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.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the rear brake lines failed two weeks prior to the front brake lines failing. The contact had to have the entire brake line system replaced due to rust. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 132,000. Updated 01/02/2013 the consumer returned from a 125 mile trip, after that day the failure occured. The consumer backed the truck down the driveway. The brake pedal went to the floor. Updated 1/9/2013
I was driving into my driveway when I tried to stop the brake pedal went entirely to the floor. The truck seemed as though it was gonna hit my garage. Thankfully I have good reflexes and was able to hit the parking brake (which isn't an easy task in a P/U truck. When I got out, I noticed a large leak under my driver door. With further investigation I found the brake lines were severely corroded. One of them had sprung a leak and was spraying brake fluid everywhere. The over all state of the brake line system is in horrible condition. I had this happen to me before in my '93 Chevy truck... but its expected at twice the age of my '03 truck. I saw the NHTSA had an investigation that was about exactly what happened to me and wanted to report it.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that all of the brake lines were completely rusted. As a result, when applying the brakes to a complete stop, the brake pedal would abnormally travel to the floorboard and the vehicle would not stop. The contact had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the brake lines were completely rusted. The contact stated that the failure occurred once prior to the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 135,000.
I came out to veh in morning and brake warning/service brake system light was on and looks like my line from rear to front is rusted and where brake line meet to split to each rear wheel is rusted and wet w/fluid.
- Petersham, MA, USA
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I was driving down the road and depressed the brakes to stop and pull into my drive way the pedal went to the floor and the brakes did not stop the vehicle. As a result the vehicle made contact with my garage door and it was damaged in the incident. This incident is completely unacceptable to me. There were no warning lights prior to failure. I have taken the vehicle to a shop and the lines are rusted through.
I went to apply the brakes to stop for a red light, but the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and I had no stopping power. After this happened then a notification came across my dash to have brake system checked. But there was no warning of the failure before and now there is no indication from the computer system. Still no brakes.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 5 mph, the brakes were applied and abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed brake fluid leaking. The contact towed the vehicle to a dealer for an inspection. The dealer stated the aluminum brake lines were corroded. The dealer replaced the brakes lines. The failure mileage was 80,400.
I was in a driveway and was getting ready to leave, put my foot on brakes and put vehicle in reverse and the pedal went to the floor. All brake lines had to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the brakes failed as he entered a parking space. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by driving against the high curb. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where the brakes lines were found to be completely rusted. The brake lines were replaced and the dealer also replaced the brake pads, calibers and rotors. The contact stated that the vehicle was at the dealer for service two months prior to the failure and he was never advised of a potential hazard with the brake lines. The failure and the current mileages were 97,412. Updated 10/31/12
I was leaving my sons soccer game and driving down the road at around 25mph. As soon as I went to apply the brakes the pedal went to the floor. The brake light came on alarms were going off, the check engine light came on and service brake system message came across the odometer. Fortunately the soccer field is close to home. Upon arriving at home I noticed fluid dripping steadily from the left rear.
My wife had just dropped off our grandson and when she applied the brake to take the vehicle out of park, the brake line busted without warning. Upon examination all brake lines were rusted bad.
Truck was pulling partially loaded trailer entered curve in road going downhill & when brakes were applied pedal went to floor with obviously no rear breaks, truck nosedived when applied at bottom of pedal, truck & trailer started to jacknife had to get off brakes and steer my way out of trouble & apply only lightly until entering straight section of road. This made for an extremely intense ride down the hill. Any hairpin turns or stopped traffic in front would have resulted in a serious accident. Stopped & pulled off road to see what had happened and brake fluid was running all over the bottom of the drivers side frame rail. Closer inspection reveals obvious burst brake line but without removing inner fender or wiring harness I can not actually see the rupture and it may be concealed by the clips attaching the line to the frame. Oddly the lines have some rust but nothing which looks like it is so severe to have allowed a rupture. The attaching hardware may be allowing some movement in the lines allowing additional rust to take hold. I bought this truck new in 2003 in October I think and one thing about it that was different than the two previous new Chevy trucks I bought was the rear brakes never seemed to apply as hard as they should and nothing even close as the 2000 Tahoe or the 1994 Silverado. Since the brake lines seem to burst in front of the ABS system it could be that the ABS system is partially blocking the flow creating a higher than normal line pressure between the master cylinder and the ABS system.
While being serviced, my mechanic observed significant rust on fuel lines, transmission and brake lines underneath my truck, as well as in the engine compartment. No recall has been issued. Lines are not leaking as of the date of this report.
Without warning, I was approaching a stop light with cars in front of me. I applied my brake pedal and it went straight to the floor, and I rear ended the car in front of me. I later discovered that my brake line in the rear drivers side was completely corroded!!
I was driving my 2003 Chevy Silverado as I approached stop light an my light was red with traffic waiting in front of me, waiting for light to turn green to proceed. I applied brakes and felt an immediate pop and my foot pushed brake pedal to the floor, no brakes!!! complete failure! thank god the light changed to green and traffic started moving, I missed hitting car in front of me by inches. My truck is 2003 Chevy Silverado with only 64,994 miles. Very well kept and maintained. Was really shocked to see that so many others have the same problem and even more shocked they know about this problem an no recall.
I was driving my 2003 Chevy Silverado, crew cab, short wheelbase West on rt 140, when I observe the light at bethel rd turn red. I applied my brakes, the pedal went to the floor, and I pumped to no avail, then pushed hard, and realized that I would hit the car in front of me, so I turned the wheel at the last instant and drove into the median grass to avoid the collision. Scared my son and his friend very much. It should also be noted that there was no warning light, of any kind of malfunction..on the dashboard...even as I slowly drove it home!!!! this is very dangerous to be taken by surprise like that!!!
I was driving our 2003 Chevy Silverado in a residential area at speeds of no more than 40 mph. I braked at a stop sign and noticed that the brakes went way down to the floor and yet the truck wasn't stopping. When I applied even more pressure (at this point I was up against the steering wheel and practically standing upright!) the "service brake system" warning light suddenly popped on with a ringing bell. I was less than two miles from home, so I continued my drive, downshifting to 1st as I approached a stop sign. At a red light, I shifted into park to avoid rolling into traffic. After returning home, I noticed a line of fluid drips on the driveway. I put a dish under the area that seemed to be leaking (under the driver's side door) and my husband later confirmed that it was brake fluid and that a line had ruptured. Two separate repair shops confirmed that five brake lines had rusted out and one had ruptured. We paid over $1000 to replace parts that would not have rusted out if they had been made with a rust-proof material rather than steel. If this brake line rupture had occurred one day earlier, the scenario could have been much uglier: I had been driving to the beach, at highway speeds, with my two young daughters as passengers. Our Silverado has about 74K miles on it and has been nothing but a headache with parts rusting out before their time... updated 08-30-12
Brake line rupture from the ABS module to rear of the truck. The brake line is completely rusted through and I can see brake fluid dripping off the frame underneath the driver side door. I believe it rupture in my driveway returning from a trip with my camper attached to the bed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- East Hampton, CT, USA