Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | |||
| 12/15/2011 | 110000 | ||
| My daughter and i left a restaurant and went about 200 feet to a busy intersection and i went to stop and my brake pedal went all the way to the floor no warning or anything just no brakes at all we could of both been killed a jeep was turning and itried my best to avoid hitting him but i had no were to go and after the wreck i noticed brake fluid pouring out under the driverside door the brakes had just been changed a few months earlier and the mec never noticed rusty brake lines because it had been painted over when my dad bought the truck but by looking at them they looked ok but there is 4 lines running 2gether and you can't see the back 2 but when i had them replaced with stainlesssteel lines i can't understand how gm would use such poor quality of lines on something as important as brake lines there are thousands otherfamilies lives at risk rightbnow how many people have to get hurt or even get killed before they do anything im lucky my daughter and i wasnt killed i have got a 49 kaiser and the lines on it are still in perfect shape but i cant believe how rotten all the lines were on my truck and we don't even get much snow in tn why have they got away with this how many people and their families have to unknowingly risk there life every day before some one does anything about it is gm paying people off or what this should not be allowed to go on they kedshould atleast send the owners of these cars to atleast get them checked out so people dont put therelives of risk | |||
| 12/21/2012 | 95000 | 1 | |
| Leaving a parking lot, i attempted to brake at the stop sign. the brakes initially worked, then the pedal quickly went to the floor. i began pumping the brakes, but the vehicle rolled out into the street. i swerved to the right, and another vehicle coming from the left swerved left to avoid an accident. i backed into the parking lot and tested the brakes. each time i applied the brakes, the brakes would engage a minimal amount, but the pedal would very quickly go to the floor. without constant pumping, the brakes would not engage at all. upon further investigation, i found the brake lines under the hood severely corroded, and a significant leak from a line directly below the master cylinder. my mechanic replaced all the brake lines except the two running to the back brakes. contrary to what gm advertises, this brakeline rupture resulted in a complete failure of both front and rear brakes. in older systems, the front and rear brakes were operated from two completely separate hydraulic systems. i understand that newer braking systems use some type of metering valve between front and rear brakes. it is clear to me that this system does not work as expected. this is a significant issue, and i am fortunate that this did not result in a severe accident. three factors prevented an accident. my slow speed, my ability to swerve to the right, the other drivers ability to swerve to the left. without all three, a severe accident would have occurred. *tr | |||
| 12/21/2012 | 95000 | ||
| Leaving a parking lot, i attempted to brake at the stop sign. the brakes initially worked, then the pedal quickly went to the floor. i began pumping the brakes, but the vehicle rolled out into the street. i swerved to the right, and another vehicle coming from the left swerved left to avoid an accident. i backed into the parking lot and tested the brakes. each time i applied the brakes, the brakes would engage a minimal amount, but the pedal would very quickly go to the floor. without constant pumping, the brakes would not engage at all. upon further investigation, i found the brake lines under the hood severely corroded, and a significant leak from a line directly below the master cylinder. my mechanic replaced all the brake lines except the two running to the back brakes. contrary to what gm advertises, this brakeline rupture resulted in a complete failure of both front and rear brakes. in older systems, the front and rear brakes were operated from two completely separate hydraulic systems. i understand that newer braking systems use some type of metering valve between front and rear brakes. it is clear to me that this system does not work as expected. this is a significant issue, and i am fortunate that this did not result in a severe accident. three factors prevented an accident. my slow speed, my ability to swerve to the right, the other drivers ability to swerve to the left. without all three, a severe accident would have occurred. | |||
| 11/04/2012 | 61527 | 1 | |
| At approximately 30mph driver stepped on brake to stop vehicle for stop sign and brake line blew a hole out resulting in brake fluid draining from lines and leaving truck unable to drive due to no brakes. gm dealership said brakes lines were rusted and rotted in various places. dealership commented that they are seeing this happen in multiple gm pick models from 1999-2006. dealership replaced lines with new lines made of alloy component. gm should have used this component in the brake line in the first place as there are many drivers out there not knowing when their brake line could burst. *tr | |||
| 11/04/2012 | 61527 | ||
| At approximately 30mph driver stepped on brake to stop vehicle for stop sign and brake line blew a hole out resulting in brake fluid draining from lines and leaving truck unable to drive due to no brakes. gm dealership said brakes lines were rusted and rotted in various places. dealership commented that they are seeing this happen in multiple gm pick models from 1999-2006. dealership replaced lines with new lines made of alloy component. gm should have used this component in the brake line in the first place as there are many drivers out there not knowing when their brake line could burst. | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 61112 | 1 | |
| I was stopped at a traffic light and the service brake pedal light went to the floor and the vehicle began to roll. there was no warning signs of an issue at this point. due to the light turning green i was able to avoid an accident with the vehicle in front off mine at the traffic light. i proceed to a safe location carefully testing the brakes and noticed the pedal to be soft. i pulled into a area quickly and the pedal went to the floor again and was able to put the vehicle in park before the vehicle moved more than a foot or two. i opened the hood and the fluid was above the min mark on the reservoir then noticed fluid on the ground under the cab. the brake lines appeared to be leaking and severely corrroded with holes in the lines from the engine compartment to the rear of the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 61112 | ||
| I was stopped at a traffic light and the service brake pedal light went to the floor and the vehicle began to roll. there was no warning signs of an issue at this point. due to the light turning green i was able to avoid an accident with the vehicle in front off mine at the traffic light. i proceed to a safe location carefully testing the brakes and noticed the pedal to be soft. i pulled into a area quickly and the pedal went to the floor again and was able to put the vehicle in park before the vehicle moved more than a foot or two. i opened the hood and the fluid was above the min mark on the reservoir then noticed fluid on the ground under the cab. the brake lines appeared to be leaking and severely corrroded with holes in the lines from the engine compartment to the rear of the vehicle. | |||
| 10/15/2012 | 112160 | 1 | |
| Bought the truck new. at 112,160 miles the brake lines failed causing the pedal to go completely to the floor while putting the truck into drive. i quickly put the transmission into reverse to get the truck stopped. brake lines corroded. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2012 | 112160 | ||
| Bought the truck new. at 112,160 miles the brake lines failed causing the pedal to go completely to the floor while putting the truck into drive. i quickly put the transmission into reverse to get the truck stopped. brake lines corroded. | |||
| 10/14/2012 | 58109 | 1 | |
| After towing my trailer to my sons and backing it into the barn the brake pedal went to the floor as i pulled out. i had just went about 5 miles at about 50mph with a 20 foot trailer. luckily the brake line didn't let go on the major road i was on. the brake fluid was running out of a rusted brake line under the cab. this truck has 58,000 miles on it and is kept in a garage in the winter. after inspecting the underside of the truck i am quite surprised at the amount of rust on the frame and suspension parts. the underside of the floor looks like new but the brake lines look about 50 years old. i have a hard time believing the government would leave a safety issue just continue on our highways. what will it take to get this problem addressed and save lives. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2012 | 112160 | ||
| Bought the truck new. at 112,160 miles the brake lines failed causing the pedal to go completely to the floor while putting the truck into drive. i quickly put the transmission into reverse to get the truck stopped. brake lines corroded. | |||
| 10/14/2012 | 58109 | ||
| After towing my trailer to my sons and backing it into the barn the brake pedal went to the floor as i pulled out. i had just went about 5 miles at about 50mph with a 20 foot trailer. luckily the brake line didn't let go on the major road i was on. the brake fluid was running out of a rusted brake line under the cab. this truck has 58,000 miles on it and is kept in a garage in the winter. after inspecting the underside of the truck i am quite suprised at the amount of rust on the frame and suspension parts. the underside of the floor looks like new but the brake lines look about 50 years old. i have a hard time believing the government would leave a safety issue just continue on our highways. what will it take to get this problem addressed and save lives. | |||
| 09/09/2012 | 89137 | 1 | |
| I had full brake loss at 55 mph coming to a stop light, luckily i was able to move the truck off the road or there would have been fatalities . i took my truck to monroe muffler and brakes and was told that all of my brake lines and my fuel lines are completely corroded and that they are seeing more and more of this in these vehicles. they replaced the brake line that rusted through but told me that all my lines need to be replaced. after doing a little research i have found that there are hundreds of cases just like mine with these same trucks. what is gm waiting for before they recall these trucks, a higher body count? *tr | |||
| 09/09/2012 | 89137 | ||
| I had full brake loss at 55 mph coming to a stop light, luckily i was able to move the truck off the road or there would have been fatalities . i took my truck to monroe muffler and brakes and was told that all of my brake lines and my fuel lines are completely corroded and that they are seeing more and more of this in these vehicles. they replaced the brake line that rusted through but told me that all my lines need to be replaced. after doing a little research i have found that there are hundreds of cases just like mine with these same trucks. what is gm waiting for before they recall these trucks, a higher body count? | |||
| 08/21/2012 | 109568 | 1 | |
| Truck: 2004 chevrolet silverado 1500, standard cab, long bed, 133 inch wheelbase, 109,568 miles on odometer. brakes completely failed, pedal to the floor, no front to back split braking available, total failure. brake line ruptured, brake fluid, under pressure, squirted on exhaust, lots of smoke, but no fire. laid down puddle of slippery fluid on roadway. pulled off road without incident. truck is standard shift, used transmission, to down shift and slow down, emergency brake was working, but couldn't stop vehicle on its own. didn't use tow, risked driving vehicle home, luckily only about 5 miles in rural area, in first gear at 5-10 mph. *tr | |||
| 08/21/2012 | 109568 | ||
| Truck: 2004 chevrolet silverado 1500, standard cab, long bed, 133 inch wheelbase, 109,568 miles on odometer. brakes completely failed, pedal to the floor, no front to back split braking available, total failure. brake line ruptured, brake fluid, under pressure, squirted on exhaust, lots of smoke, but no fire. laid down puddle of slippery fluid on roadway. pulled off road without incident. truck is standard shift, used transmission, to down shift and slow down, emergency brake was working, but couldn't stop vehicle on its own. didn't use tow, risked driving vehicle home, luckily only about 5 miles in rural area, in first gear at 5-10 mph. | |||
| 07/23/2012 | 82500 | 1 | |
| As i was driving my truck a small child on a bicycle came into the roadway, as i applied my brakes to slow to a stop the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. i quickly deployed the emergency brake to stop the truck's forward motion, luckily i was only traveling at about 25- 30 mph when this happened, had i been on a road with a higher speed limit i would not have had enough time to stop my vehicle. upon inspection by my mechanic, i have been told that all of my brake lines were rusted out and the vehicle needed to have all the lines replaced. one week before this incident, i went up the mt washington auto road in new hampshire while on vacation with my family and consider myself lucky that we are all alive today. i believe the dot should issue or take immediate action to address this obvious manufacturer's flaw as i have found out this a common problem on many similar gm cars and trucks. the dot should at least notify or have gm notify owners of these vehicles that they are in danger especially if they drive there gm affected vehicles on a mountain road or hilly terrain. my truck is only eight years old with 83,000 miles on it and these brake lines should not have failed so quickly. the dot has a responsibility to protect the consumer and they should take some sort of action to address this issue. *tr | |||
| 07/23/2012 | 82500 | ||
| As i was driving my truck a small child on a bicycle came into the roadway, as i applied my brakes to slow to a stop the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. i quickly deployed the emergency brake to stop the truck's forward motion, luckily i was only traveling at about 25- 30 mph when this happpened, had i been on a road with a higher speed limit i would not have had enough time to stop my vehicle. upon inspection by my mechanic, i have been told that all of my brake lines were rusted out and the vehicle needed to have all the lines replaced. one week before this incident, i went up the mt washington auto road in new hampshire while on vacation with my family and consider myself lucky that we are all alive today. i believe the dot should issue or take immediate action to address this obvious manufacturer's flaw as i have found out this a common problem on many similiar gm cars and trucks. the dot should at least notify or have gm notify owners of these vehicles that they are in danger especially if they drive there gm affected vehicles on a mountain road or hilly terrain. my truck is only eight years old with 83,000 miles on it and these brake lines should not have failed so quickly. the dot has a responsibilty to protect the consumer and they should take some sort of action to address this issue. | |||
| 07/21/2012 | 68000 | 1 | |
| The brake pedal when all the way to the floor. at this point brake fluid was observed on the ground and further inspection revealed severely corroded brake lines. it was luck that were not traveling faster. there is no way brake lines should corrode this fast with this low mileage. stopping to me is the utmost safety concern and these vehicles should be recalled. *tr | |||
| 07/21/2012 | 68000 | ||
| The brake pedal when all the way to the floor. at this point brake fluid was observed on the ground and further inspection revealed severely corroded brake lines. it was luck that were not traveling faster. there is no way brake lines should corrode this fast with this low mileage. stopping to me is the utmost safety concern and these vehicles should be recalled. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 04/06/2012 | 51450 | ||
| Owner was driving on a major highway when another vehicle pulled onto the highway from the shoulder. during the emergency stop the brakes began to fail, and completely failed at the conclusion of the stop, with the brake pedal going to the floor. although there was no resulting accident, the potential for a serious accident was very prevalent. upon inspection, brake fluid was found dripping from the frame rail just below the master cylinder and brake block area. the brake lines had rusted to the point of failure where the lines was mounted to the frame and held in place by plastic retaining clips..on additional inspection, the other brake hardlines were found to be rusted as well. the only viable fix would seem to be a total replacement of the existing lines, to prevent concatenated failures. | |||
| 03/03/2012 | 98000 | ||
| On saturday march 3, 2012, my son was backing the truck out of a driveway when the brake pedal went to the floor. investigation showed that brake fluid was squirting from a broken brake line under the bed of the truck and about 6 - 8 inches rearward from the back of the cab. subsequently, i found that all brake lines are defective and there will be a cost in the area of $1600 to repair these items. | |||
| 09/21/2011 | 49627 | ||
| Backing out of driveway and had no brakes. got out and saw dripping fluid near mid frame. brake line had ruptured due to excessive corrosion. all brake lines on the truck are very corroded and need to be replaced. i have never had anything like this on any vehicle at this age and mileage. | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 15 | 1 | 06/01/2004 |
| Dt: the consumer complained about the braking system. the brakes experienced extended stopping distance. the problem has been ongoing since june 2004 when he purchased the vehicle. there have been no accidents as of yet. when he contacted the dealership they said that it was the way the vehicle was made. the abs did not work properly either. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 4 | ||
| Problems with brake equipment on 2004 chevrolet 1500.*mr the consumer indicated that the brakes felt spongy as if there was air in the brake lines. the vehicle had no sopping power and the consumer had to stand on the brakes to get the vehicle to stop. the vehicle has been taken to the dealer four time but they have been unable to locate the problem. *nm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 15 | 1 | 06/01/2004 |
| Dt: the consumer complained about the braking system. the brakes experienced extended stopping distance. the problem has been ongoing since june 2004 when he purchased the vehicle. there have been no accidents as of yet. when he contacted the dealership they said that it was the way the vehicle was made. the abs did not work properly either. *ak | |||
| 06/23/2005 | 17647 | 1 | 05/24/2004 |
| Dt: the vehicle is a 2004 gm chevrolet k1500 z71 extend cab 4x4. anti lock brakes were defective. when consumer applied pressure to the abs they did not hold. on 2-11-05 he took vehicle to the dealer to be repaired, and they did nothing to fix the issue. while driving on 6-23/24-05 the abs did not hold , causing consumer's vehicle to lightly bump another vehicle. when consumer contacted the manufacturer they told him to take it to city chevrolet. he took it to them on 7-5-05 ,and he still has not gotten it back yet. consumer found that there was a recall in november . 2004 in canada concerning corrosion in the abs brakes. the vehicle he owned was manufactured by general motors in canada ltd.. *ak there is a special order part that was not immediately available in dealer inventory for the inoperative brakes. vehicle downshifts at highway speeds to 2nd gear. engine surges while driving and the brake pedal is hard to push down and doesn't stop well. *tt | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | |||
| 09/22/2004 | 4 | ||
| I had serious problems with the brakes on my 2004 chevy silverado k1500. the dealer looked at it 3 times and said everything was ok, but the delaer never even drove it to check out my complaint. this vehicle had less than 12,000 miles on it and it would not stop on a sharp decline unless the brake pedal was constantly held all the way on the floor. i paid an outside compnay to repair the problem because the chevy delaer would not do anything to fix this unsafe vehicle. i have since sold the vehicle but have spoken to other chevy k1500 owners who have the same complaint. those brakes are defective and unsafe, people are going to get killed because chevy refuses to admit to the problem of poor safety design! | |||