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.
While driving my 2004 Chevrolet Z71 crewcab Silverado the brake pedal went all the way to the floor with no warning sign such as soft pedal or warning light. I avoided rear ending the car in front of me because I was going slow enough in traffic to use my emergency brake. Upon inspection if found the brake reservoir below minimum and no visible leaks in my garage so I filled with dot3 fluid per owners manual. Upon depressing the brake pedal seeking a firm pedal the rear hard brake line burst. Further examination revealed all brake lines were rusted and in need of replacement, not just the burst line. My truck is not a daily driver and seldom driven on salted or chemical treated roads. When it is I always take is to my local car wash that has an undercarriage wash. I have noticed multiple complaints on brake lines for this vehicle with no recall. This is the first time I have ever heard of brake lines rusting to failure on a vehicle that is under 20 years old. Please insist Chevrolet do a recall before someone gets hurt and those of us that own this vehicle can be reimbursed, retroactively if necessary. Thank you.
My wife was transporting me to my first check up after major shoulder surgery, when the brakes failed. Upon a mechanical inspection, it has been determined that the brake line rusted totally through. We were very lucky she was able to get truck stopped with no injury to us or anyone else. Not a good situation with my shoulder totally immobilized.
Driving into work this morning I tried to stop to and the brakes when to the floor. I looked underneath and there was brake fluid leaking from my brake lines near the drivers door on top of the frame rail.
All my lines under truck rusted out brake lines shift linkage transmission lines. Brakes were the worst lines popped from rust.I keep this truck in a garage not used commercially. I'm a hospice nurse and need to get where I'm going. I keep this truck mint detailed twice a year professionally maintained every 3000 miles.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
1st incident Nov. 2013 my wife was driving with the kids and was coming to a stop at a light and her brakes went all the way to the floor and had to swerve into shopping plaza entrance to avoid a accident. Took it to the shop to have brake line fixed. 2nd incident was Nov. 2013 while bleeding brakes at the shop another break line broke in the rear so I had to have the shop fix that also. Dec. 2013 while my wife was driving to supermarket, while driving in traffic someone cut in front of her and which caused her to hit the brakes & another brake line blew which was accident involved.
- Brick, NJ, USA
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My wife had just left our house and as she went to stop at a stop sign the brake pedal went to the floor and she had to use the emergency brake to stop. The brake lines had rusted and blew a hole in the lines.
Stepped on brake and peddle went to the floor. Warning chime and brake light came on simultaneously. Pulled into convenience store and discovered brake fluid dripping out of brake line adjacent to drivers side frame rail. Location was aft of bend radius where the brake lines turns to go up to the master cylinder. Drove vehicle at very low speed one mile to home, pumping the brakes to get some peddle pressure. Inspected brake line and found it to be very rusted. Vehicle is in otherwise excellent condition for its age.
I was going up a hill in Vermont and the brakes let go, pedal to the floor. My truck slid backwards, jack knifed my trailer which swung around and smashed into the side of my truck. Took my truck to have the brake lines replaced because they were totally rusted which caused them to break. My gas line is in the same condition now. It is so rusted my mechanic was afraid to touch it for it would break.
While exiting I95 and trying to come to a stop, my brake pedal went to the floor and I almost hit the car in front of me. I had a ruptured brake line under the drivers side door and it cost me $200 to get replaced.
Brake lines under forward side of drivers door totally rusted through. Total loss of brakes while towing a trailer. Brakes felt soft prior to complete failure but no warning indication in instrument cluster until total failure. Brake fluid gushing onto the ground.
While driving vehicle front left steel brake line burst due to excessive rust. After inspecting the remaining lines under the vehicle all of the metal lines, including the fuel and power steering lines are excessively rusted to the point they needed to be replaced.the repair cost 1200 dollars.
I was driving home from errand running and found the brake pedal going almost to the floor. Found a puddle of brake fluid under the truck near the back of the cab and bed of truck. Called my service person and he said it was probably a ruptured brake line, and from the description of where the puddle was it was probably above the gas tank where the line is secured to the frame. He also stated that he has repaired multiple Chevy trucks with the same problem. I have seen the underside of my truck and all the lines are rusted, including fuel and transmission cooling lines.
I attempted to stop in my driveway and the brake pedal went to the floor. Fortunately I was only going 5 mph because I had almost no brakes. I stopped and looked under the vehicle. A brake line was gushing out brake fluid. I had it towed to the dealer. The brake line rusted and developed a leak without warning. What ever happened to dual brake systems - I lost almost all braking without any warning. Had I been going down a steep hill, I would have been killed.
Driving to work pushed on the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. Inspected to find a rusted brake line broken just under the drivers side front door. Also the brake lines have major rust at rear wheel. All of the lines are rusting and need replaced.
Noticed that all the front brake pads have very little wear and even the rotors are not being worn (either the entire surface (lf inner rotor) or just on part of the rotor surfaces). The back brake pads were worn down and had to be replaced and seem to be wearing fine. Is there a problem with the front brakes not functioning on these Chevy trucks? the front brakes are definitely not functioning properly.
The contact owns a 2010 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the side of a bridge. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and rolled over three times before landing on all four wheels. The driver and front seat passenger sustained several bruises to the body. A police report was filed. The air bags failed to deploy with the severe impact. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000....updated 10-24-13 the consumer stated while driving and attempting to stop the brakes failed to operate. The consumer applied the emergency brake the vehicle swerved into the grass where it stopped. The consumer owns another Buick GMC with the same issue. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 29,000. Updated 11/12/2013
Brakes failed - lines rusted - mechanic tells me that they are getting several similar situations a week on this model of chev. His is a small ;shop. While the truck did stop, the pedal went to the floor and the truck took a long time to stop. Luckily I was not in traffic. I would have never stopped in traffic. I am 70 and have owned lots of cars and trucks over the years in Maine, and I can tell you I have never had a brake line rust through like this. The company is using a material in brake lines that are unusually susceptible to rust.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Purcellville, VA, USA