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.
Got in truck started it, drove to the top of mile driveway applied brakes. The pedal went to the floor. I rolled into the road before I could apply the parking brake. An oncoming car had to brake, so as to avoid hitting me. I got the truck back in to the driveway and rode the park brake down the drive. Called a wrecker to tow to nearest garage. The brake lines ruptured in the different places, lost all brake fluid.
A second brake line ruptured as a result of rust corrosion causing the brakes to fail at 76,158 original miles. I narrowly avoided a rear end collision into another vehicle carrying a family with children. The vehicle was towed to a GM dealer where it was diagnosed. The cost estimate from the GM dealer to replace all of the rusted brake parts is $5,125 this is the second incident of brake failure as a result of rusted out brake lines. The first incident occurred at 73,870 original miles. A call was made to GMC in an effort to seek assistance with the repair amount and they adamantly refused any assistance.
The contact owns a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, he applied the brakes and the pedal depressed to the floor. The vehicle coasted to a stop. The contact examined the master cylinder and noticed that all the brake fluid leaked from the vehicle. The contact also noticed that the brake lines were fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. In addition, the contact stated that he replaced the fuel lines and pumps in the past due to corrosion. The failure and current mileages were 150,000.
The master cylinder brake line rusted through causing the brakes to fail. The truck was towed by aaa emergency service where the brake failure was diagnosed. The cost to replace the failed brake line was $270.79 the rest of the under-carriage of the truck is badly rusted as well.
Stopped in front of house and when almost stopped the brake pedal went to the floor and I had no brakes except for a very slight "drag". I stopped and looked under the truck and saw fluid coming from under the front of vehicle. It appeared to be brake fluid and it was traced to a metal brake running across the front frame member to the brake on the front passenger wheel. The line was extremely rusty and leaking profusely. Upon further inspection all metal brake lines are severely rusted and need replaced. I have seen many vehicles but none with this amount of rust on every part of all lines and the frame. This truck is 10 yrs old and is now unsafe to drive until all brake lines are replaced at substantial cost and effort. As you would expect I am not pleased but consider myself very lucky. I could have killed someone or myself. Please warn others this hazard exists.
- Port Orange, FL, USA
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I have a 200 GMC Sierra and have found now that all the brake lines have rusted through, and the frame is so badly rusty it is not safe to drive. As I review the internet there are hundreds and hundreds of similar problems, many resulting in crashes. You must make GMC face up to this problem and get these dangerous vehicles off the road.
While bleeding the rear disk brake calipers in the driveway, the steel hydraulic tubing from the brake master cylinder to the rear brake calipers burst due to excessive rust. The result was a quick loss of hydraulic brake fluid. Had this happened on the highway, all braking would have been lost due to the fact that the hydraulic fluid reservoir is not divided into front/rear compartments. After the leak, the brake pedal went right to the floor.
While slowing down at my neighborhood elementary school I applied the brakes at the stop sign. The brake pedal began to pulse. I drove around the block to my house. Upon investigation, a 12" section of the inside of my left rear brake rotor broke off. When the rotor continued to turn, the remaining section of the brake rotor caught the caliper piston and sheared it off. Luckily, I was only driving at 18 mph. If I had been on the highway driving 55-65 mph, the loss of braking would have been catastrophic. The piece that broke off was covered with rust on the inside - the side manufactured with cooling openings which are located between the inside and outside of the brake rotor.
The contact owns a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while approaching a traffic stop signal at approximately 45 mph, the brake pedal was engaged but the vehicle failed to slow down and accelerated into a ditch. The vehicle was towed an independent mechanic for diagnosis where they state that the brake lines were fractured and the entire frame was corroded. The technician also stated that the brake lines fractured due to rust corrosion and recommended having the vehicle repaired at a collision center. Two months later, the vehicle was towed to a collision center where the contact was informed the damages were beyond repair. The failure mileage was 68,780. Updated 09/27/11 updated 2/9/2012
Brake failure (loss of braking power and pedal went to floor). Caused by corroded steel brake line rupture. Inspection of brake lines showed extensive heavy rust, especially along the frame members.
We own a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup truck with around 55K miles. Last Dec 2010 the brakes failed when applying pressure. We thought the problem was one of the rear calipers; however, upon further diagnosis, it was determined the brakes lines had rusted and subsequently burst/ruptured during a brake application. Fortunately, the vehicle was close to home when the brakes failed and we managed to get our truck home without incident. We left our truck parked over the winter to deal with the issue when the weather would be more cooperative for having our vehicle towed to a repair shop. I contacted GM early March 2011 regarding our problem and GM said a GM authorized dealer had to diagnosis the problem. We had our pickup towed to a local GMC dealer and the dealer"S service dept charged us $98 to inspect our vehicle. The dealer reported back to GM that the corrosion was caused by lack of maintenance. The dealers estimate was $4,657 to replace the brake lines and perform other maintenance work caused by the lines rupturing. If the "ebcm for the anti-lock brakes did not have to be replaced, then the dealer?S estimated repair bill was reduced to $3,316. I informed GM that I've owned 10 or so vehicles in my lifetime and never had any brake lines corrode/rupture during a brake application nor did I have to have preventative maintenance performed on the brake lines to prevent them from corroding. Other owners of GM pickups/SUVS have also filed complaints on NHTSA"S website for this same brake line failure problem due to corrosion. A preliminary evaluation was opened by NHTSA to determine the frequency, scope and safety consequences of the alleged defect in GM pickups/SUVS manufactured during 1999 to 2003. The investigation number is "PE 10-010" dated 30 March 2010. The subject is "brake line failure due to corrosion". this investigation was opened March 2010 and I cannot locate any updates on the NHTSA website. Updated 05/19/11
The contact owns a 2001 GMC Sierra K1500. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact applied pressure to the brakes when she noticed that the brake pedal went to the floor and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the issue was preventive maintenance and offered no additional assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the local dealer for diagnostic testing. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
Problem is intermittent. Brake and ABS warning lights come on and stay on until engine is turned off. No detectable change in braking. Separately, but also intermittently, at low speeds (no warning lights) the ABS is engaged while braking, making the vehicle hard to stop at times. This seems to occur most frequently when turning to the left. Symptoms are very similar, if not identical to NHTSA campaign id number : 05V379000. Many anecdotal descriptions of this same problem in 1999-2002 GMC light trucks can be easily found on the internet.
This problem concerns my 2001 GMC Sierra and GM's recall number 05068. The recall concerns the ABS and a rust problem. I had the recall performed on Oct. 19, 2005 and there was 47,249 miles on the odometer. I noticed a braking problem last week with my truck. After doing a search on the internet, I decided it was probably a ABS sensor problem. I took it to the same dealer that did the original recall. They checked with GM regional manager and said it was already covered once and wouldn't cover it a second time. I had the repair done at the dealership on Dec. 8, 2010 and the mileage was 65,849. So the effect of the recall only lasted 18,600 miles. I know 5 years have past, but the same issue in that few miles? I sent an email to GM on Dec. 9 and they phoned me this morning. Said the vehicle age was such that they wouldn't do anything. If I had 150,000 miles or so on the truck, I wouldn't think that much about this. However, this is a problem that GM issued a recall on and from what a understand, the original recall did nothing but remove rust from the sensor and treat the surface. I would think a recall would last more that 18,600 miles. I don't know if you have had any other people with the same concern about the recall only stalling a problem later on down the road, but wanted to make you aware of the concern I have. The brakes will fail at low speeds when they are applied and the message center in the dash does not give any message. Thank you.
Braking system began failing at low speeds (< 10 mph), almost causing me to rear end vehicles when trying to stop. Took the vehicle to a dealer, who cleaned the wheel speed sensors at a cost of $110. One month later, the brakes began failing again and after researching on-line, found a GM recall for 1999-2002 GMC Sierra. Contacted GM but was informed only vehicles with certain VIN #'s are included, and mine is not one of them. I have children and frequently drive in school zones around school buses and children at low speeds (<15 mph). This is a very dangerous situation because the vehicle will not stop.
Driving at approximately 35 mph, applied brakes when approaching a red light. Brake pedal went down to the floor, truck went into the intersection and finally came to a stop. There were no indication of problem before this occurred. Truck taken to a repair shop. All brake lines were rusted and were replaced. I requested that the service station save the rusted parts which are now in my garage.
One of the brake lines failed while I was stopped in traffic nearly causing a collision. I was stopped with my foot on the brake when the pedal suddenly went to the floor and the truck moved forward several feet. I pushed the pedal again and the truck stopped but the pedal traveled nearly all the way to the floor. I looked and saw brake fluid leaking from a hole in one of the brake lines. The lines are all very rusty/corroded and the blown line was outside the frame below the drivers door.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Palmyra, VA, USA