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 to the store I applied the brake and it went straight to floor without any pre-warning of a brake issue. I was able to stop without crashing and found that the brake line routed over the gas tank rusted through spilling out brake fluid which caused the brake reservoir to empty. After doing some research NHTSA is well aware of the rusted brake lines on GM models, so I am not telling you anything new. I expect alternators, starter motors, and other mechanical components to fail and need replaced but brake lines should be manufactured using stainless steel. How can this be any different than a car ignition turning off causing potential crashes and loss of life. NHTSA should have GM recall vehicles and/or reimburse owners for this highly potential safety issue.
Truck was being driven in traffic and as approaching stop light and brakes were applied petal went all the way to floor and had to swerve to miss stopped traffic. Upon inspection brake line on drivers front side of truck and laying on top of the frame was rusted almost completely in half! quick thinking avoided accident.this truck has only been driven on city streets and never off road four wheeling and feel this is manufacturing defect as stainless steels lines should not rust in half if in fact they are stainless steel to begin with.truck is at GMC now to be repaired.
Entered 1st lane of traffic, accelerated and entered second lane. At that time traffic slowed abruptly. Applied pressure to brake, brake pedal went to the floor--pumped brake, total failure causing me to hit vehicle in front of me. Applied emergency brake to stop vehicle, however tractor trailer was behind honking horn, came within inches of hitting me. With emergency brake applied, forced truck to breakdown lane. Luckily no injuries--just car damage including a new front bumper that had just been replaced due to chronic GM rusting. Tow truck arrived--driver notices severe brake fluid drainage on ground and on truck bed when raised up. Truck brought to repair shop, where mechanic reported all brake lines burst due to severe corrosion. Mechanic stated--no wonder you didn't have any brakes because all lines failed--not surprised due to GMC having brake line issues. Needless to say--traumatic experience that could have been a lot worse under different traffic conditions. Think about child running across road--tractor trailer not being able to stop in time....higher speed on the highway-- think about it--I certainly am!!!
Attempted to stop at red light. Brake pedal went to floor. Swerved to not rear-end car in front. Ran red light because unable to stop. Pulled into residential side street and slammed into park. Brakes would not stop the truck. Not towing any load. No load in truck bed. Upon investigation after stopping, brake fluid spraying out left rear brake line near axle when pedal depressed.
When attempting to use brakes at highway speeds (70-75 mph), pedal went immediately to floor with very little effort. Pedal had held firm moments before. No reduction in speed from pumping pedal. No warning of malfunction until danger was imminent. A certain crash was avoided if evasive driving was not implemented with a combination of shifting to neutral, kicking on the emergency brake, and shifting to the berm. Stopping distance estimated to be at least a half mile to 3/4. vehicle suffered minor front end damage from using the berm to avoid other vehicles. Upon further investigation, a hard steel rear brake line above frame had fully rusted through. It had come apart with a large window, rather than a small perforation which would have allowed some brake modulation.
- Northville, MI, USA
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Brake line corrosion caused rear drivers side steel line to burst and lose most of the truck's braking ability. Luckily I was driving slowly at the time. In addition to the line that rusted through, all lines will need replacing after further inspection.
Driving down middlebelt road coming up to a red light I hit the brakes and the brake pedal went to floor, truck finally came to stop, looked under hood and could see brake fluid leaking out of right front brake line.
The contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle failed to respond to deceleration attempts and that the brake warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the brakes and noticed that the failure was due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 8/19/14
I was backing up a trailer with my 2003 GMC Sierra and tried to stop when the brake pedal went to the floor and did not stop. Checked out the brakes and found that the brake lines are rusted bad and one had failed. I found out this is a common problem with this truck for that time period. Reading about other complaints and there are a lot of them. This is not normal and very dangerous and there needs to be a recall for these vehicles. This is a safety issue and warrants a recall to replace these brake lines. This is a serious issue! there are no warnings, and most owners of these vehicles, like myself are not aware of this problem. It makes me sick to know that GM is aware of the poor choice of materials they used to make these brake lines and by doing so putting our love ones in danger and put money first.
Applied brakes when a deer ran in front of the truck. Steel brake line feeding the left front brake ruptured as a result of corrosion just above the fitting where the steel line connects to the brake hose. Pedal immediately went to the floor, both braking circuits failed. Had to use the emergency/parking brake to bring the truck to a stop. Vehicle is not a southern vehicle - was in Vermont from purchase in early 2003 until moving to Virginia in August of 2013.
You must take action on the GM brake lines in the early 2000 trucks. The corrosion is not normal compared to other vehicles. Either the metal is thinner or there is something in the metallurgy allowing increase corrosion. With the worst winter in recent memory, these brake lines were subjected to more salt than ever. I realize that there are two sets of brake lines and if one of them fails the vehicle still may stop albeit at an increase distance. While this may be fine for a small car. The vehicles we are dealing with are large vehicles. The brake lines are subjected to the most pressure when the beds are loaded and/or pulling a trailer. That also is the worst time for the brake lines to fail. These vehicles are also the least maneuverable in case evasive action needs to be taken. Are we just waiting for a few deaths first??
The contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while he approached a stop with the brake pedal depressed, the brake failed to engage and caused the contact to drive through the intersection. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who inspected and advised that the brake lines were corroded. The vehicle was repaired and the brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,635 and the current mileage was 115,599.
While slowing down for a light on a 4 lane highway my brake lines burst in two places failed from being weaken by rust....I had no chance to stop or advert the car and crashed into and totaled a new Buick.....the driver was taken to the hospital...the front of my truck need repair....GM made the lines out of steel even thought the exhaust system and fuel line were made out of rust resistant material ( go figure)....I have my truck serviced at the local GM dealers and they never mentioned the potential hazard....when searching the internet I found that many other owners had the same experience.....I had also been on the local and national news yet GM but they never advise me of this condition, and I'm the original owner....under different circumstances it could of been much worse...my insurance went up $1000 and the agent said the break lines on her GM truck had just burst and crashed in a ditch...people are driving their cars longer and theres going to be a bad accident...I see on the net your department has been investigating it for several years, yet no action....you could at the very least advise owners of the danger....I filed a claim with GM for help in this matter and was denied because I already had the brake lined repaired....
During major snow fall after new year 2014, upon arriving home from work, with my wife and another passenger, I attempted to stop and my brake pedal sunk to the floor, nothing, no brakes. I nearly drove through garage door. I had to cut the wheel and punch the gas to perform a "half doughnut" to avoid hitting my house. Had there not been signifigant snow on the ground, this maneuver would have been impossible. The following day while navigating vehicle into garage, we had an incident, causing minor damage to truck & garage. Upon inspection, I discovered the steel brake lines were extremely fragile do to rust. 2 lines from proportioning valve to ABS unit, & 2 lines from ABS unit to front wheels deteriorated under body near chasis. One of the lines from prop valve to ABS failed, leaking brake fluid. I went to abeloff GMC where I was informed only lines from prop valve to ABS where available. I purchased and changed them. However, as I suspected the front lines would leak due to the fact they would be disturbed while changing prop V. to ABS lines. They failed before I got the truck out of the garage, causing a minor accident in garage. I then found a company online, classic tube, which provided me with a kit containing all brake lines made from stainless steel. So, not only could we have quite possibly been killed, but I now have [2] extra brake lines that cost me $125 that I don't need. GM could at least had the decency to make all the lines availeable. I also discovered that this problem is not uncommon. Had these brakes failed a few minutes earlier, say on rte 80 w in pa, it could have been tragic for me, my wife, my passenger, and anyone in the way!
The brake lines ruptured and all breaking power stopped. I nearly slid into the intersecting street with traffic coming. The roads were icy/snowy, but no storm was occurring on this night. The temp. Outside was around 0 degrees in nh. I had it repaired and the technician noticed the entire rear brake lines were extremely rusted out and the spot just under the driver side door was the first part to rupture.
After starting the truck, I stepped on the brake pedal to shift out of park. Upon pressing the brake pedal, my foot went to the floor and a loud pop/snap noise was heard. The rear steel brake line had corroded and burst. After being towed to the mechanic and being inspected, I was told that all steel brake lines were corroded and had to be replaced. The mechanic also noted the extremely high failure rate of the brake lines in full size GM vehicles from that time period. This is the second GM truck I have owned that a brake line failure has occurred; experiencing the same failure with my 1992 Chevrolet Silverado.
Backing up toward 60 ft dropoff to unload debris.when I hit the brakes the pedal went to the floor.stopped with E-brake or I would have been down that 60 ft drop.checked under truck and fluid was running out a break in the line from rusting through in the middle of the line, not at a fitting.was very lucky that I stopped in time.that would have left a mark!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Anderson, IN, USA