10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
103,515 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Mar 102009

Sierra 1500

  • 127,740 miles
In March of 2009, the brake line on my 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 broke and the brake pedal went right to the floor. I stopped in a parking lot and checked all over and found that the brake line was rusted under the cab on the driver side. That was where the line broke and brake fluid would leak out. I had it fixed for $650 and on Tuesday, September 13, 2010, the brake line broke again right at the rear axle when I was moving the truck in my backyard.

- Woodbury Heights, NJ, USA

problem #16

Aug 172010

Sierra 1500

  • 96,816 miles
I used my truck Monday and Tuesday went to back out of my driveway and brake pedal went to the floor, nobody hurt ! I found that the brake lines had rusted out. Still waiting for repair and not sure I can afford it.

- Salem, NJ, USA

problem #15

Aug 152010

Sierra 1500

  • 152,485 miles
Applied brake at a stop light and the pedal went to the floor. The brake line above the drivers side rear wheel is all corroded and blew out. I've gotten a C quote of up to $1,200. The truck will sit until I can afford this repair.

- Washington, IL, USA

problem #14

Jul 292008

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,686 miles
The contact owns a 1999 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving approximately 45 mph the contact applied the brakes and the left front and right rear wheel exploded. He stated that the brake pedal extended to the floor. He carefully drove the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic where it was purchased. The mechanic replaced the both brake lines to the master cylinder and the ABS unit. The failure mileage was 79,686 and the current mileage was 80,058. Updated 08/27/10. Updated 08/30/10

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #13

Dec 062001

Sierra 1500 8-cyl

  • miles
1999 GMC K1500 truck. Consumer states problems with the brakes the consumer stated he has spent over $2,157.81 in brake repairs. The brake lines, right rear caliper and rear disc brake rotor had to be replaced.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #12

Oct 071997

Sierra 1500

  • 99,101 miles
Brake line blew out corroded. Had to replace 5 brake lines and 2 front caliper do to corrosion. My bill at GM dealer $957.35 for repairs.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #11

Apr 012010

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
1999.5 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD ext cab, shortbed. May 2005 front brake line burst while applying brakes due to slowed traffic on 65mph interstate in upstate NY. Used shoulder to avoid hitting vehicles in front of me, however rear brakes only on a 6K pound pickup truck, unloaded, do not result in effective braking. I had to downshift my automatic to use engine braking as well as the parking brake (which also is poorly designed and ineffective). Truck was towed to GM dealer where front brake lines were replaced as all were rusted/rotted to unsafe levels, with one fracturing causing the loss of pressure and fluid. April 2009 upon doing an oil changed, myself, I discover the all of the brake lines, including the front as well as the rear are in very bad shape due to rust. After speaking to my mechanic I have learned that the GM brake like from the late 90S to 2004 were not properly designed to deal with the weather and resist corrosion. He said at least once a week he has to replace sections of GM brake line from these trucks and SUVS. I cannot currently afford to replace these yet as its a $1700 job due to the labor involved and the fact that replacing with GM's brake lines will just rust again in 2-3 years. So I need aftermarket lines, probably stainless steel or at least something with a proper amount of nickel in it (which GM has skimped on!) which hopefully I can put on in the next few months before I get killed or someone else killed. April 2010.

- Milford, NH, USA

problem #10

Oct 202009

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
Brake line failure due to extreme rust. After accident I checked several other trucks of the same vintage where I worked and all had similar problem.

- Saugerties, NY, USA

problem #9

Apr 032010

Sierra 1500

  • 278,203 miles
Brake line let go when brakes were applied and fluid started to leak from under the drivers side under door/ truck is not operable since / currently waiting to be able to afford to have fixed as was advised that could cost up to 500 hundred dollars as all lines would need to be repaired as they all are corroded to point of more breakage.

- Sydney, 00, USA

problem #8

Jun 152008

Sierra 1500

  • 160,000 miles
1999 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3 - I had brake lines fail on 3 separate occasions. First was a hard line to the front drivers side, happened in my driveway so no crash. Second was a line coming from the master cylinder. This was while towing a trailer and the trailer brakes managed to get us stopped even though we were on a hill. The third failure was stopping at a light, luckily no one was in front of me and I had plenty of stopping distance. After that I replaced all of the remaining lines on the truck. No problems since.

- Circleville, OH, USA

problem #7

Mar 152010

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
1999 GMC Sierra pickup regular cab 4 wheel disc brakes. Truck would not come to a complete stop at a traffic light, speed less than 5 mph. Pedal vibrated then went almost to the floor. Truck bumped into car in front of it causing minor damage to car, very slight damage to truck. Roads were clear and dry, day was cold but sunny.

- Bethel Park , PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 222010

Sierra 1500

  • 115,000 miles
Brake lines failed on my 1999 gms Sierra pick up. Had to be replaced at a cost of $2000 +'s. also anti lock braking has failed due to front sensor problem, GM wanted to replace front bearings and wheel hubs to fix this for $1100 more, told them this was a recall they did in the past did not want to hear it. Had to remove fuse for anti lock braking, vehicle rides and brakes ok.

- Stormville, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 202010

Sierra 1500

  • 0 miles
After putting in new brake pads and brake rotors on my 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup truck, I lost pressure to the brake pedal. After checking for recalls and having more then one certified mechanic try to solve the issue I was told the ehcu ( electro-hydraulic control unit) was not working. The companies told me that it was a common item to go bad on all trucks 1999 and newer. There are no recalls on them and they are a dealership item. The cost of a new one is $1,068. Being that this item is a common problem and the price being so expensive when the vehicle is 10 yrs old, I feel the price of the units should be either recalled or lower in price.

- Bay City, MI, USA

problem #4

Jul 252009

Sierra 1500

  • 102,000 miles
Brake lines on a 99 GMC completely rusted through causing complete loss of braking ability.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #3

May 122009

Sierra 1500

  • 78,858 miles
Brake failure due to rusted brake line. A panic stop was attempted to avoid a merging vehicle. The brake pedal went to the floor when the line broke. I was able to avoid the vehicle the remaining fluid and slow speed stopped my vehicle. I have had other problems in the past with the brake pedal being soft and able to go to the floor. But it rebounded and stopped the truck. There is also ABS quirks as well. Vehicle is a 1999 GMC Sierra extended cab 3 door 4X4 5.3L 78,000 miles. I found the leak it was inside the frame under the drivers door in a cluster of brake lines attaching to the ABS pump. All of the brake lines in the area were seriously rusted and have to be replaced. The lines aprox. 1 foot from the ABS pump are in good shape. The brake lines seem to be rusted however the frame, underbody floor and other equipment located in the same area are not showing a rust problem. This rust problem should be checked and inspected regularly. I think a stainless steel or other rust resistant material should used in this location.

- Hobart, IN, USA

problem #2

Feb 162009

Sierra 1500

  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving approximately 5 mph on a gravel road surface, there was no response when the contact depressed the brake pedal. It took excessive force just to stop the vehicle. Prior to the failure, the contact noticed that the stopping distance increased. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and the technician stated that the front wheel speed sensor was corroded and caused the failure. The vehicle is in the process of being repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 116,000.

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #1

Oct 052008

Sierra 1500

  • 177,286 miles
Brake line running along frame to rear wheels ruptured when shifting from park to drive. Shift interlock requires brake depressed to shift from park to drive. Brake lines running from firewall to rear of vehicle along inside of frame rail are corroded and soft so badly as to need replacing. Like vehicle in shop for identical issue. When brake line ruptured, there are no brakes on vehicle at all due to a single reservoir vice twin reservoirs on most vehicles to separate front and rear brake systems. Brake line possibly made of material unsuitable for long term usage. Brakes lines also are place in an area that will collect corrosive material from roadway from vehicle tires. No crash, but $600 required in repairs. If moving when brake line ruptured, there is high probability of severe crash.

- Cloverdale, IN, USA