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.
Lost total brakes. Service shop noted severe brake line rusting. Repaired ruptured brake line. Truck will be undergoing total brake line replacement due to rusting.
Driving approx 50 mph on 4 lane highway. When slowing for red light ahead, noticed brake pedal going closer to floor than normal. Vehicle was not slowing as normal, and brake pedal was staying close to the floor. Got stopped and pulled to side of road. Check of master cylinder revealed brake fluid level to be approx. Half full. Upon checking under vehicle, I saw brake fluid pouring out from the gas tank shield.
While driving through downtown bethesda, brake pedal lost pressure all the way to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance through an intersection. Pulled over and noted fluid leakage under front right side of car. Drove car to dealer at 5mph; identified extensive rust through brake lines. Car was not drivable. I was charged $430 for parts and $2351 for labor to 'completely rebuild brake lines manually' because GM stopped making the kit. Total $2808 and nine days out of service.
- Bethesda, MD, USA
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The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving approximately 60 mph, the brakes failed. The failure occurred multiple times. A local mechanic stated that the brake lines were rusted. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Brakes failed on a rural road but I was able to stop. Tried to push the brakes like normal, but they went all the way to the floor. I was able to stop, but with much difficulty. Took it to the shop and even though I just had new brake pads, rotors and calipers put on, I need to but new brake lines in which is over $1000. Sudden brake failure is the most dangerous thing that can happen in a car. I was lucky to be on a rural stretch of road where I was able to stop without hurting myself or other people.
This is the second time I had to make an emergency stop because of a rusted-thru brake line. This time, I was entering a high-speed merge from one four lane highway to another and traffic was backing up. I had to apply the brakes slightly hard to slow down in time. Pedal went completely to the floor with about 20% of the normal braking power available. Was not going to stop in time and was forced to drive off the road to avoid rear-ending another car and onto the road shoulder at speed. Barely had enough room between a major highway sign which was next to the shoulder and the cars in my lane. After repeatedly pumping the brakes (which you are taught not to do with antilock brakes), the SUV finally came to a stop. Without the shoulder, I would've caused a multi-car accident with injuries. I drove the car at slow speed directly to my shop who recommended replacing every brake line (every brake line was horribly rusted and brittle). Custom brake lines for this repair cost $1800!! I had spent $400 on the first repair. Trust me, every GM SUV from these years has this problem and are going to cause accidents and people will be killed!!! this vehicle weighs 5500 pounds.
Coming to a stop light the brake pedal went to the floor. Only way I could stop was by using the electric brakes on my trailer to stop the combined vehicle. Examination revealed a rusted brake line coming from the brake master cylinder to the ABS module at the ABS module under the vehicle. Further examination revealed that the 4 brake lines from the ABS module to the wheels were all rusted/pitted and about ready to rust through.
Tight turn in driveway ABS brakes locked up and there were no brakes, vehicle kept rolling almost running into garage door. If had been at intersection I would have hit car on front of me! car towed to Chevrolet dealership in arlington
The contact owns 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while parking in a residential driveway, the brakes failed to respond. The contact stated that the ABS and the brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 140,000.
2001 Suburban - when I applied my brakes coming to a stop sign the brake pedal went almost to the floor leaving me barely any braking power, but fortunately since I was driving at a slow speed (25 mph) I was able to stop in time. I then drove to a garage which was very close to where I was and had them put it up on the rack to look at it. They informed me that all of my brakes lines were very rusty and the one rear line had broken, I left it there and had that line replaced but after replacing that line another 2 lines broke during their testing after the first repairs. I ended up having 3 rear lines and the 2 lines to and from the master cylinder replaced (3 that broke and 2 other ones that looked really bad) at a cost of about $800, I am now going to get the remaining 2 front brake lines replaced "before" they brake on me also. These 2 lines are the hardest to replace and I was given an estimate of about $700-$800 to replace them. The one mechanic told me that a couple of years earlier his brake lines also broke on his Suburban coming up to a red light and he had to drive on the birm to avoid rear ending the car in front of him. He had to replace all of his Suburban brake lines.I live in western pa and have been driving here for almost 40 years with many different vehicles during that time but I have never had brake lines rust and break like this. From what I have been reading, this must be from faulty brake line material, none of my many other vehicles have ever had this happen so Chevy cannot just blame it on living in a snow/road salt area. *** I plan on going with a different manufacturer when I get my next SUV.
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the rear brake failed to engage while driving 40 mph. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by using the front brake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where the contact was advised that the rear brake lines were corroded and leaking brake fluid. The rear brake lines were replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 165,000.
The brakes failed and the pedal last all pressure and went to the floor. Was successful in stopping the vehicle from 35 mph without incident. Upon inspection, the rear driver's side brake line was severely corroded and failed. Further inspection showed that other brake line are in the similar condition.
I had just accelerated from a traffic light and two cars pulled out in front of me. They were forced to stop immediately due to a vehicle in front of them making a left turn. This forced me to make an emergency stop. I jammed on the brakes, the antilock system activated, the tires started to squeal and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. Fortunately, the turning car was able to make his turn and the two cars that pull out in front of me were able to get moving and out of the way as I slowly came to a stop. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they checked the brakes out. The brake line ruptured due to rust. They had to replace all the brake line due to extreme rust. They were rustier than rusty, they were trash. Upon inspection of the brake lines I noticed that only the brakes lines were extremely rusty. Rest of underside was not to rusty at all. As a retired quality supervisor with over 30 years experience in the metal stamping industry I am fully convinced that something is definitly not right here. The brake system is a safety related item the lines should not rust out as these lines did. I believe the wrong material was used for these lines or a step in the rust prevention process was not performed that led to this premature rusting. Brake lines should not rust out like these lines did.
Brake pedal went to the floor when applied in a parking lot. Parked vehicle. Upon return large puddle of brake fluid under drivers side front and brake line had failed. All brake lines are very corroded on this 12 year old vehicle. In addition, fuel lines are also very corroded but have not yet failed.
Brake pedal went almost to floor when approaching a stop sign. Stopping ability was very poor. We were close to home, so we returned home. Upon inspection brake fluid was dripping down frame rail under drivers seat, where about five brake lines enter the ABS valve unit. The brake lines were all severely rusted to the point one failed. Very bad location for the ABS valve, as the brake lines follow the frame rail from the front left wheel to the ABS unit and are prone to collecting road salt spray. Service access is limited and awkward. This same failure occurred on my 2001 Silverado pickup in August 2010.
I was driving along and without warning when I went to apply my brakes the pedal went to the floor. Luckily I was just going to slow down for an exit and nobody was directly in-front of me. This could have been a more serious incident under other circumstances I got the vehicle home I investigated and found the brake lines were all rusted and one of them had burst a hole. This has the potential to be a very serious problem for someone that might be in a different driving scenario than I was.please look heavily into this problem. Thank you
Moving my boat in the driveway and when I went to stop my brake line from the master cylinder to the ABS controller failed causing no braking!!! pumped them like crazy and it just pissed out all of the fluid. I had my children playing in the area and I was fortunate that they were not killed! upon inspection the brake line rotted at the points where they are held onto the frame by the hangers! this is incredibly dangerous and I believe that GM should have some liability in this matter. The vehicle is barely just over 10 years old and this is a major flaw in design. The scary part is the lines look great overall but where they are placed in all of the hangers they had rot spots in them that was only apparent after dis-assembly. A normal safety inspection would not pick up on the corrosion hidden within the hangers.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Raynham, MA, USA