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.
On restarting the vehicle moments after having driven it without issue, the brake pedal felt spongy, and with more pressure, sunk to the floor. Fluid was found to be running off of the truck frame under the drivers door. No warning light came on at the time. Later, apparently when the fluid had drained down enough, the brake warning light came on. On inspection, all of the brake lines were found to be very badly decayed just forward of the ABS unit, with one having failed. This is not an off-road truck. It has had conservative road use. Fortunately, I was not towing my 8000 pound trailer at the time. I recently sold a 1972 Chevrolet which had never required any brake line replacements. Why are these relatively new trucks brakes all failing?
I was coming to a normal stop at the traffic light, I was slowing down normally then began to press the brake pedal. About half-way of pedal travel, the brake pedal suddenly went all the way down with no resistance and I could not stop my Chevy Silverado 2002. I had to suddenly veer into the next lane to avoid hitting the car that was in front of me that already had stopped at the traffic light. I then had to quickly shift down through the gears to get the truck to slow down, then after the truck had slowed down a lot, I shifted into park to force the truck to come to a stop. After I was able to slowly pull into a parking lot and stop the truck, I existed the truck and looked underneath the wheels and saw brake fluid sprayed all over the driverside front wheel well. The brake line had burst. I took it to the mechanic to fix it and he confirmed that the brake line had burst. He also inspected the brake lines for the other three wheels and recommended all of them get replaced. After doing some research, I have found out that this is a common problem with the Chevy Silverado gmt800 trucks from model years 1999 and up.
Brakes failed suddenly. We were lucky that we were only going about 20 mph. Brake light did not come on and still does not show a problem. Rusted brake line ruptured and brake fluid comes out when the brakes are applied. I just sold a Toyota 1995 4WD that has been exposed to the same environment and there is very little rust compared to the Chevrolet. It looks like to me that all the lines should be replaced. I have not yet had it repaired. This could have cause a very bad accident. We are not driving until it is repaired.
While bleeding brake system after changing rear calipers found a rupture in the brake line on the frame by the front tire. The line was completely rusted and failed. Luckily in the driveway and not the highway.
- Fernandina , FL, USA
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Brake pedal went to floor while shifting out of park (luckily).brake line rusted through. All 4 brake lines to the ABS are rusted and all must be replaced. Also parking brake does not work even though all parts have been replaced.
Catastrophic front brake failure on interstate highway. No accident or injuries, but repairs included brake lines, calipers and pads due to corrosion of said lines and caliper assemblies. Shop said this is a common occurrence for GM products regardless of age of the vehicle.
Went to back out of my driveway, hit the brake pedal and it went to the floor. The curb across the street stopped me. Luckily there were no kids riding bikes or playing in the street.... looked under my truck and saw that the brake lines were corroded and one had apparently burst. There was a large puddle of brake fluid where I was parked. I'm just so glad no one got hurt, but its probably just a matter of time before someone does.
Metal brake line corroded through and I lost brake pressure. An accident did not occur, most likely due to the truck being unloaded. The week before the incident, I was hauling large loads of hay.
I backed down my driveway proceeded down pudding street to get on taconic parkway while drive down single line road approached a curve going down a grade tried to slow down from 40 mph pedal went to floor I put truck in low gear and was able to stop using parking brake while holding release handle to bring to stop at bottom of grade. Crawled under truck brake rusted thru under driver are location attached to frame rail.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the brakes failed and the contact was unable to decelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and was informed that the brake line had blown. The contact was also informed that all the brake lines appeared to be decaying. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 63,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 3 mph, he depressed the brakes and the brakes failed to respond. The contact mentioned the emergency brakes were used in order to stop the vehicle. Also, there was brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was 60,000.
I was driving my 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 through a parking lot and another vehicle backed out without looking. I hit my brakes to stop and I heard a little pop and my pedal went to the floor. Luckily I hit the parking brake which stopped me which kept me from hitting the car that pulled out in front of me. I drove my vehicle home using the parking brake to stop when needed. After locating the leak, I noticed all the lines were so badly corroded, I'm going to have to replace all lines to get the right one. I have to take it to a shop because each line has to be bent in specific spots. Why GM doesn't sell pre bent lines is unbelievable. This is an expensive job costing me @ $950 which is absurd. I could do it myself if I was able to get the actual parts needed. I guess GM will still find a way to get more money from you even after you buy one of their over priced vehicles...! terrible shame..
Server corrosion of the brake lines caused a unexpected brake line failure with no prior warning. Loss of brake fluid caused a total loss of braking, no warning lights where displayed on the dash to let you know of a potential brake failure that was happening.
While waiting in line at hardees drive thru, the brake pedal went all the wall to the floor. Upon inspecting the truck I found all of the brake lines underneath had rusted and one from the master cylinder had rusted all the way thru. I replaced this line with a carbon coated steel that cost only $8.99. However I do feel pretty fortunate because we were headed upon a mountain going deer hunting. I really don't want to think about what could have happened if we were comin off "high knob" and this line had blown. I also think GM is very lucky that someone hasn't gotten seriousy hurt or killed yet but I think it is only a matter of time unless they recall these vehicles and replace all the brake lines with a better grade of steel or a coated steel to protect them from corrosion. Also I read some of GM response to this issue and I would like to reply to them that once a line is blown being front or back the pedal goes to the floor and once the fluid is gone you have nothing but the park brake, if you can actually think about it during all the panic of pumpin the brake pedal trying to get a vehicle to stop. This really is a dangerous problem and these vehicles need to be recalled and all the brake lines replaced.
Was under the truck few days ago and noticed the brake line to the rear of the truck is seriously corroded, upon further inspection of brake lines, noticed that almost all the steel brake lines on the pickup are seriously corroded and a few under the cab connecting to the ABS module are beginning to leak, this is a serious safety concern and will not drive the truck till I have the time and money to replace them, have not been able to find a replacement part number for them from GM, however classic tube industries makes a stainless steel set that I will be purchasing when the funds allow, till that happens the pickup will not leave the driveway as it is an accident waiting to happen, other then the brake lines I also found the entire chassis to be rusted badly for a 10 year old vehicle!!
I was replacing left front brake caliper and started to bleed the brakes when brake peddle kept going all the way to the floor. I then looked under the truck and under driver side door was a puddle of brake fluid. I found out it was coming from the brake lines that go to the ABS controller. After further investigating brake lines they are all rusted bad, I have own this truck since new cant believe I have to replace all the brake lines on it now.
While approaching the back of another vehicle while it was taking a left hand turn, I applied my brakes and had none, the peddle went to the floor and I could not stop. I down shifted the truck into low gear which is with an automatic transmission and applied the emergency brake. I had the truck towed to a repair shop where I was told the brakes are rotted and line ruptured. I understand there are a lot of problems with the brake lines on these vehicles and something should be done about them. Surely they are made of inferior materials because this problem is not happening with other trucks models like Ford, Dodge, or Tundra. Truck is now at steve's accurate auto repair, madbury nh.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jellico, TN, USA