10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 146,589 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Brake lines rusted thru. I have had several 80S 90S and 2000 2001. 2002 Chevy with rusted brake lines which could have been a fatal accident.
- Prior Lake, MN, USA
Was driving around 45mh and was coming to stop sign but when I went to use brake the pedal went to the floor. I kept pumping which seemed to help just enough to turn into the drive way of a mall that happened to be closed. I am so thankful that it was late at night or I would have smashed into someone. Shop said main brake line rusted through, a common problem that Chevy could care less about. Very sad Chevy........
- Brooklyn Park, MN, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact started the ignition and the brake pedal extended to the floorboard without warning when it was depressed. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake cable failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
- Fairfield, CA, USA
Passenger rear brake line ruptured with complete brake failure. Passenger front brake line ruptured while repairing the rear lines during the bleeding process. GM's statement that their vehicles still have braking to 2 wheels during a line failure is incorrect. When the line ruptures there are no brakes at all. Thankfully the incident happened as I was leaving my driveway and not on highway the day before. I was able to downshift and use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle before any collisions.I've owned over a dozen cars in my life. I have never seen such extensive corrosion on brakes lines. It's unfathomable that GM would use inferior and non-corrosion resistant metal in one of the most important systems in any car. There will be multiple accidents due to this if there haven't been 100's already.
- Rockville, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving approximately 4 mph on dry road surfaces, the ABS engaged when the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred whenever coming to a stop. In 2005, the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the contact had not experienced a failure at the time. The remedy was insufficient and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000. Updated 04/08/16
- Brighton, MI, USA
Rusted brake lines to rear driver wheel leaks fluid resulting in vehicle not able to stop. Collision nearly occurred as result of loss of braking.
- Clinton Twp, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. While driving approximately 55 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the pedal extended to the floorboard without warning. The contact swerved in order to avoid crashing into another vehicle. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal and it returned to normal. The contact was able to drive the vehicle without incident. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred while the contact was driving approximately 55 mph. The contact crashed into another vehicle. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the anti lock wheel speed sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
- St. Louis, MO, USA
I was driving my 2000 Suburban at 60 mph on the highway on September 29,2015 when I needed to brake for traffic. The brake started to stop but then went all the way to the floor. I had no brakes and had to go into the ditch in order to prevent a serious collision. There was a main brake line failure. I have contacted Chevrolet about the failure but they have yet taken any responsibility for the poor design. This issue is very well documented all over the internet for rust failure on brakelines on this vehicle and yet Chevrolet has yet to notify anyone of the possibility of complete brake failure and more importantly, done anything to correct the problem. This needs to be addressed before anyone is killed. I was driving with my 18 month old granddaughter at the time. If I had not acted quickly, the outcome could have been devastating.
- Ramsey, MN, USA
Emergency brake went out around 30,000 est first time. I replaced the shoes not sure what year/ but now the left side no shoe left. The clips do not hold the shoes in place and end up wearing out the shoe and diskhat. Note: This is a very poor design. For years I never used the ebrake now I have converted the Suburban over to a manual transmission and need the ebrake.
- Las Cruces, NM, USA
While driving at 30 miles per hour applied the brakes and brake pedal became soft and went to the floor. The vehicle barely came to a stop before I hit anything. No warning lights or messages appeared before this happened. Found brake fluid leaking from rusted metal tubing on frame just behind driver's side front wheel.
- Argenta, IL, USA
I applied the brakes and the pedal traveled all the way to the floor...I pumped them and was able to stop to avoid collision...I inspected the truck and saw brake fluid coming from under the vehicle above the fuel tank...I've seen numerous reports about this issue....the cheapest estimate was $600 dollars to fix...I will attempt to repair myself if it's not to difficult.
- Greenville, NC, USA
Total braking system failure (including emergency brake) on my 2000 Chevy Suburban. The day before the incident occurred, I noticed the brake pedal going lower than usual when pressing on it. I checked the fluid reservoir and notice that it was almost empty. I then added fluid to the full line on reservoir and that seemed to solve the problem. Next morning on my way to work, the brakes failed as I was approaching a busy intersection. The pedal went all the way to the floor as I was approaching the intersection at about 20 mph. I pressed hard on the emergency brake on a last failed attempt to stop the vehicle. I shifted to lower gears, reverse, and park without success. There was no traffic ahead on the intersection or traffic on the left or to the right approaching as I made a right turn. The Suburban slowed down on its own to a safe speed where I could turn into a driveway off the busy road. I'm not sure what to do with this vehicle. The mechanic tells me that it will cost over 1000 to fix it.
- Canfield, OH, USA
I noticed my 2000 Chevrolet - Suburban K2500 vehicle pulling to the left at light to moderate braking. Noticed oil like stains to under side of drivers front wheel well area. I had it inspected by a certified service station. During inspection they found a leak coming from the brake hydro booster, and power assist high pressure hoses. I was told that the hydro booster needed replacing, along with the two lines coming from the hydro booster, at a cost of $1200. I was told that the driver could lose complete power assist to the steering and brakes, causing a potentially hazardous driving condition. G.M. is responsible for maintaining reliable safety components for all their vehicles. Under the NHTSA campaign id number: 05V005000, under the notes section: GM campaign no. 05001. This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the Safety Act. The company has informed NHTSA that it will provide the modifications described above free of charge.
- San Diego, CA, USA
We bought our 2000 Suburban in 2002 with only 3000 miles.this was a secret service fleet vehicle with hardly any miles on it. We have had this vehicle to date with only 88,727miles on it. Last summer after pulling our 31 foot camper back from vacation I noticed that I was leaking brake fluid in our drive way. I was glad that we made it home with no incident. We have not used the truck sense that time.I looked under the truck only to see all my brake lines corroded and leaking. They offer aftermarket brakes in stainless steel lines. Why don't all the automotive companies put the stainless lines on there vehicles. It can't be that much more for peace of mind. I would also like to say I have a 1996 Chevy Tahoe that I bought brand new and has 132000 miles on it with brake lines that don't leak. I can tell, and show anyone that GM used an inferior metal for brake lines at least in my 2000 Suburban.
- Richmond, IL, USA
I was coming upon an intersection with my 2000 Chevy Suburban when the brakes were feeling spongy to me. I decided to apply hard pressure to the brake pedal to see if it would stop in a hurry if I needed it to. As I did this, the brake pedal began to slow the vehicle but then went straight to the floor. No brakes! I was able to get the vehicle to a stop by pumping them but luckily I wasn't traveling very fast and was able to get the Suburban under control. Thank god my wife and 4 young children weren't in the vehicle when this happened. The rear brake line had ruptured due to rust and corrosion. I did a google search on this and noticed in July of 2014, this exact problem was brought to GM as a potential recall but GM's reply was that it's normal wear and tear. It almost cost me my life! please advise GM of this in the hopes of saving further lives in the future.
- Dillsburg, PA, USA
Driving vehicle brake pedal went to floorboard. Coasting to stop and parked. Saw copious amount of brake fluid under vehicle. Walked to nearby place of business who had container of brake fluid. I emptied container in reservoir and drove to garage where brake pedal went to floor again. Diagnosis was brake line rusted through. Vehicle was in SE pa for most of its life and in above average condition. Cost to replace lines was $350.
- Glen Mills, PA, USA
Brakes failed, had to drive off the road in fear of hitting car in front of me. Corroded rear brake lines, rear brake line blew out.
- Willards, MD, USA
On Friday afternoon October 17, 2014, I was driving my Suburban to get new tires installed at my local big O tires store. While I driving there the brakes were fine. Once I pulled in to the bay of the store, upon the 2nd or 3rd time I pressed the brake pedal, the pedal went straight to the floor, no brakes! luckily there was little motion on the Suburban, moving it to park stopped the motion. Not at any time did any ABS or brake lights come on the dash to alert me of any potential problems, nor any indications of spongy brakes. Just sudden and complete brake failure. The mechanics at big O tires alerted me of a leak coming from underneath the middle area of the driver's side of the Suburban from the frame. They lifted up the Suburban and proceeded to inspect. They informed me that all the brake lines where rusted and rotted out and that one or more of the brake lines had burst or broken, causing the brake failure. I started to research this problem on the internet and was surprised to find that both GMC & NHTSA are aware of this issue and no recalls have been issued to date. In fact from the information that I can gather online is that the NHTSA has been inundated with complaints in regards to this problem and GMC refuses to issue a recall, claiming that this is not a safety issue. I was lucky enough for this to happen to me at very low speed in a controlled environment. What if this would have happened without any warning while driving and approaching an intersection? I can think of a many different scenarios where this could have played out to much worse circumstances. Brakes are probably the most significant safety mechanism on any vehicle. How dare GMC make the claim that is it not a safety issue!
- Culver City, CA, USA
I was backing up my Suburban to attach and move my camper. I had just returned from a short trip to the grocery store, brakes were fine at that time. Upon the 3rd or 4th time I pressed the brake pedal while backing up, the pedal went to the floor. No brakes. I was on fairly level ground, so moving it to park stopped what little motion I had. There was never an indication of spongy brakes. Never an indicator on my dash of a brake issue, I just immediately lost all braking function. At this time it's Sunday and I'm waiting on Monday to contact a mechanic. I have fluid leaking from above the side frame member on the drivers side, under the rear door on the passenger side. I still don't have an indication of failure on my dash. I realize cars rust, I live in Michigan. But the failure is what disturbs me. Supposedly GM has a dual line system, but I had no or very little stopping power on a 6000lb vehicle. Had I been in motion or even towing my camper, the results could have been catastrophic. I understand there is an investigation still open on these vehicles. It is not terribly time sensitive that this vehicle get fixed, so if you'd like to inspect I'll need contact immediately. Otherwise I will get it to a mechanic for repair.
- Mulliken, MI, USA
- Leonia, NJ, USA