Hydraulic brake lines corroded causing leaks and brake failure

- Nottingham, MD, USA

76000 miles; issue ongoing beginning in November 2018 on dry pavement at low speed (under 10 mph) braking is compromised by ABS system engagement issue. Below 10 mph, the ABS system engages causing dry pavement braking to be double or triple the normal distance to stop prior to the ABS issue. This is a safety issue since ABS system pulsing of the brakes at slow speeds on dry pavement is unexpected. At a stop sign/crosswalk, this has caused a very close encounter. Vehicle has less than 80000 miles and has been serviced routinely by a certified mechanic. Replacement/service of ABS speed sensors and rust issue did not correct the problem. I have never been contacted regarding the recall that exists for this issue. Require assistance to determine why a vehicle with this mileage has this obvious safety issue and GM has provided no relief.

- Soddy Daisy, TN, USA

While driving approximately 35 mph in town, the vehicle in front of me signaled to make a left hand turn. I began to slow down the vehicle and then I lost all brake pressure. I was unable to stop the truck to avoid an accident due to complete brake failure! there were no previous lights or warning signals notifying of a brake problem prior to this. The warning light came on after the accident. The brake fluid reservoir was full. After further investigation, it appears that the brake lines were corroded causing the brake failure.

- Rock City, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving approximately 15 mph in a parking lot, the contact slammed on the brake pedal to avoid another vehicle that abruptly pulled in front of his vehicle. The brake pedal traveled to the floor without stopping the vehicle immediately. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was not called; however, the contact spoke to a technician who stated that he could repair the failure by cutting out the rotted section of the brake line and replacing it with a new section. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 127,600. The VIN was not available.

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

Loss of brakes due to rusted through brake lines. While pulling a trailer with pontoon boat, all of a sudden when stopping I suddenly had no brakes. Just came off the freeway but was going slow when the failure occurred. Need to replace now. Also, rusted through power steering lines. Already replaced. Also, rusted trans cooler lines. Will need to replace soon.

- St. Clair Shores, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact observed an abnormal sound from the rear brakes without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer (betten baker GMC located at 749 w main St, lowell, mi, 49331) where it was diagnosed that the rear brakes had failed. The vehicle was repaired. Two weeks later, the contact observed a puddle under the front driver door and realized it was brake fluid. In addition, the contact observed that the paint on the frame was failing and was wet due to the excessive leakage of the brake fluid. The contact researched online to see the complaints on his vehicle and found a closed investigation due to brake line corrosion under NHTSA action number: EA11001 (brakes). The vehicle was not diagnosed again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

- Lowell, MI, USA

My truck hadn't been driven for a couple of weeks, but there was no indication of anything amiss the last time I drove it. The truck is parked at the top of a approx. 40ft. Long driveway that is moderately steep. I started the truck and slowly began backing down the driveway and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. It flew down the driveway, going between a parked car and another steep hill, winding up in my neighbors front yard, where I managed to abruptly turn it and bring it to a stop before going thru his living room. Frequently, there are as many as 6to8 kids playing there, but being a bad weather day(cold),, luckily, there was nobody there. The possibilities of a terrible disaster are frightening. As it stands, the only 'disasters' are the ruts in my neighbors yard, a destroyed recycling container and my bank account, -to a tune of just over 1700$. my mechanic says he has done over a half dozen of these repairs lately. To my way of thinking, GM is seriously negligent regarding this problem, which I have discovered is fairly common. Are they waiting to see how many horrific events occur before addressing this" at the very least, they should give reimbursement to those of us that have gone thru this. And where is NHTSA's action on this issue??"

- Kirkwood, MO, USA

Started my vehicle applied the brake to shift to drive and the brake pedal went to the floor. I got out of the vehicle and there was a puddle of brake fluid on the ground on the driver side under where the drivers seat is. There was brake fluid dripping from a rusted brake line. I'm lucky this happened when the vehicle was stopped and not while I needed stop because it was a complete loss of brakes.

- Manahawkin, NJ, USA

Brakes failed while on boat ramp causing boat to knock me down under trailer as I was pulling drain plug.driver was able to apply parking brake and putting truck in drive. Brake lines failed brake petal when to floor rusted lines. Then found out that is very common with GM trucks in this year. Result I am pissed, a notice from GM would have been nice. What would happen if I had to stop at a intersection or on the interstate.

- Ruther Glen, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving approximately 40 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The contact noticed brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. In addition, the rear seat belt latch failed to function. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake line needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,917.

- Owens Mill, MD, USA

The ABS activates at low speed braking under dry road conditions without the tires locking up. The brake pedal vibrates as if I were on ice with the tires locked up. Braking effect is reduced under these conditions. This happens randomly and when it does I cannot be sure if I can stop in time before hitting the vehicle or object in front of me.

- St. Clair Shores, MI, USA

82K miles, original owner, well maintained and garaged. Had to stop at a red light and the pedal went to the floor as I went into the intersection.luckily no other cars were ahead of me and nobody was hurt. Dic lights came on and brakes have not worked since limping my vehicle back home.

- Davison, MI, USA

Brake line failure complete loss of brakes while driving on hwy off ramp.

- Pfafftown, NC, USA

Pulling to a stop in my driveway my brakes slowed the truck and then completely gave way with the pedal hitting the floor. I stomped on the emergency brake pedal to keep from hitting the porch. I am so lucky to have that happen at low speed off the road. That could have been a tragedy on the highway. Turns out that my brake lines are severely rusted and one of the 2 lines coming off the master cylinder now has a pinhole leak immediately above the frame where it bends 90 degrees to go back to the ABS manifold. Applying the brakes just squirts fluid out of the line. I thought a single failure was supposed to result in reduced braking power, not complete loss of brakes. Note that my truck is in otherwise great shape and I simply had no idea. It is clear that the NHTSA has been bamboozled by GM. Brake lines are a critical life safety system, installed on and in some places in the chassis before the vehicle body and bed are attached. It is not routine maintenance to rinse the brake lines let alone replace them. GM pushing this back on the customer is complete bs. You can buy nylon coated or stainless steel brake lines for less than 100 $. the incremental cost to go from steel to something that would last the operational life of the vehicle is less than 50 $. I'm waiting on an estimate from my non-dealer shop, but a dealer charging 3600 $ is not surprising considering the amount of labor that must be involved. The NHTSA decision on the issue is unconscionable. Guess it might have been different if they had run over a child at a crosswalk or if their child was mowed down by corporate greed. Hopefully that never happens, but with so many rotting GM trucks on the road, we will have to keep our fingers crossed.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

I was on my way home running 45 mph in light traffic. When I went to make a left hand turn and my brake pedal went to the floor. Scared the hell out of me. I was able to pump them enough to make the turn and luckily I was only three blocks from my home. I was able to coast it home. I raised the hood and all the brake lines are so rusty. I had my wife step on the brake and you can see one line busted. I checked with dealer and they don't offer replacement parts. You have pay someone to make the lines for you.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

Turning into an auto parts store, from the highway, when I applied the brakes the pedal went clear to the floor. My truck slowed but not enough if anyone walking or a car had been there I would have hit them. I was very lucky. Of the four brake lines one burst, two were seeping, but not dripping and the rear line was almost as bad as the other lines and its a wonder it didn't break at the same time. Going home I would have gone down a very steep hill with a stoplight and a very busy intersection. It could have been a disaster. This is a low mileage truck, seldom driven in snow.

- Independence, MO, USA

I was towing my 33' travel trailer with my very well maintained 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 pick up truck. After a four and a half hour trip on the interstate highway doing 65 mph, I arrived at my campground. As I was backing my trailer into my camp site, my brake pedal went to the floor and my dashboard lit up with warning lights. I had complete brake failure. I put the truck in park and got out to look under the truck. Right below the driver seat, brake fluid was pouring out of the brake line which had burst open. I had no brakes. Thank god this happened while I was backing the trailer in at 2 mph. Minutes prior to this I was going 65 mph on the highway, towing a 33' trailer. I shutter to think what could have happened if this line burst while at highway speeds. My wife and I were freaked out for days thinking about what could have happened. We had to have the truck towed to a repair shop and endure a very expensive replacement of all the brake lines, which were completely corroded. While the truck was being fixed I did some research on this problem and found that there were many, many, complaints about this exact same problem concerning 1999 - 2003 GMC and Chevy pick up trucks and other models. GM claims that you would still have some brakes because there are separate brake lines to the front and rear brakes. This is true, but I lost so much fluid, so fast, I had no brakes. Does someone always have to die before they force a recall? there are so many complaints on this matter and I know there is an on going investigation by the NHTSA. Enough investigating, force the recall before someone dies if they haven't already.

- Manhattan, IL, USA

On 8/9/15 at approximately 3:25pm an individual pull out in front of me. When I applied the brakes to keep from hitting him, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor board. I noticed at the time the "service brake system" indication was showing on the driver cid. I was able to drive the truck to a safe location and park it. I looked under the vehicle and noticed brake fluid on the ground under the right front wheel. The tow truck driver also checked and noticed brake fluid shooting up when the hood was up. At that time, he noticed the right front brake line had rusted through. The truck was then towed to cunningham GMC in springfield, tn.

- Springfield, TN, USA

Complete brake failure. All brake lines rusted out. Had to use the emergency brake to stop. Brake pedal went all the way to the floor. All the brake fluid was gone. Spent $1008 to fix the vehicle. No previous warning, no message until there was the complete brake failure.

- Lutz, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving at 65 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact had to engage the emergency brake in order to stop the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that brake failure was displayed across the message board and a chime was heard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the brake lines were corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000...updated 05-26-15 the consumer stated both brake lines failed. Updated 11/20/2015

- Lutz, FL, USA