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.
After checking the underside of my 04 Silverado 1500 4X4 for a fuel filter( which it doesn't have) I noticed the brake lines to be severely corroded. Most of the worst areas were in the bends around the frame from the master cylinder and along the frame.
While exiting a parking lot, I applied the brakes to stop before pulling out into traffic. The brake pedal went to the floor suddenly and with no warning. My truck went out into the road where I quickly turned hard right to avoid crossing the road. I then used the emergency brake to pull over and stop. I am a mechanic by trade, and I knew right away what had happened. My truck is in exceptional condition as I am only the second owner. The first owner had garage kept this vehicle and it has never been wrecked. I do not plow snow or off-road it. I had a GM certified mechanic fix the transfer case issue (GM also knows about this) last summer. He inspected my truck then and found nothing to be alarmed about. I did talk to him about the brake lines, to which he told me that he had to replace his in his 2004 Suburban. Two other friends of mine that both have 2004 Tahoe, had to replace their brake lines due to the exact issue. My brother-in-law has a 2006 Silverado, he replaced his lines last year, again for the same problem! this is a major safety issue and GM won't stand behind their own product? I have been a GM owner since I could drive. I won't be anymore! I am very disappointed that a recall or some type of action is not being done.
My brake pedal went to the floor due to a rusted brake line. I was able to stop but very scary. Upon inspection I realized every metal line in the truck is rusted and either already leaking or will be soon. I've had 5 Chevy trucks and never encountered anything like this with any of them. If I want to keep my truck safely on the road that I still owe $10,000 on, I am now faced with the expense of replacing every brake line, the transmission cooler lines, the engine oil cooler lines, the power steering lines, pump and cooler, and the fuel lines. This is ridiculous! Chevrolet gets good money for these trucks and they obviously messed up on this design. The rust problem with the working parts under the truck is unbelievable. I should be able to get more than 100,000 miles out of a truck that cost $40,000! I am shocked that Chevrolet put a stainless steel exhaust on this truck that will last the life of the vehicle, but the high pressure fuel lines that can cause a fire or the brake lines that could kill my family are made of inferior rust prone materials! General Motors should be ashamed and tuck their heads between their legs as they watch their loyal customers become loyal to another automaker that might have more reliable vehicles or at least stand behind their products and designs. Shame on them!
Was coming up to a red light and when I push on the brake pedal, it failed. Lost of brake pedal pressure. Got out and looked and there was a huge puddle of brake fluid on the road below the drivers side door.
- Garden City, MI, USA
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Approaching stop sign, brake pedal went to the floor without any braking. Inspection identified corrosion through brake line tubing walls causing loss of pressure and fluid. Massive system failure occured without warning.
Out for a drive in the Pennsylvania mountains when experienced difficulty stopping. Checked brake fluid. It was 3/4 empty due to leakage in lines. Took truck to the repair shop. Brake lines need to be replaced due to rusting out. The cost will be approximately $1,000. I regularly maintain my truck.
Brake line burst, very little stopping power, had to make crash avoidance maneuver, swerving off road. Upon inspection noticed all brake lines rusted badly. Will require replacement off all lines.
Was pulling a trailor with tractor and bushhog on it. 3 cars were stopped in front of me. The first one turning left. I went to stop. Brake pedal went to floor. Hitting the vehicle in front me, pushing that one into the one in front of that one. Upon inspection brake line under drivers floor had burst open due to rust. Tractor also came forward even being strapped down breaking the head gate on trailor. GM needs to step up to the plate and fix this issue with these trucks. Very lucky no one was killed or injured.
Brake pedal went to the floor with very little stopping ability. Fortunately, there was time to come to a gradual stop because a quick stop was not possible. Had the vehicle towed to a Chevrolet dealer. Brake lies were "rusted through." Cost to repair was $1199.29.
Pulled off interstate 95 to switch drivers. When the vehicle stopped and was put into park the brake lines ruptured. On inspection lines were completely rusted (all 3). Chevrolet corporate refuses any responsibility for inferior material, dealer is charging $3400 to replace lines. Exactly 2 minutes earlier and the truck would have been on 95 and this would have been disastrous and perhaps fatal.
Brakes had been a little mushy, then as the driver was coming to a stop, he noticed that he lost all hydraulic pressure. He used the parking brake in order to drive it to a safe place. Looking under the vehicle the next day, the brake lines are completely rusted out and there was a puddle of brake fluid.
I was pulling up to a stop sign in my 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and easing on the brakes when I noticed they were soft, so I pushed on them harder and still nothing. The brake pedal was all the way to the floor with barely any stopping power. Luckily there was no one at the stop sign and I was able to push the emergency break to get enough stopping power to come to a halt shortly into the intersection. The "service brakes" light came on once the computer noticed that the brake pedal was against the carpet and the truck wasn't slowing down, which is obviously too late. Upon further investigation, the failure seems to be in the brake lines just behind the driver side door. The plastic support bracket that supports the brake lines as they run along the frame had fluid dripping off it and rusty broken brake lines in it.
Wife was moving truck to garage when brake pedal went to floor; on further observation brake line had rusted to the point where reservoir was empty of fluid. We had just been hauling trailer loads of hay glad this didn't happen on open road with other vehicles involved. Bought truck new no abuse in its history. Bought 91 Chevy pickup truck new and still have that one. We have never had any problems with the brake lines on the older truck. I will definitely think twice before purchasing any more GM vehicles if they are going to put my family in danger with poor parts like this.
Traveling on interstate 95 nb when slowing down to exit, brake petal went to floor, had to pump several times to get stopped. Inspection under the hood revealed brake hydraulic fluid covering the whole driver side of the engine compartment including the exhaust manifold. Fluid was coming from a rusted metal brakeline. Further inspection of other lines identified similar rusting. Vehicle was unsafe to drive to a repair facility. The emergency brakes on this vehicle are not sufficient to stop in a safe distance at highway speeds. This is a safety defect.
I believe the original brake lines on the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have inherent design/material flaws and are unsafe to the driving and pedestrian public. I had 2 separate instances of catastrophic loss of all braking effort on the same truck within one year of each other. On 10/6/2013 was driving said vehicle, mileage 80229, on a rural road when approaching a point of interest. Depressed brake pedal once to reduce speed to 40mph and then a 2nd time to reduce speed further. However brake pedal lost all resistance and went to the floor. Pumped brakes 4 times and no braking effort was available. Pulled parking brake which was rusted out and only provided minimal braking effort. Was able to downshift and reduce speed to eventually pull off road after approx 1/2 mile. Serviced by GM dealer, repair was "replace rusted out rear brake line and bleed" at a cost of $850. Tech inspected all other brake lines and tech found no other brake lines that had excessive rust. New brake line is an uncoated metal. On 8/19/2014 driving said vehicle, mileage 86242, about to turn onto expressway entrance ramp when traffic slowed. Depressed brake petal and pedal went to the floor; was traveling approx 15mph when brakes were lost. Fortunately I was able to Pilot vehicle away from ramp and onto shoulder. Pumped brakes over 10 times; no braking effort was applied to slow the vehicle. Parking brake again provided no braking effort. Was able to coast slightly uphill on shoulder to bring vehicle to a halt after approx 250 feet. Serviced by same GM dealer, repair was "replaced the front brake lines, to both front wheels and the four lines from the master to the bpmv. Fill and bleed the hydraulic system. Remove rusted brake bleeders and replaced" at cost of $1180. New brake lines installed are coated with a black plastic or fiber.
Truck was in don mealey Chevrolet clemont fl. 34711 for a fuel leak. Upon completion of work technician took truck out for test drive. During the ride he experienced brake failure and almost struck another vehicle. This was reported to me by the service writer [xxx]. the results were rebuild brake lines. 4000 found rear brake line from ABS unit to rear wheels leaking replace brake line and bleed brakes parts $89.71 labor $698.21 total $787.92 plus $75 haz. Fluid disposal. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I was launching my boat this morning and nearly launched my truck with it. Putting the boat in the water my brakes all of a sudden stopped working. Luckily I thought to put it in drive especially since I can't swim. After driving to the top of the hill I had to crash in to a bank to stop! then I noticed something leaking above the left rear tire. It appeared to be a brake line that had rusted through.".".I had my wife press the brake pedal to find where it was leaking and it was exactly what I thought. Rusted brake line! of all things designed to survive rust, the brake lines were obviously left out. This is the first time in a long time that I felt my life was in danger. After some research I learned this is very common. I just can't believe nothing is being done about it. Doesn't seem like the GM I know to put lives in danger.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Valparaiso, IN, USA