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.
Brakes failed - lines rusted - mechanic tells me that they are getting several similar situations a week on this model of chev. His is a small ;shop. While the truck did stop, the pedal went to the floor and the truck took a long time to stop. Luckily I was not in traffic. I would have never stopped in traffic. I am 70 and have owned lots of cars and trucks over the years in Maine, and I can tell you I have never had a brake line rust through like this. The company is using a material in brake lines that are unusually susceptible to rust.
Approaching a red light. Brake pedal went to floor, vehicle didn't stop. Due to my driving experience, I downshifted and applied the emergency brake to stop vehicle. Expensive repair of $3,500 due to extensive rust corrosion, all brake lines front to rear, rotors with calipers and backing plates & pads. Vehicle only has 64,671 at time of finished repair. Truck always serviced and taken car of with new tires, and brakes in past, this is a major problem if manufacturer has trucks out on the road losing brakes at low mileages. This should be a recall. Owed Toyota truck for 13 years and use to have it in water all the time with no major corrosion / rust problems.
While driving in my Chevy Silverado truck with my two young daughters, we approached a red light at an intersection. I depressed the brake and I felt pressure but then the brake peddle went to the floor. I pumped and depressed the brake peddle several times and always completely to the floor until I was able to make a controlled, though dangerous stop. I pulled over and tested the brakes and I could hear a sound of air escaping below the vehicle. I looked under and depressed the brake with my hand and notice completely corroded break lines and dot 3 brake fluid leaking from a line below the drivers door. On further inspection I noticed all the break lines and fuel line were grossly corroded. This seems to be a safety concern to others I've just now realized and I would like to add my name to the complaint list. I'm disappointed and relieved that my camper was not on my vehicle at the time as my children and I were preparing for a camping trip that labor day weekend. Completely happy nobody was hurt...but it's just a matter of time with this particular situation. Please refer to file EA11001 which I recently reviewed concerning this same issue. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floor board as the service brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that all of the brake lines were rusted and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 77,296. GM infomred the consumer, they no longer made brake lines for his vehicle. Updated 10/23/13
I was driving at normal speed and was traveling down a back road with a car dolly on back when I came up over the hill there were cars stopped and the other lane was coming towards traffic I tried at the top of a very steep hill to apply my brakes and they failed causing me to hit 6 cars and one motorcycle and lucky no one got killed so now I have a damaged truck because of engineers poor design.
- Chesepeake Beach , MD, USA
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I just found this web site and saw that a lot of people were having the same issue with their brake lines popping. In my case I was backing up to hook up my 24ft boat and trailer. While I was getting my truck in position to hook up the trailer I noticed that my brakes were getting softer and softer very quickly. After pumping the brakes and realizing that I was not stopping I ended up hitting the trailer with the back of my truck. Once I got of my truck I noticed there was brake fluid all over the under carriage of the truck and tire. I was very very lucky that this happened in my driveway. I was about to go on a 300 mile trip towing a boat on the highway. With this happening it pretty much ruined a family vacation that we had planned for some time to take the boat. With the brake lines breaking I was unable to use my truck to pull my boat. This was a very costly fix and let's not forget to mention the tow truck fees. I hope there will be a recall on this so I can somehow get remembered for this issue. I would not have expected this from a 9yr truck as well as a product from Chevrolet.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while attempting to shift gears, the brakes and emergency brakes failed to function with the illumination of the brake light. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the brakes lines were disintegrated. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The forward brakes lines which were showing signs of light surface rust three years ago are now heavily corroded and pitted and are showing signs of fluid leakage. I discovered the condition just in time while walking past the truck in bright sunlight. The light happen to be hitting the lines just right and I noticed the condition of the run of four brake lines which are mounted to the frame of the vehicle behind the left front tire. I am now in the process of replacing the hard brake lines with stainless. This is a babied vehicle which sees about 5000 miles of usage a year and does not see that much snow or road salt.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph and applying the brakes, the brakes failed and the contact traveled through a stop sign. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where the contact inspected the vehicle and determined that brake fluid leaked due to defective brake lines. The failure mileage was 93,000.
I was traveling West bound on interstate 88 tollroad near Aurora, Illinois. I had my 3 horse trailer, loaded with one horse, in tow. As I approached a toll plaza, I slowed my speed from 65 down to 35-40 as I was nearing the toll booth. When I went to apply the brake pedal, it went completely to the floor. I was only able to stop my truck by pumping the brakes, and using the trailer brakes to stop the vehicle. I paid my toll, then slowly pulled over to the side of the road. There was a steady leak of brake fluid from the undercarriage of the truck. I needed two separate tows, one for my truck, and another for the horse trailer.
Backing out of the driveway, foot went to the floor. Was able to stop vehicle before impacting traffic. On inspection, large puddle of brake fluid on driveway under driver's door area and all brake lines running to rear of vehicle are significantly corroded and wet from leak above where lines head toward master cylinder. Chevy dealer has no recall or investigation information. Chevy national service line was no help. Would not provide regional service manager contact information.
I came to a stop in my drive way when my brake pedal went completely to the floor.I knew right away what had happened.I blew my main brake line that exits the master cylinder.I inspected the brake lines and realized they were all corroded very badly.I have never had brake lines corrode on me so badly in such a short period of time.the vehicle is only a 2004 Silverado, it is not that old in my opinion.I have had several vehicles, and have never had a brake line rust the way my Silverado has.I am very fortunate that the vehicle was not at a high rate of speed when this occurred, I could of seriously hurt myself or someone else on the road, or even killed someone due to this.for what it is worth, it seems that 99-06 Chevy Silverado have a lot of complaints in regards to rusted through and complete failure of the brake lines. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Going to work, backed up and started down driveway. As I applied brakes at bottom of hill, brake peddle went to the floor, used emergency brake to stop. Took truck to repair shop and he found the breaks lines rusted and leaking with one already split. With the condition of all the lines, knowing that if he only repaired the one broken, there was still a safety issue because the any of the other lines could go at anytime. I had him replace all 33 feet of brake line at a cost of $395.46.
Applied brakes at a stop sign and the brake pedal went to the floor. Total loss of stopping ability. After using the parking brake to stop. Looked under the truck to see brake fluid dripping from the frame of the truck. All brake lines and the transmission cooler lines corroded and 2 burst. All need to be replaced. Clearly the Silverado has an issue with this and the entire undercarriage rusting beyond comparable year & mileage trucks. I have never had a vehicle under carriage in this condition regardless of age and this truck hasn't achieved 10 years off the lot yet.
The brake lining on my 2004, Silverado with 49,000 miles failed due to the lines rusting and causing a massive leak. I had no brake pressure and luckily it happened when I was going from park to reverse.
I noticed a trail of fluid on my driveway as I was moving my truck and trailer around. When I stopped, my brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I put the truck on a set of ramps to find the problem. I noticed fluid dripping from the chassis slightly behind the driver's door. Investigation showed that it is brake fluid leaking from a severely rusted brake line.
I was in stop and go traffic for about 3mi. When the car in front of me stopped, when I applied the brakes the peddle went to the floor and I hit the car in front of me on the rear bumper. Thank goodness I was moving very slowly when I hit him and there was now damage to either vehicle. I pulled off the road and looked under my truck and noticed a pool of brake fluid on the ground. I had the truck towed to the repair shop and after the mechanic did an inspection he told me he was surprised that I had made it this long.he showed me the lines when he had it on the lift and although the rear brake line ruptured, all the brake lines were rusted to the point of failure and must be replaced. I asked him what could have caused the lines to rust so quickly and he told me that this has been a problem with this model and year of truck. How could Chevrolet allow such a safety issue to exist. Must someone die before a recall is issued.
Unable to stop. Avoided vehicle in front of me, went off road no damage to vehicle but loss of braking. Upon inspection found brake lines severely corroded and seeping brake fluid.
Brake line rusted out caused loss of all brake fluid on interstate 95. Pedal when to floor resulting in total loss of braking. Emergency brake was used to stop but hard to control vehicle.
Went to shop for sched. Service and it was discovered that the brake lines were rusted and should be replaced. Scheduled for replacement on 5/14/13 at considerable cost.
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- Norway, ME, USA