I brought the SUV to my dealer because GM was offering $99.00 per axle for new brakes and pads with a rebate for $25.00 each axle. I then got a phone call from the service manager that I needed two new rotors because of excess rust and wear. I became livid. I said at 36,000 miles? I had no choice, he had the car and I said go ahead. When I got the bill it came to $573.00 with other work that was done. I filed a complaint with Chevrolet customer service and got a case number. I got a call from this guy who insisted that the dealer did the job and that a 7 year old car has these problems. All I wanted from GM was the price of the rotors, a rusted, replaced caliper bracket and part of the labor costs. I got nowhere with this guy and hung up. I feel that at 36,000 miles, rotors should not have gone so fast. He couldn't understand my frustration. Now I read where GM is producing higher temperature rotors to withstand rust and premature wear on Buicks and Chevys. That doesn't help me now. It seems that parts rust quickly on this model and I had to have other parts replaced due to heavy rusting and the inability of the tech to remove parts.

The pads and rotors on our 2005 Equinox failed at 18,000 miles. The car is driven only by my wife and me, and we are 66 years old. We drive conservatively, especially avoiding severe braking situations. We live in the country -- the nearest stop sign is 6 miles away. I had no warning the brakes were going -- the tip-off was a hung caliper. The nearest dealer is 50 miles away (used to have one closer but the owner had to go to jail for fraud) so I couldn't drive it there, plus the wife was planning a trip two days later. I had a local mechanic do it, so of course there is no chance of an adjustment from GM. The mechanic could not believe what cheap junk GM had installed for front brakes. I have driven a lot of cars in my time and I have never, ever seen brakes fall apart at 18,000 miles. Now all I can do is wonder, what next?