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.
My Suburban has 43,700 miles, and the anti-lock brake system has not worked for several years. I checked with the local Chevrolet dealership, and they said that the system is unrepairable, the only thing they can recommend is to pull the fuse and disable the ABS system entirely. I checked with the local parts store, and they tell me that the ebcm- electronic brake control module- was the model KH310, manufactured by kelsey-hayes, and it is no longer available. Further, that there are no used, repaired or remanufactured units available. I checked the internet, again, there are no units available anywhere, no one manufactures a replacement, in fact that model, the kh 310, is "unrepairable." Yet I'm pretty sure there are literally hundreds of thousands of these Suburban still on the road today, many which have non-functioning and now totally unrepairable ABS brakes. It is a heavy vehicle- weighs about 5,300 pounds, and with its four wheel drive is often used in the winter, esp in snowy places like wi where I live. I feel it is dangerous, perhaps even irresponsible, to say to the owners of all these vehicles; "sorry, we can't fix it, you'll just have to pull the fuse and go without ABS." I would like to see the government tell GM, or kelsey-hayes, that at the least they need to make a compatible repair unit available for sale. If I leave the fuse plugged in, the "ABS" warning light goes off, but the truck wants to roll through a stop light since the ABS releases the brakes, erroneously thinking the truck is skidding, and you have to quickly jam hard on the brake pedal to make the truck stop, and hope that the extra two feet you roll doesn't send you into the rear bumper of the car in front of you. My father gerhard is giving me this very truck because he has become afraid to drive it.
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph downhill, the steering wheel seized, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to slow the vehicle. The vehicle reached speeds of between 95-100 mph before crashing into a building with an aluminum structure. The crash was on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained laceration over the right eye which required several stitches. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed regal Dodge located at 1223 blue valley dr, pen argyl, pa 18072, (610) 863-6900, where it was scheduled to be diagnosed which was still pending. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
Brake lines rusted through front passenger side causing minor accident Dec 2015 separate incident:: high-pressure fuel line rusted through causing fuel to spray around the front of gas tank area unnoticed for 2 trips. Thankfully no fire resulted.
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500. While driving 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle struck a building. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000. Updated 05/05/17
- St. Clair, MI, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I pulled into my driveway and the brakes didn`T work, pedal went to the floor. I opened the hood and saw brake fluid all over the left side of the engine.I then noticed several rusted brake lines one of which had a large hole in it. I had my wife step on the pedal and brake fluid came streaming out of the hole.
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving at approximately 63 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. In addition, the contact stated the brake calibers seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake line had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000. The VIN was not available.
The SUV does not stop and the ABS activates when coming to a stop (approximately 5 mph). I noticed there is GM recall no. 05068 but my model is not included. That is strange because all of the SUV and pickup trucks around that time are included, my model is not. ABS light sometimes is on and sometimes not during these episodes. This safety issue happens periodically over many years with this vehicle.
Brakes failed due to corroded brake lines. Appears that rear lines failed but neither front or rear brakes worked during incident. Brake lines are very rusty whereas there is almost no rust on other components.
The first issue I had was while on vacation in 2012 - I was driving approx. 25 mph and stepped on the brake to stop at a traffic signal. The pedal went to the floor and the brake light came on, and the vehicle lost what I estimate to be 80% of stopping power. This issue occurred intermittently for the next few months, always at low speeds, with a repair shop being unable to locate the problem. After several close calls, it was eventually traced to a corroded brake line in the front driver area of the vehicle only after the line ruptured completely and I missed going through the fence separating my yard from the neighbors by just inches. That line was replaced, but with a used part because the local dealer refused to sell an exact fit brake line and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the original part by hand. The brake fluid was always within the acceptable range, and the brake warning light came on only while the brakes were actively failing. It would turn off as soon as I took my foot off of the brake. Fast forward to August 2015 - I'm coming to a stop in a driveway, and the pedal suddenly sinks completely to the floor, the brake light comes on, and the vehicle does not stop. The vehicle stopped after stepping on the emergency brake, and I checked the brake fluid. It was full. The problem this time was traced to a metal brake line in the drivers side rear section of the vehicle. This line is also heavily corroded and will need to be replaced. It was noted that the frame of the vehicle has very little to no rust and there is no rust to be found on the body or the rest of the vehicle. However, there are multiple places where all of the metal brake lines running through certain areas are heavily corroded. It has been determined that all of the brake lines in this vehicle will have to be replaced in the future to make it safe to drive again.
While traveling at very slow speeds, I have noticed that the vehicle takes longer than usual to stop. When I apply the brakes the vehicle will continue to move before coming to a complete stop. Brakes are in good condition, brake fluid is at the right level and it is not leaking any brkae fluid at all. The vehicle takes longer to stop and could cause an accident if not inspected by manufacturer. Request a one time inspection on barake system on this model and any other model that uses the same brake/parts for braking systems. There is a NHTSA recall # 05V379000 pertaining to the hydraulic antilock brakes, howver some VIN#S are not included in this recall even though my vehicle is experiencing the same symptoms and seem to get worse.
Driving on interstate and was slowing down to exit onto off-ramp. Brakes went to floor. Was able to coast and use emergency brake to stop vehicle. After getting the vehicle home, found the right back metal brake line was leaking with a hole in it and was rusted. Never had a brake line rust and go bad in 60 years. I saw there is a investigation with the Chevy brake lines corroding.
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving at approximately 10 mph, the low speed ABS modulator activated when the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving at a low speed, the brake pedal was depressed and the stopping distance was extended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
1) driver side rear brake line failed due to corrosion, while backing out of my drive way. Replaced line. 2) passenger side front brake line failed while approaching a stoplight. Rear end accident was avoided within inches. Line failed due to corrosion. Upon further inspection of the brake line system, found extensive corrosion of the entire system. The vehicle is not drive able at this is time.
Upon applying brakes loss of braking occurred on the rear brakes. Upon inspection the rear brake lines were very rusty while the fuel vapor lines below them had no rust what soever.
Moved vehicle from one parking space to another at home. While stopping brake pedal became soft so I pushed on it harder to stop and the brake pedal went completely to the floor. There was no brake warning light prior to this. Even afterwards there was still no brake warning light. I crawled under the vehicle and found wet brake fluid on the engine crossover frame and on one of the outside rear wheels. I went back in the vehicle and still no brake warning light. Several days later I started the vehicle again and pumped the brakes a few times and the pedal continued going to the floor and the brake light finally came on. I opened the brake fluid reservoir and it was empty. I later began probing around the brake lines and they were very corroded and when I pulled on one, it split in half. The brake lines had corroded to nothing.
Brakes do not seem to be as affective as they should be. It takes a long distance to get the vehicle stopped. We have had the brakes replaced and even the master cylinder but does not seem to affect the stopping power of the brakes. The brakes just don't seem to be working the way they should be for this vehicle.
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph uphill, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. The brake pedal was applied with force repeatedly without any response from the vehicle. The vehicle eventually came to a stop and was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the master cylinder was fractured and caused the brake lines to burst. In addition, the radiator would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not serviced because the required equipment was not available to perform the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
Purchased vehicle used for family vehicle, after having it for six months and 4,000 miles the brake lines have failed. Rusted to the point of total replacement, as well as the fuel line being rusted so bad that the repair shop would not touch the brake lines without replacing fuel lines, we have six children that could have been injured or killed because of this... please do something, it is expensive and dangerous. I see all other complaints have felt useless, why is this not being taken care of" how many people will have to go through this same problem? and if it is a known fact, why has there been no kind of announcement made publicly? I hate to think that our government would take that risk, where is the safety that we as americans are guaranteed by our leaders and offices"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Naples, ID, USA