2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

While driving down a 50 mph roadway there was a line of cars slowing for a vehicle to make a turn. When gently pushing the brakes to slow down, brake went clear to the floor and could not slow down. Truck was driven into the ditch to avoid rear-ending vehicles. This happened immediately without warning, all braking prior to this incident was normal. When taken to our mechanic, they advised the brake lines underneath were notorious for rusting out and failing, new stainless steel lines were then installed to correct the problem.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 2 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE LOW BRAKE FLUID INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LINDSAY BUICK GMC (250 W SHIRLEY AVE, WARRENTON, VA 20186, (540) 987-2082) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,703.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FAILED, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,900.

I BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD 15 YEARS AGO AND GAVE IT TO MY 16 YEAR OLD SON. RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES AND STEERING WAS ACTING FUNNY AND MAKING A NOISE, SO WE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSES. THE PROBLEM ONLY STARTED GETTING WORSE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND AN OLD RECALL OR NOTICE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE THAT WAS DEFECTED BECAUSE OF O-RING FAILURE. JUST SEARCHING THE VEHICLE WILL SHOW SEVERAL SITES REVEALING THE PROBLEM. THE NADA SITE GOES INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE WHEN STEERING AND LOOSES BRAKING.

BRAKE LINE FAILURE IN SEVERAL PLACES. WAS UNDER VEHICLE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE. NOTICED FLUID ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK. INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE REAR MOST HARD BRAKE LINE LEAKING. CONTINUED TO INSPECT ALL HARD LINES AND FOUND SEVERAL AREAS WHERE LEAKS WERE PRESENT. REMOVED VEHICLE FROM USE AND STARTED REPLACING ALL HARD BRAKE LINES. NEW LINES ARE STAINLESS STEEL THUS I SHOULD NEVER RUN INTO THIS ISSUE AGAIN. GM SHOULD HAVE USED STAINLESS STEEL LINES IN THE FIRST PLACE RATHER THAN PLAIN STEEL LINES. THE ORIGINAL BRAKES LINES BROKE LIKE TWIGS WHEN I BENT THEM TO THROW THEM AWAY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKE LINES IN THIS TYPE OF CONDITION ON A VEHICLE WITH 130,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON A VEHICLE LIKE THE CHEVY SILVERADO. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO FORCE GM TO PERFORM A RECALL AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT SIGNAL IT TURNED YELLOW. KNOWING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE IT TURNED RED I HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP. WHILE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES EVERYTHING FELT NORMAL WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE PEDAL UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS RESISTANCE OR PRESSURE AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD LITTLE TO NO BRAKES. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I THEN PULLED OVER AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. CORROSION THAT WAS CAUSED BY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS THAT CANT SUSTAIN THE ELEMENTS IT'S USED IN. I NOW SEE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM HASN'T INFORMED ITS OWNERS OR RECALLED. SHAME ON THEM. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON AN ISSUE SUCH AS BRAKE FAILURE. THEY GOT LUCKY IN MY CASE.