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.
Brake line rusted through directly beneath the driver's side frame near the ABS pump/module. Stream of fluid shooting out. Further inspection showed all lines corroded, covered in rust...even in locations where exposure to moisture and salt does not occur. Does not make sense..my wife's Ford escape is close to same year, not a speck of rust...must be bad material or bad routing...or better material and protection from elements on escape...is there a recall for this" Ford recalled our escape recently to protect against rust out of steering components? will GM do the same for brakes? my 2003 Suburban has same issue...every line covered in rust...regardless of location...but no burst yet...crossing fingers it is still safe to drive...how much rust is ok to have on my lines? has GM said "
A brake line burst due to rust and corrosion, almost resulting in a rear end crash. I had to take the truck into the berm to avoid the crash. After inspection all the brake lines were corroded and rusty and had to be replaced. Also found that the fuel lines were also rusted, corroded and leaking. They also had to be replaced.
Truck experienced total brake failure while pulling into a parking spot. Service station inspected brakes and found all metal brake lines rusted and leaking brake fluid. Please note the relatively very low mileage of the vehicle at the time of the incidence suggesting major material defects. According to a published report from April 5, 2010 (see: wot.motortrend.com/NHTSA-probes-19992003-GM-trucks-for-possible-rusted-brake-lines-8152.html) NHTSA is investigating this issue.
Came to a traffic light pulling a travel trailer - pedal went to floor - no brakes at all. The trailer electric brakes was the only way to slow the down. Lines are rusted out.
I was traveling down a road at 20 mph and went to apply my brakes as we were approaching a red light. The brake pedal went right to the floor without warning and I was involved in a 4 car accident caused by a total brake system failure. The vehicle was towed to the garage and a majority of the brake lines had to be replaced due to rusting. The brake lines rusted at the intersection to the brake module mid vehicle so when the front lines failed, the pressure boost to the rear lines caused them to also fail. So the concept of dual brake systems was defeated due to a single point failure problem. Also, the brake fluid saturated the rear brake rotors so the emergency brake was non functional. The vehicle was a 2000 Silverado which was a $35000 vehicle where the brake lines lasted 7 years. I also own a 1987 S-10 pickup used in the same environment and the brake lines do not exhibit the corrosion seen on my Silverado brake lines. Obviously GM used substandard brake lines in the construction of the 2000 Silverado. I own two vehicles made by the same company and used in the same environment. Therefore, it is not an environmental issue that causes the brake line failure. The official comment from GM that rusted brake lines are not a safety issue because the vehicle can be stopped with a dual braking system is incorrect because when the rusted brake lines fail, both braking systems fail and the vehicle cannot be stopped safely.
- Florence, MA, USA
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Rusted brake lines. My brake lines rusted through and I lost all of my braking. I have to replace all of my brake lines and it will $700. GM needs to fix this problem before someone dies, luckily I was going slow when this happen. Also I purchased this new back in March of 2000.
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the brake sensor light illuminated as the brakes malfunctioned and became unresponsive. The contact had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired by an independent mechanic, who advised the contact that the brake lines were rusted. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 36,000.
Was backing boat trailer into water and brake pedal got very soft. No accident the trailer was empty and the truck stopped. Pulled the boat out of the water up the hill, tried to stop on flat ground and the brake pedal went to the floor. The brakes worked somewhat, but now well. Found a brake line rusted through near the left rear wheel, brake flood running out freely. Was able to clamp off line and leave removed trailer to get truck to a repair shop. Several lines looked rusty at the time. A second line has ruptured since then. It is one that is on the frame rail under the cab.
First time the brake failure occurred was in the driveway. My son, a newly licensed driver was taking the vehicle to school when he came back into the house and said the brakes on the truck don't feel right and the pedal goes to the floor. He stated that as he was backing out of the driveway, the brake pedal went to the floor. As a mechanic, I took the vehicle to the shop and found the brake line from the master cylinder to the rear brakes had failed. I replaced this line. Less than a month later another brake line burst when I had my foot on the brake in a parking lot. This time it was the brake line from the tee near the differential going to the left rear brake. All brake lines will now be replaced. My personal opinion is this is a defective part. I know I live in an area where deicing chemicals are used on the roads in winter, however, to avoid rust problems on this vehicle, the underside of this vehicle is power washed weekly during the winter months to remove these chemicals. Frankly, the brake lines do not look that bad. It's like they just develop tiny "pin holes" in specific areas.
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the engine was started and the brakes were applied, but the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic, who stated that three of the brake lines were rusted and became fractured, allowing all of the brake fluid to leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 106,000. The VIN was not available.
Upon backing up to leave a parking lot, it was immediately apparent there was a loss of brake pedal, I.e. the brake pedal went to the floor. There was enough brake left to come to a stop and to drive to the nearest repair shop, but definitely not safe to continue driving beyond that. There was no indication prior that the brakes were failing. After inspection the repair shop estimated that at least 3 of the brake lines rusted through.
The flex couplers that attach the hard brake lines to the ABS module are rusted to the point they are leaking now. Besides the brake lines, the truck is rust free. This is a 100% safety issue that GM still continues to ignore.
On the expressway on the way from work traveling approx. 50 mph when traffic stopped. I hit the brake pedal and it went to the floor, thank god there was enough distance between cars that I pumped the pedal and downshifted to stop the car. When I had a chance to look for the cause I found out that it was the metal brake line had rusted out ( pin hole). The Chevy dealer indicated the GM doesn't make this line so I have to have line bent by a garage.
This incident has occurred 3 consecutive years. September 2011, 2012, & 2013. All incidents happened driving downhill on my address road. The brakes/brake lines failed/gave out without any warning in all incidents. Brake pedal went completely to floor in all incidents. I was able to shift down in gear all times but luckily I was driving slower & there were no other vehicles in front/behind me. It was difficult to get truck stopped at bottom of hill. I have had 2 repairs to damaged brake lines & now headed for a third at a dealership.
Started truck. Put foot on brake pedal. Felt usual resistance at brake pedal. Put truck in drive. Brake pedal went to floor. Brakes had a total failure. Truck rolled across street while I was shifting truck to neutral and trying to stop. Steel brake pipes were not leaking before I started the truck. Steel brake pipes have at least 2 leaks in the pipes now. 1 leak is in the rear brake supply (steel) pipe between the master cylinder and the ABS module. The other leak is in a steel brake pipe near the ABS module. Brakes worked fine, with no leaks, when I had driven the truck a few days before. Failure was sudden and total. I had no brakes as soon as the failure occurred.
Brake line from ABS control to rear wheels, line ruptured due to corrosion. Thankfully I was backing up at a slow speed, brake pedal went to floor as I applied brakes, losing all brake fluid. I replaced the rear section of brake line but need a total brake line replacement but couldn't afford it then and still can't afford to have it done, luckily I don't have to drive the truck for everyday use. Had I been pulling the boat trailer, my enclosed trailer, or just traveling at highway speeds I don't think I would have been able to stop. I have since learned many other SUV and light trucks made by GM in the 1999 to 2006 model years have similar brake line corrosion issues.
Brake line failure twice. Two different brake lines failed under pressure [once when stopping at a stop sign] [once when putting vehicle in gear] emergency/parking brake used to stop pick-up both occasions
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the brakes failed to engage while he attempted to park at 10 mph. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 231,000.
While approaching stop sign/intersection brake pedal went completely to the floor with no resistance, truck failed to stop until well past intersection. Have experienced ABS pulsating and soft pedal several times prior to this incident since approximately 30,000 miles, this truck has been well maintained and has very low miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rogers, MN, USA