I purchased this truck from the original owner 10/2017 @ 48500 miles. I’ve put an additional 5k miles on it since. It is NOT, and never was a work truck. On 7/11/2018 I was attempting to move this truck in my driveway when the brake pedal went fully to the floor. Upon inspection I found the metal brake line above the rear axle housing, on the driver’s side, had ruptured. Upon further inspection I found that brake line, along with all other brake lines, to be extensively corroded. I have worked on vehicles all my life, even been a certified New York State motor vehicle inspector back in the 1970’s, and have never seen this type of failure, or corrosion to this extent, on brake lines on a normal use vehicle. I’ve read where a recall was denied for GM trucks of this type up to 2003, but this problem continues to exist on newer models. The reason for the denial was that the owners should have kept their brake lines clean, which is virtually impossible as some of the areas where the lines are located can’t even be seen. This corrosion failure is a major safety hazard.
Yesterday I had chance to speak with a previous owner of a Chevrolet Silverado truck which he bought new in 2005. Guess what - he experienced the same brake line failure. He had to have all the brake lines on that truck replaced with stainless steel lines, which I am currently considering. The recall for this brake line failure definitely needs to be looked at again. With over 3.5k complaints and counting and hundreds of accidents as a result of this brake line failure due to corrosion, this recall needs to be re-opened and seriously investigated by professional mechanics and engineers. This failure can and likely will result (if it hasn’t already) in serious injury or death. I realize recalls can be quite expensive for motor vehicle manufactures, but that would be insignificant when compared to the potential for what could be awarded to a person or persons who were injured or killed due to this brake failure due to metal brake line corrosion, a well known danger for almost a decade.
As a side note, if General Motors feels that this matter is not their responsibility, why did they change the metal brake lines on their newer trucks to a new design that is coated to prevent corrosion?
Had brake job done by my mechanic firm a month ago.. mentioned "will need new brake lines eventually".. they were rusty. Driving through town yesterday... car pulled out.. went to stop.. foot went to the floor.. and only slowed down.. good thing I was going slow. Crept home... on the shoulder.. several miles... no brakes.. only emergency... On examination.. front left brakeline was corroded through at the joint at the frame. lost fluid and brakes... WTF???? First time in my life I lost brakes. No engine light, warning light, brake light.. nothing. My mechanic said the salt brine used on highways totally destroys the crap steel used on the brake lines. Framework, exhaust system, stab bars, shocks.. everything else underneath is in good shape. ALL the brake lines are rusted. Chevy has to be aware of this fiasco... my mechanic says $700 to $1000 plus the cost of replacement lines... needs 8 to 10 hours to do the job and he has three, THREE other brakeline jobs ahead of me. My kid was using the truck on a highway two days earlier. Double "WTF".... !!!! Now I read online about all these similar issues ...
To Chevrolet, this is a problem THAT should never happen. You should be using SS lines. This happened with 4 of my Grandchildren in the truck. If I had wrecked and they got hurt or killed we would have been on National News and in court. As it is, I was able to get it stopped safely and the truck towed home. You (Chevrolet) should do a recall on this problem.
This is inexcusable, I am 68 years old and never had a brake line rust out. This could have cost me and my family and countless others their lives. You don't skimp on brakes lines. Stainless at least should be used or a suitable non-corrosive line. Chevrolet should pick up the tab on this and do a total recall. May go back to Fords!!!
Brakes suddenly went out. There is no warning lights on either. Towed to my garage who does all my service and they said they have seen many of these. Tow truck driver said its only this year model that has this problem.
Over a million cases and GM will not recall them. GM says this is not a safety hazzard.
BEWARE INSPECT YOUR BRAKE LINES...GM also says it is from the road salt. I have had cars that were 15 years old that had perfect brake lines. Stay away from GM!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I purchased this truck from the original owner 10/2017 @ 48500 miles. I’ve put an additional 5k miles on it since. It is NOT, and never was a work truck. On 7/11/2018 I was attempting to move this truck in my driveway when the brake pedal went fully to the floor. Upon inspection I found the metal brake line above the rear axle housing, on the driver’s side, had ruptured. Upon further inspection I found that brake line, along with all other brake lines, to be extensively corroded. I have worked on vehicles all my life, even been a certified New York State motor vehicle inspector back in the 1970’s, and have never seen this type of failure, or corrosion to this extent, on brake lines on a normal use vehicle. I’ve read where a recall was denied for GM trucks of this type up to 2003, but this problem continues to exist on newer models. The reason for the denial was that the owners should have kept their brake lines clean, which is virtually impossible as some of the areas where the lines are located can’t even be seen. This corrosion failure is a major safety hazard.
Yesterday I had chance to speak with a previous owner of a Chevrolet Silverado truck which he bought new in 2005. Guess what - he experienced the same brake line failure. He had to have all the brake lines on that truck replaced with stainless steel lines, which I am currently considering. The recall for this brake line failure definitely needs to be looked at again. With over 3.5k complaints and counting and hundreds of accidents as a result of this brake line failure due to corrosion, this recall needs to be re-opened and seriously investigated by professional mechanics and engineers. This failure can and likely will result (if it hasn’t already) in serious injury or death. I realize recalls can be quite expensive for motor vehicle manufactures, but that would be insignificant when compared to the potential for what could be awarded to a person or persons who were injured or killed due to this brake failure due to metal brake line corrosion, a well known danger for almost a decade.
As a side note, if General Motors feels that this matter is not their responsibility, why did they change the metal brake lines on their newer trucks to a new design that is coated to prevent corrosion?
- Jack T., Spring Brook Twp., US