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.
I was driving on the freeway and all of a sudden I had 0% of my brakes and all the brake fluid was gone my emergency brake also failed prior to this I put in brake fluid and it all leaked out within a matter of moments
Lost all brake fluid in the reservoir, brake line leaked all of the fluid out, I did not have any breaks, awful time trying to stop. The mechanic informed, it happens a lot with Suburban
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, excessive force had to be apply to the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The brake warning light illuminated along with an indication to reduce brake power. The contact stated that when depressing the brake pedal, she could hear the air and a humming noise. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor the manufacturer made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
I purchased this vehicle used in October 2019. It has 180,000 miles but is in good overall condition. The problem is not exclusive to this vehicle or even this type of vehicle. The issue is rusty hydraulic brake lines. This problem has plagued older vehicle owners, especially in the rust belt midwest, since hydraulic brakes were invented. Some conscientious manufacturers such as Volvo, have switched to a brake line material called cunifer or nicopp, a copper nickel alloy C70600. This material performs like conventional steel lines but without the corrosion problem. I am a ase certified technician, and have been repairing vehicles as well as restoring cars as a hobby for well over 50 years. Over this time period I have blown many brake lines. I have been lucky in that it never happened to me in an emergency stop where damage and or serious injury could have occurred. This latest incident occurred early in the morning at a stop sign in my residential area. There were no other cars or people around. I applied the brakes the vehicle continued moving as the brake pedal went to the floor. Luckily I was able to slow down turn around and slowly move back into my driveway. Since modern vehicles are lasting longer and do to new vehicle costs motorists are keeping their cars longer. The basic american vehicles brake lines have not changed much in the last 50 years, other than some cheap attempts at external coatings. Why not mandate all manufacturers use the vastly better copper nickel lines. It would definitely save lives and injuries not to mention costly vehicle damage.
While sitting at the mailbox checking mail and pressing on the brakes firmly, the brake pedal suddenly went to the floor and the warning lights flashed red repeatedly saying to check the brake system. The brake fluid was leaking all over the place. Fortunately there was enough braking ability left to park the vehicle in the driveway. Also, I am thankful this did not happen on the highway.
Re: "G.M. resists recalling trucks over brake lines", NY times, July 7, 2014 in spite of my 2003 Chevy Suburban passing New Hampshire's mandatory safety inspection in may of 2018, in August of 2018 a brake line burst, resulting in loss of brake function. The line burst at a point below the driver's door and just forward of the ABS modulator, where the lines cross over the top of the frame and are exposed to wheel spray. At the point of failure, the lines are overlaid and obscured by a large bundle of electric wires. The attached photo shows the failure point, with the sheathed wire bundle moved up out of the way. The mileage at the time was approximately 167500. With regard to the NHTSA determination not to recall "almost 1.8 million full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles from the 1999 to 2003 model years for corrosion-related brake failures", as summarized in the 7/7/14 NY times article, does NHTSA's decision to absolve GM of responsibility on this issue also absolve NHTSA and/or GM of responsibility to notify owners that they are in grave danger if they are still operating their vehicles with the original brake lines" NHTSA should know from their own records that a large number of these vehicles are still on the road. I know because I see them every day. As for GM's excuses: '"G.M. has resisted recalling the pickups and sport utility vehicles, telling regulators that rusted brake lines are a routine maintenance issue." Obrake lines are not a moving part. How are they "maintained"" I have more to say, but you are limiting me.
Brake lines rusting. Twice in a month the brakes failed after a hard stop at a traffic light. Lucky for me & others there were no cars in front of me or trying to cross the intersection. After applying the brake hard to stop, the brake pedal continued all the way to the floor and the car did not stop. The mechanic told me that the brake lines rusted and therefore the brake fluid leaked out of the system
Without warning brake line blew a hole and no brakes. No warning and total loss of brakes. Service brake system light came on. No help with that. Fortunately I was able to pass on right shoulder threw the grass. Almost a three vehicle accident. Need to have this problem addressed and taken care of. People could have easily been injured or killed.
Tamara inflators I'm loosing brake fluid as I drive I'm leasing the automobile from quality auto also they said it's okay to still drive the car with a gas in the truck but it's saying needs gas I keep smelling gas after he said it passed road inspection test ! I'm very concerned it more wrong if I jam or pump the brakes I can not stop I'm immediately. Im unsure what my actual mileage is. The sensors are not working when I went to uncle ed's or even other auto shops I do have photos and videos
I just started leasing the vehicle from quality auto that says that the car is road ready but have lots of hazardous things to it a very bad gas leak that there taking there time to fix and my hood of my car won't stay down...it's 7 days into my car lease and there promises have been broken and won't trade me another car.
My complaint is that GM used substandard materials in of all things the brake lines! I lost all braking ability when one of my brake lines blew due to rust. How does this happen? I should have had at least partial braking ability due to the front and rear lines being separate. Luckily for me this happened right before my families thanksgiving trip, or else we would have been doing 70 on the interstate when this happened! please don't let GM get away with this!
Brakes failed while driving vehicle shortly after leaving my house while driving down my driveway. The brakes were working fine when I started the truck and completed a 3 point turn to turn the vehicle around in my driveway. As I started going down my driveway and went to apply my brakes to slow the vehicle down that's when the problem occurred. Luckily I was driving slow, under 15 mph, when I experienced the issue: The brake pedal went all the way to the floor and the vehicle barely slowed down. I started to pump the brakes which did slow the vehicle some and I also employed the emergency brake which enabled me to bring the vehicle to a stop. Had I been in traffic, and not just in my driveway, I most likely would have collided with another vehicle as I had very little control over stopping the vehicle when the issue happened. The issue was due to a rusted rear brake line under the vehicle. The single brake line feeding both of the rear brakes had burst in the vicinity under the drivers seat. The brake line burst while I was going down my driveway as evidenced by the amount of brake fluid spayed onto my driveway when I first attempted to apply my brakes while driving down the driveway and at each point where I pumped the brakes. I was shocked that a single brake line bursting would leave my entire vehicle without brakes. Why is there a front and rear reservoir if they don't matter? there should have been at least a safety alert about this potential danger so I would have known to watch for this obvious safety flaw on my Chevrolet Suburban. After inspecting the rest of my brake lines I have found that 100% of all my brake lines are severely rusted and will need to be replaced. The Chevrolet dealership near my house has already quoted me a repair estimate of $2,100 over the phone, but will need to see the vehicle first to be more precise in their estimate.
Brake lines rusted and leaking. Brake line to the rear brakes leaking on drivers side about as far back as rear door latch, about half way back of the gas tank. Brake pedal will go to the floor with minimal stopping ability and brake fluid leaks.
This truck is equipped with a supplimental vacuum pump on the brake booster, when it fails braking is reduced by 50%. the part has been discontinued by Chevy with no plans for a replacement. I have had the vehicle in 3 shops complaining of poor brakes, and finally theres a solution. What am I suppose to do, scrap out a $10,000 vehicle ? im sure this hidden problem has caused a many accidents that could of been avoided.
I have a very hard time stopping the vehicle suddenly. Pedal will go all the way to the floor. ABS never activates because wheels will not even attempt to lock up. (except in snow or ice) when sitting still pedal will push entirely to the floor. Have replaced all brakes and rotors and front calipers and master cylinder. Seems to have all the symtoms of campaign number 04V045000, but when I enter my VIN number, that recall does not come up. I rearended someone about a year ago ( no damage) since then I make sure to leave about 150 feet between me and the car in front of me.
A complete loss of braking ability, ruptured brake lines. Lines between proportioning valve and ABS pump ruptured and failed completely. Lines rusted and failed. No accident and no injuries. My wife was driving, vehicle was operated in reverse {backing up}, she then shifted to forward, brakes failed, pedal went to floor, and rolled from a parking lot into a highway, fortunately no other traffic was present.
Brake line rusted through causing dangerous situation where vehicle is slow to stop and does not stay stopped when needed such as traffic lights, hills, stop signs, etc.
While slowing from 55mph to make a turn off of state highway, brake system failed at approximately 35mph due to ruptured steel line. Pedal went fully to floor, brakes released and turn off was missed. Thankful nobody was in the way! shocked that this is apparently a common issue with this vehicle at just 13yrs and 150K miles!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mounds View, MN, USA