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10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,430
Average Mileage:
116,850 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace all brake lines by fabricatiing new ones (2 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
2003 Chevrolet Suburban brakes problems

brakes problem

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2003 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Comments

problem #3

Jan 052015

Suburban Z71

  • Automatic transmission
  • 185,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This issue is ridiculous had all of the brakes and brake lines replaced thank heavens I did not panic and hit the emergency brake when the truck would not stop. Which broke the e-brake cables and had to have that replaced now the service braking warning lights still come on and off - I have had the truck in and out of garage all they say is the corrosion on the ABS is causing issue or that they hook computer up and it was a recorded as a loss of traction due to ice ice- it was 83 degrees

When you spend the amounts that garages ask to replace everything so you feel safe and the warning light comes on and off - you don't feel safe GM knows there are issues with corrosion of brake lines as well as corrosion to the ABS sensors why will they not do the right thing and recall

- sw102, Amherst, MA, US

problem #2

Feb 072015

Suburban LT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

BRAKE LINE CORROSION CAUSED ALL FLUID TO LEAK OUT WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME AND I HAD NO BRAKES!! VERY, VERY, LUCKY I DID NOT CRASH!

- Jim C., Shorewood, IL, US

problem #1

Nov 022013

Suburban Z70 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Brakes failed in November 2012 due to leaking brake lines that had rusted. No replacement brake lines available and dealer had to fabricate new ones. Using steel brake lines that are easily rusted was a major design flaw by GM since failure of them is a HUGE safety issue.

The previous week I had driven the Suburban several hundred miles on mountain logging roads where brake failure could have been a disaster! Also the previous November I had driven the Suburban from Virginia to Seattle at highway speeds of 70mph and heavily loaded, again thankful the brakes system did not fail. While in Virginia I washed the car after each snow storm, There are a lot of Suburbans and similar GM vehicles in Virginia all subject to this type of failure.

Note, I also have a 2003 Honda Accord, that I still have, and it has NO rust issues. Seems that Hondas are "Built like a rock!" not Chevrolet trucks!! I have filed a complaint with the NHSTA web site. How can I recover the cost of this repair that is due to a manufacture design flaw??

Update from Apr 30, 2015: Responding to email about NHTSA closing the investigation on this problem with rusted and failing brake lines on Chevrolet Suburbans including mine which I am still driving after replacing the rust brake lines. The problem is NOT due to driving the car in the "salt belt", in my case Northern Virginia. I also own a 2003 Honda Accord which I also drove in the "salt belt" and am still driving with no problems with rusting brake lines!!! If Honda can manufacture cars with brake lines made out of material that does NOT rust why could not Chevrolet, especially since failing brake lines are a life and death issue!!!!!!!!

- wrennick, Lacey, WA, US

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