9.7

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$650
Average Mileage:
108,900 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace brake line (6 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
2003 GMC Yukon brakes problems

brakes problem

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2003 GMC Yukon Owner Comments

problem #7

Sep 182021

Yukon V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In my 2003 Denali Yukon I have to gradually press on the brakes to come to a stop and then once I press the gas to go it loses power and jerks. I have to press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, then the truck revs up real hard and then the speed continues. What does this mean, I have to gradually press on the brakes, they go all the way down to the floor, then when I come to a complete stop, I press the gas pedal to go my Denali loses power and then it jerks as I kept pressing on the gas pedal, then eventually it'll jerk and rub all the way up and then it'll go like normal what does that mean is there something wrong with the brake lines or is it something wrong with the cylinder I'm confused what should I do.

- Concerned T., Kansas City, MO, US

problem #6

Sep 182019

Yukon 2500 XL Quadrasteer 6.1L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

My wife was leaving my driveway when the brake pedal on our GMC 2003 2500 Yukon XL Quadrasteer blew out. The line had rusted through in the middle in the tunnel. This occurred in 2019. I have seen and heard of customers, friends and neighbors with GM trucks have their brake lines blow out from rust. GM has a real issue which should be investigated. The brakes lines on their truck models tend to rust out.

GM has not issued a recall and did not cover the new brake line. This was almost an accident as we live on a very busy road, bur my wife was able to steer out of the way avoiding an accident. This seems to be a prevalent issue, and a very serious issue. We purchased this truck to pull our camper and am jut grateful that we were not going 65 mph while pulling the 8000 lbs trailer in traffic as there was no warning! GM needs to investigate and recall this brake line material and fix this serious issue.

- Greg C., Lambertville, US

problem #5

Mar 192020

Yukon SLT 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,000 miles

You've got to be kidding me, GMC! How has there not been a recall for this issue? Brakes are not supposed to stop working without warning and completely fail to function! I was so lucky that I didn't kill myself, somebody else, or destroy any property as I was driving down the street at midday on a Thursday. Total loss of brakes, emergency brake barely slowed the vehicle down enough to make a last second turn into a parking lot just before going into heavy traffic at the intersection. Very, very lucky to not have hurt anybody, or any property when this occurred.

- M.J. S., Worcester, MA, US

problem #4

Oct 212016

Yukon SLT 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,218 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Coming home from working midnights, noticed a soft pedal. Traffic was light lucky for me. Went to stop to avoid a car up front of me, Pedal went to the floor, couldn't stop, pulled to the shoulder side of the road. Made it home using the emergency brake. Should have called a Tow truck...

- heazhere, Trenton, MI, US

problem #3

Aug 272015

Yukon

  • Automatic transmission
  • 155,000 miles

Had a sudden complete brake failure. Was hooking up to a trailer at the time. Cause was a corroded line. Replaced a section of that line only to have a second line fail as we finished bleeding procedure. Stopped repair and ordered a complete SS line kit. Replaced all the lines and found several were in poor condition. The rest of the undercarriage is in very good condition with very nominal rust. This is a life threatening situation. Have been driving and working on cars most of my life. Have never seen steel lines rust through in only 12 years regardless of miles. My guess would be substandard lines. Either the metal or the galvanize coating is not up to the standards. While trying to remove the line to the rear brakes it broke in half.

- ghoffmeyer, Defiance, MO, US

problem #2

Jul 032014

Yukon

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles

My cousin borrowed the car and she reported to me that she had a major problem stopping the vehicle on the 4th day she had it. She left it in a parking lot and I went to pick it up to take it for repair. When I got there I tried the brakes before pulling away and the pedal went to the floor. I would not even attempt driving it and made arrangements for a tow to the repair garage. The garage reported that one of the brake lines from the ABS to the master cylinder had corroded and required replacement. I authorized the repair and told them to inspect all of the lines and to do what ever was necessary to make the vehicle safe. It turned out that both lines from the ABS to the master cylinder required replacement and that the rest of the lines had corrosion but did not require replacement at this time. The garage coated the remaining lines, along with the gas line, with something to retard corrosion. This could have turn out to be a VERY NASTY situation had my cousin been driving at highway speed.

- yukonowner, Cleveland, OH, US

problem #1

Dec 062012

Yukon XL 1500 Denali 6.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,061 miles

While driving my 2003 Yukon XL 1500 Denali, my brakes failed. My brake pedal travelled to the floor without stopping my vehicle. I was moving at a lower speed approaching an incline so I was able to pull over safely. I had it towed to nearest GM dealer where they found one of the brake lines above the fuel tank had rusted out. The repair cost me $800 and was not covered by warranty. They had to drop the fuel tank and fabricate and install new lines as recommended by the technician. About 7 hours work.

Since then I have come to learn this is a common fault in this series of GM vehicles. I've spoken to others who have had or know of this GM problem. I also see that the NHTSA is investigating complaints. Re: Action # EA11-001. I would like to get the word out to other unsuspecting owners, warning them of this potentially lethal design fault. If it's designed and built right, there is no way a metal brake line should rust out after 190,000 Kilometers (118,000 miles apx).

- jram5958, Saanichton, BC, Canada

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