doing an online search I discovered many owners had the same issue. So now I had a decision to make, continue driving the truck until there was a failure or arrange for repairs, incurring an expense that could have been avoided if GM had installed better quality lines. Truck is now at a local GM dealer being repaired. GM needs to step up and make things right !!!!
Hooked up a trailer and headed out the driveway. Went to brake at driveway/road intersection, pedal went almost to the floor. I pumped the brake furiously till pedal was all the way down. There was no braking. I switched to 4 wheel drive, steered to the curb and shut off the key. Had it towed to repair shop where it was discovered all brake lines were heavily rusted and one had rusted through and fluid had bled out. All lines had to be replaced. Cost was $985.80.
Applied brakes to slow down to make a turn onto another road, lost complete brake pressure to later find steel brake line along driver's side frame rail had burst and it was not that corroded. I would have hated to see what happens if this occurs at a higher speed or even worse while towing a trailer. Vehicle went from full brakes to an almost total loss. Even though brakes still function, it would be extremely dangerous to drive.
While slowing down just prior to coming to a complete stop, the brake pedal went to the floor and the warning light/signal came on. Upon inspection of the vehicle, brake fluid was seen below and to the front of the drivers side floorboard. When trying to move the vehicle at low speed (idle) to a safe location, I had absolutely no brakes. Chevy's claim that the "other half" of the brake system would function with increased stopping distances is not true in my case. The vehicle was not repairable on the side of the road and was towed to the local Chevy dealership in corpus christi Texas (allen samuels Chevrolet, 361-884-5234). Upon diagnosis, victor landa (service advisor) informed me that the brake line failed due to rust/corrosion. Furthermore, he stated that this a pretty common problem due to the salty environment (gulf coast of Texas) and that he has a mechanic that is getting really good at making replacement lines. Upon inspection, [xxx] indicated that all the brake lines on my vehicle showed excessive corrosion and suggested replacing them all for safety along with the "control valve". all the lines were constructed by the mechanic at a cost of repair exceeding $1800. The vehicle has only been on the beach less than 8 times total in its life and has been thoroughly washed after each visit. It appears, based on internet research and discussions with staff at allen samuels Chevrolet, that this is a common problem. So common that the NHTSA has opened an engineering analysis on the premature brake line failure. I hope that this issue is resolved by issuing a recall so that undue repair costs are not passed on to the consumer for "faulty" brake equipment. More importantly, I hope this is resolved prior to any consumers losing their life. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
While driving in the rain, the brake pedal went to the floor. No brakes. Upon inspection 4 of the 6 brake lines had corroded and failed. Failure was directly below master cylinder where minimal brake fluid left was bubbling out. Brake lines were oem and not protected. All brake lines were replaced by custom made lines at a cost of over $800 plus towing.
Moving from parking space, brake pedal went to floor. No stopping power at all. Check brake system message illuminated. Brake fluid is full. Pedal makes sucking or gurgling sound when depressed. Pumping the brakes did not help.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while braking to a stop, the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer or a mechanic for inspection of the failure or for repairs. The contact stated that the brake lines were fractured. The failure and the current mileages were 20,000. Updated 12/19/12 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. Updated 1/9/2013
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the rear brake lines failed two weeks prior to the front brake lines failing. The contact had to have the entire brake line system replaced due to rust. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 132,000. Updated 01/02/2013 the consumer returned from a 125 mile trip, after that day the failure occured. The consumer backed the truck down the driveway. The brake pedal went to the floor. Updated 1/9/2013
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that all of the brake lines were completely rusted. As a result, when applying the brakes to a complete stop, the brake pedal would abnormally travel to the floorboard and the vehicle would not stop. The contact had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the brake lines were completely rusted. The contact stated that the failure occurred once prior to the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 135,000.
I came out to veh in morning and brake warning/service brake system light was on and looks like my line from rear to front is rusted and where brake line meet to split to each rear wheel is rusted and wet w/fluid.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Loveland, OH, USA