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.
Was backing up to park and brake line ruptured sending brake pedal completely to the floor. I was able to safely park the car. When I checked on it later there was a puddle of brake fluid by the back driver side tire. Upon examining the brake lines a visible rupture could be seen behind the back driver side tire. The brakes lines had completely rusted out. Thank goodness I was already going slow don't want to imagine if I was on the highway and needed to stop.
Stopped at mailbox to collect mail. Braked, put vehicle in park. Stepped on brake pedal to place vehicle in drive, felt 'pop' sensation in the pedal. Brake pedal went to floor. Upon visual inspection, at least one line has ruptured.
1) 12/23/2014 - sitting in pharmacy rx drive-thru with foot on brake. Without warning, brake pedal went to floor. Assessed problem and determined brake line feeding rear brakes burst from corrosion. Fixed brake line next day. 2) 1/27/2015 - ironically, sitting in fast-food drive-thru. Exact same as above occurred. Determined all 4 brake lines leading to the front of vehicle were split and corroded causing loss of fluid and full braking capability. I was fortunate (and lucky) that I was at a stand still each time this happened. Could have been catastrophic if I had been traveling at any speed. Especially with the size and weight of this vehicle.
This is the first of three (3) occasions that a metal brake line on this vehicle has ruptured. The results were an immediate and complete brake failure. I have to let the vehicle coast to a stop while using the emergency brake to assist. I live in a rural area so in all three times I was very lucky that were light or no traffic.
- Ocean View, DE, USA
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Driving down a residential road approaching an intersection attempting to slow down and brakes failed, I was able to slow down enough(downshifting the transmission) to make a turn but not able to stop and narrowly avoided another car.
Leaving my driveway brakes felt soft. Parked and pumped brakes twice and line that was rusted failed. Multiple lines that are rusted badly. No brake pedal what so ever.
My 2003 Chevy Tahoe, due to premature corrosion my brake lines failed suddenly causing complete break failure. Thankfully I wasn't traveling at high speed so I was able to stop the vehicle safely and luckily my child and fianc weren't in the vehicle. This could have been a very fatal accident if I was at high speeds. Let's get this taken care of and make sure people are safe.
I backed out of my driveway and I started down the street. I got to the first stop sign in my neighborhood hood and when I pressed the brake I lost all pressure and my foot went to the floor. Upon further investigation, rite behind the driver side rear tire where the brake line is attached to a clip is where the line has a hole in it. The clip had worn a hole in it. The clip that holds it, has 2 pieces that are bend down that hold it down, and that's where the hole was worn into my line.
Applied brakes to place vehicle in reverse to back out of parking spot. Brake failure message appeared on instrument panel message display. Brake pedal went to the floor and vehicle started rolling. No brake pressure was available to stop the vehicle. Had to utilize parking brake to stop vehicle motion.
Driving at 35mph went to apply brakes and lost all brakes, this incident also happened in June 2013. This is a known defect since the early 2000. GM refuses to recall these vehicles in the northeast claiming its owner responsibility.since June 2013 I invested over $1000 in repairs. Had I been going a faster speed I could have caused a serious accident and seriously injured myself and others.
I was towing my rv (travel trailer) to a campground for labor day weekend festivities utilizing the heavy duty tow package that GM installed on these vehicles. I arrived at the campground and was driving to my campsite when the brake pedal went to the floor followed by a loud chiming and a warning light. I was going down a hill and the 2 ton travel trailer was pushing my Tahoe as I tried to stop. I barely had any front brakes and no back brakes at all. I had to use the emergency brakes and use the gear selector on low to try to stop, which it finally did after much effort. It was labor day weekend so there were lots of people camping. There was a crowd of kids riding their bikes on the camp road in the drive path of my Tahoe however the kids moved out of the way only when I screamed out of my window that I could not stop my truck. This incident could have caused death or major injury. Luckily it did not otherwise I would not be able to live with myself. I now have my Tahoe at a local mechanic that I trust. He is stating that he has to replace all of the steel brake lines because they are all in bad shape and will eventually go. I am waiting to hear from him about how much this will cost me. I am a single father and do not have extra money to spend. My nerves are shot and that incident ruined our family camping weekend. I have nightmares that the kids on the bikes did not move and I ran them all over. I am definitely scarred for life.
I was letting my mother borrow my vehicle and thankfully she was on a side street on her way home from work. She went to apply the brakes and the pedal went to the floor and she lost all brake power. Had it towed to a mechanic and they said all my lines are rusted threw and would like $1400 to replace them all. Unfortunately this is the second time this has happened and I think should be closer looked at by GM as we were lucky both times that we were not at high speeds were an accident could have occurred.
Noticed fluid spot on concrete below drivers side front door. Investigated further and noticed frame was damp. Jacked up vehicle and had brakes applied. Fluid now spewed from brake line where it is supported to frame rail. Contrary to GM's response to NHTSA action ea 11001 the brake petal went all the way to the floor so my estimation is I had no brakes not impaired brakes as GM assessed would occur. Had vehicle towed to dealer for repair. Long time Chevy owner, they have cheapened the parts to a point where they have jeopardized driver and passenger safety. My assessment is the rusting brake line problem on "all" GM vehicles 10 plus years old that have even got close to some form of salt in their lifetime are ticking time bombs. My vehicle resides in Georgia. Salt maybe once every couple of years.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the brakes failed. The brake pedal extended to the floor when it was applied. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and confirmed that the brake lines were rotten. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure occurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 263,000.
As I was backing out of my driveway I hit the brakes and the truck didn't stop causing me to hit my neighbors tree... the brake system failed with no warning or signal light or a sound. As I looked under the truck there was brake fluid all over the street. I called a buddy mechanic of mine and stated my brake lines are rusted out.
While backing out of the driveway on a sunny Saturday afternoon (June 4, 2011), I applied the brakes when approaching sidewalk and street. My 2003 Chevy Tahoe brake pedal went all the way to the floor with minimum resistance. The Tahoe rolled past the sidewalk, out into the street, and up the neighbors driveway before coming to rest. Fortunately the vehicle did not strike anything. I would estimate the braking capacity of the vehicle at 5%, as I drove it to the service station at 5mph in low gear about 1/2 mile away. Tim lally Chevrolet in bedford, oh determined brake failure caused by corrosion of the brake lines. All brake and fuel lines were replaced in a frame off restoration costing about $4,000 usd.
While starting the vehicle, with my foot on the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floor. It was a short drive to the repair shop. The brakes worked poorly with a much longer stopping distance. I kept the vehicle in first gear and drove slowly. The repair shop said the brake line failed. I have owned several vehicles with many more miles and many years older and have never experienced brake lines rusting out like this.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ventura, CA, USA