NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
133 reportsClear category filter153,000 miles · Jan 2, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesStructure
I HAVE TRIED TO STAY WITH A GM PRODUCT BUT THE TRUCK I RECENTLY PURCHASED HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS,WHILE TRYING ALSO TO AVOID THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM OF THE GM BAD FRAME,BY THE WAY TOYOTA WARRANTIES THERE FRAMES. THE 1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES BROKE THERE ARE 30 YEAR OLD TRUCKS THAT STILL DON'T HAVE THIS P…
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I HAVE TRIED TO STAY WITH A GM PRODUCT BUT THE TRUCK I RECENTLY PURCHASED HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS,WHILE TRYING ALSO TO AVOID THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM OF THE GM BAD FRAME,BY THE WAY TOYOTA WARRANTIES THERE FRAMES. THE 1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES BROKE THERE ARE 30 YEAR OLD TRUCKS THAT STILL DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM,I OWN ONE. NEXT ABOUT ANOTHER 30 DAYS GO BY THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP DECIDED TO DIE. THAT SO FAR BRINGS REPAIRS UP TO CLOSE TO 650.00 AFTER 60 DAYS. LAST WK. MY BRAKE LINE FAILED @ ABOUT 50 MPH,NO WARNING LIGHT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR.THIS TRUCK HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF . SHOULD I CONTINUE ABOUT THE HOLE IN MY WINDSHIELD FRAME EVERY TIME IT RAINS MY ASH TRAY IS FILLED WITH WATER. BY THE WAY I WAS QUOTED ABOUT 1400.00 FOR ALL THE BRAKE LINE REPAIRS. WTF GM WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS,I DONT. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL USE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490843
60,000 miles · Dec 17, 2012
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ UPDATED 01/30/20130*JS
NHTSA ODI #10489051
103,000 miles · Dec 4, 2012
Service Brakes
WHEN DRIVING TO WORK, WENT TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO WARNING. FOUND OUT BRAKE LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED. COULD NOT BUY HAD TO HAVE BRAKE LINES MADE AND INSTALLED BY MECHANIC. THE MORE PEOPLE I'VE TALK TO CHEVY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRAKE LINES. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR . WENT INTO DITCH TO AVOID THE CAR.…
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WHEN DRIVING TO WORK, WENT TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO WARNING. FOUND OUT BRAKE LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED. COULD NOT BUY HAD TO HAVE BRAKE LINES MADE AND INSTALLED BY MECHANIC. THE MORE PEOPLE I'VE TALK TO CHEVY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRAKE LINES. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR . WENT INTO DITCH TO AVOID THE CAR. THE TRUCK IS KEPT VERY CLEAN AND NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. PURCHASED THE TRUCK BRAND NEW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10487382
147,789 miles · Nov 12, 2012
Service Brakes
DRIVING DOWN HILL LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES PEDDLE HELD FOR A SECOND THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS WAITING TO COME THROUGH INTERSECTION, UPON INSPECTION FOUND BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484038
115,000 miles · Oct 23, 2012
Service BrakesCrash
THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE BLOWN A LINE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST 3 WERE WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS. FIRST, PULLED UP TO A LIGHT AT 25 MPH AND MANAGED TO STOP AFTER I RAN THE LIGHT. NO TRAFFIC, NO CRASH, AND I AM NOT SURE OF THE MILEAGE. SECOND, PARKING TRUCK AT HOME, BLEW A LINE. LESS THAN 5 MPH, NO DAMAGE, AGAIN, NOT SURE OF MI…
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THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE BLOWN A LINE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST 3 WERE WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS. FIRST, PULLED UP TO A LIGHT AT 25 MPH AND MANAGED TO STOP AFTER I RAN THE LIGHT. NO TRAFFIC, NO CRASH, AND I AM NOT SURE OF THE MILEAGE. SECOND, PARKING TRUCK AT HOME, BLEW A LINE. LESS THAN 5 MPH, NO DAMAGE, AGAIN, NOT SURE OF MILEAGE. THIRD, PULLING TRUCK INTO A GARAGE TO REPLACE A U-JOINT, BLEW A LINE. LESS THAN 5 MPH, NO DAMAGE, NOT SURE OF MILEAGE. I HAD ALL OF THE REMAINING LINES REPLACED AT THIS TIME. FOURTH, YESTERDAY (OCTOBER 23, 2010) DRIVING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON THE HIGHWAY, 40-45 MPH, CAME UP ON SLOWER TRAFFIC, BLEW A LINE, REAR-ENDED THE SMALL TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND SHOVED HIM DOWN THE ROAD. BOTH VEHICLES DAMAGED, MINE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DAMAGE. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK FEBRUARY 1, 2007 WITH 60,119 MILES ON IT. I GENERALLY DRIVE MY VEHICLES MANY YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MANY BRAKE LINE ISSUES. MY FORD TRUCK WITH 135,000 NEVER HAD A LINE BLOW, 1995 THUNDERBIRD WITH 125,000 ONE LINE BLEW, 1991 T-BIRD, 214,000 MILES NEVER BLEW A LINE, I COULD GO ON, BUT NONE OF THE OTHERS HAVE BLOWN LINES EITHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10481496
120,200 miles · Oct 19, 2012
Service Brakes
ALL THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK IS RELATIVELY RUST FREE, BUT THE STEEL BRAKES LINES ARE ROTTED OUT AND I DON'T HAVE SAFE BRAKES TO STOP ANYMORE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WHEN A LINE IS RUPTURED AND CAN'T STOP. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVEN IN SIMILAR CONDITI…
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ALL THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK IS RELATIVELY RUST FREE, BUT THE STEEL BRAKES LINES ARE ROTTED OUT AND I DON'T HAVE SAFE BRAKES TO STOP ANYMORE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WHEN A LINE IS RUPTURED AND CAN'T STOP. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVEN IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS SHOW THIS MUCH CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES AS THIS TRUCK DOES. THERE IS NO CORROSION PROTECTION ON THESE BRAKE LINES AT ALL.. I HAVE A BAD BACK AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE THE LINES MYSELF, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY A SHOP TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, SO I'M PRETTY MUCH PARKING IT FOR NOW.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10481088
119,000 miles · Sep 30, 2012
Service Brakes
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO GO FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY SANK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP, I LEARNED THAT IT WAS A BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHICH WAS DUE TO A RUPTURE IN THE CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR TRUCK. THE RUP…
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WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO GO FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY SANK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP, I LEARNED THAT IT WAS A BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHICH WAS DUE TO A RUPTURE IN THE CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR TRUCK. THE RUPTURED LINE WAS REPLACED WITH A NON-CORROSIVE COPPER/NICKEL LINE. FORTUNATELY I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THIS FAILURE OR THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I QUESTION WHY GM WOULD USE CORROSIVE STEEL FOR A LIFE-SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE EITHER THROUGH RECALL OR SAFETY BULLETIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10478024
250,000 miles · Sep 29, 2012
Service Brakes
I WAS STOPPED AT THE MAILBOX REACHING OUT FOR THE MAIL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK ROLLED FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY GET UP THE DRIVEWAY AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE LINES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10477966
85,000 miles · Sep 27, 2012
Service Brakes
METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION WITH MASSIVE LOSS OF FLUID. EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKES AT LOW SPEED, AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. HAD LINE REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2012 I EXPERIENCE A SECOND FAILURE, AGAIN DUE TO METAL BRAKE LINE CORROSION BUT ON DIFFERENT LINE, AGAIN WITH MASSIVE LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKE…
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METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION WITH MASSIVE LOSS OF FLUID. EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKES AT LOW SPEED, AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. HAD LINE REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2012 I EXPERIENCE A SECOND FAILURE, AGAIN DUE TO METAL BRAKE LINE CORROSION BUT ON DIFFERENT LINE, AGAIN WITH MASSIVE LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKES, LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED AGAIN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED OR WITH A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURY OR FATALITY. THIS TRUCK IS LOCATED IN VA AND OTHER THAN THE BRAKE LINES HAS LITTLE UNDERSIDE CORROSION. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES AT HIGH COST TO ENSURE SAFETY. THESE BRAKE LINE FAILURES ARE NOTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET ON LATE 90'S TO EARLY 2000'S CHEVY TRUCKS- THEY SEEM TO BE VERY COMMON. I HAVE VEHICLES THAT ARE DECADES OLD AND HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES. I SUSPECT DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE MATERIALS ON THE TRUCK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10477301
106,100 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Service Brakes
I TOOK MY TRUCK FROM HOME IN CT INTO NYC FOR A FOLLOW UP DOCTOR APPT. AND THE LINES BLEW OUT ON THE WAY IN AND WE STILL HAD TO GET BACK TO CT WITH BRAKE FAILURE; HAD TO STOP 3X FOR BRAKE FLUID, NOT FUN LUCKY I MADE IT HOME ALIVE. I CANNOT BELIEVE GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND PUT LIVES AH…
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I TOOK MY TRUCK FROM HOME IN CT INTO NYC FOR A FOLLOW UP DOCTOR APPT. AND THE LINES BLEW OUT ON THE WAY IN AND WE STILL HAD TO GET BACK TO CT WITH BRAKE FAILURE; HAD TO STOP 3X FOR BRAKE FLUID, NOT FUN LUCKY I MADE IT HOME ALIVE. I CANNOT BELIEVE GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND PUT LIVES AHEAD OF PROFITS. I HAD BRAKE REPLACEMENT EXPENSES OF OVER $1300.00. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN 8 TRUCKS (ABOUT 5 GM TRUCKS AND 3 CHEVY SUVS FROM 1980 TO NOW WITH MY CURRENT 2001 SILVERADO. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS VEHICLE (SILVERADO), NEVER HAD A PROBLEM THE LINES RUSTING OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10476851
NHTSA investigations
2EA04011 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Apr 9, 2004 · Closed May 10, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Parking Brake:conventional
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Parking Brake
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.THESE INCLUDED 22 ALLEGED ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS, RESULTING IN A RATE OF 38.5 ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 24 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS RECALLED BY GM, INCLUDING 5 ALLEGING ROLLAWAY INCIDENTS.THOUGH THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN GM'S LETTER ARE ALSO PRESENT IN THE C/K TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE ROLLAWAY RATE IN THOSE VEHICLES WAS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN PEER VEHICLES STUDIED BY ODI IN THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE03057 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Dec 8, 2003 · Closed Apr 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING BRAKE IS INTENDED TO OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO IMMOBILZE PARKED VEHICLES, AND THAT IN MANY CASES, ACCELERATED PARKING BRAKE LINING WEAR IS CAUSED BY ROUGH USE, VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, AND DRIVING WITH THE PARKING ENGAGED. ODI HAS UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO GATHER FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE USAGE FACTORS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SEVENTEEN REPORTED VEHICLE CRASHES.