2000 Chevrolet Silverado Complaint Log

THE VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE RUSTED THROUGH LEAKING ALL THE FLUID. ONE MONTH LATER AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINES THE REAR BRAKE LINES BLEW CAUSING LOSS OF ALL BRAKES WHILE TRYING TO STOP FROM AN INTERSTATE SPEED OF 70 MPH. EXAMINATION OF ALL THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM SHOWS SEVERE EXCESSIVE RUSTING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM WHICH WILL REQUIRE A TOTAL BRAKE LINE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH BRAKE LINES RUSTED LIKE THIS FOR A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE AND AGE. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLES BRAKE LINE COMPONENTS. ITS A MIRACLE SOMEONE WASN'T KILLED DUE TO THE LACK OF COMPONENT QUALITY. *TR

IN AUGUST 2013 REAR BRAKE LINES UNDER REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKING. HAD REPAIRED WAS INFORMED THEY WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED, 2 BRAKE LINES REPLACED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. I ALSO NOTED THE OTHER BRAKE LINES THROUGHOUT VEHICLE WERE ALSO WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED - SUGGESTED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES BE REPLACED. MECHANIC ADVISED NOT NECESSARY AT THAT TIME. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE TO FLOOR WHEN DRIVEN, NO BRAKE FLUID IN RESERVOIR, NOTED PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT THAT TIME. JANUARY 12, 2014 - BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON IN VEHICLE, BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR HALF EMPTY. I WALKED AROUND AND LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE - LEAKING FROM REAR BRAKE LINES NOTED, ALSO NOTED AGAIN THE CORROSION AND RUST OF FRONT BRAKE LINES. BROUGHT TO MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AGAIN - STATED IT WAS DIFFERENT BRAKE LINE THEN ONE REPAIRED DURING AUGUST 2013. STATED AFTER EXAMINING CONDITION OF ALL BRAKE LINES - RUST/CORROSION - HE WAS GOING TO NOW REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER BACK. THERE WAS A RECALL MANY YEARS AGO FOR BRAKE LINE DEFECT - BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY THIS REPAIR WAS NEEDED BEFORE I WENT ON LONG TRIP TO PENNSYLVANIA, WITH HILLY TERRAIN AND SLICK ROADS - EARLY DETECTION MAY HAVE AVOIDED A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THREE OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND BECAME FRACTURED, ALLOWING ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS THE ABS KICKS IN AND YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO STOP. I USUALLY PUT THE GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL OR REVERSE TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP. *TR

UPON BACKING UP TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL, I.E. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS ENOUGH BRAKE LEFT TO COME TO A STOP AND TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, BUT DEFINITELY NOT SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING BEYOND THAT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAILING. AFTER INSPECTION THE REPAIR SHOP ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 3 OF THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

FIRST TIME THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY. MY SON, A NEWLY LICENSED DRIVER WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL WHEN HE CAME BACK INTO THE HOUSE AND SAID THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK DON'T FEEL RIGHT AND THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. HE STATED THAT AS HE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AS A MECHANIC, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR BRAKES HAD FAILED. I REPLACED THIS LINE. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER ANOTHER BRAKE LINE BURST WHEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN A PARKING LOT. THIS TIME IT WAS THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE TEE NEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL GOING TO THE LEFT REAR BRAKE. ALL BRAKE LINES WILL NOW BE REPLACED. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. I KNOW I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE DEICING CHEMICALS ARE USED ON THE ROADS IN WINTER, HOWEVER, TO AVOID RUST PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE, THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE IS POWER WASHED WEEKLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS TO REMOVE THESE CHEMICALS. FRANKLY, THE BRAKE LINES DO NOT LOOK THAT BAD. IT'S LIKE THEY JUST DEVELOP TINY "PIN HOLES" IN SPECIFIC AREAS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN ICE COVERED ROAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THEN WENT DOWN A HILL AND WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR ALMOST WRECKED UNABLE TO STOP ON ICE COVERED ROAD. BRAKE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON UNTIL I GOT HOME ABOUT HALF HOUR AFTER BRAKE LINE FAILURE. HAD A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 7 YEAR OLD WITH ME THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SOMETHING'S ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN MONEY. I HAVE HAD VEHICLES THAT WERE 30 AND EVEN 40 YEARS OLD THAT HAD ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES ON THEM AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THAT. THIS IS SIMPLY USING CHEAP METAL JUST LIKE THEY USE ON THE BODIES OF THEIR PICKUP TRUCKS. WHETHER OR NOT ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS BY GM MAKES ME LITTLE DIFFERENCE BUT I WILL BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I AM SELLING THE TRUCK AND BUYING A DIFFERENT MAKE THAT ISN'T SO DANGEROUS TO ME AND THOSE DRIVING AROUND ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, DUE TO A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE CAUSED BY EXTERNAL CORROSION. LUCKILY IT WAS NOT AT A STOP STREET, OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. IT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, SO MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE HOME. I HAD TO HAVE ALL OF THE STEEL LINES REPLACED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

1 OF 5 BRAKE LINES (MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS MODULE) RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL BRAKING ABILITY AS I WAS TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS $1346.95 WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF 4 ADDITIONAL LINES THAT WERE RUSTED AND REPLACEMENT WORTHY. FOR GM TO SAY THAT 1 LINE WOULDN'T CAUSE A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER IS WRONG. I HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH ONLY 1 LINE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. VEHICLE SPENT 2000-2002 IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED, 2003 IN HAWAII, 2004-2006 IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA, 2006-2013 IN CONNECTICUT AND 2013 TO PRESENT IN HAMPTON ROADS AREA VIRGINIA. *TR

VEHICLE CAME TO STOP IN FRONT OF ME. DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH OF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. LEARNED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED OUT AND CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT LEAK. UPON RESEARCHING THIS, FOUND OUT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, AND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION EA11001 THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. 800+ REPORTS EXIST. THOUSANDS MORE UNREPORTED IN VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS. WHEN WILL THIS BE RESOLVED WITH A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED? THIS IS A BAD DESIGN, DUE TO STEEL BRAKE LINES, AND DESIGNED TO COLLECT MOISTURE AND SALT BY MEANS OF SPRING MATERIAL ON EXTERIOR OF LINES, AND LINES GROUPED TOGETHER DIRECTLY BEHIND THE SPLASH COMING OFF THE FRONT TIRE. IT IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW. FURTHERMORE, GM APPARENTLY DOES NOT HAVE GM REPLACEMENT (CERTIFIED?) SET OF BRAKE LINES. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATAL CRASH TO FINALLY RESOLVE THIS? *TR

ABS BRAKES COME ON AT SLOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY, I NOTICED THE TOW/HAUL BUTTON DIDN'T WORK, THEN THE GAS GAUGE. EVENTUALLY, WITHIN A YEAR, ALL THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY GO ON AND LATER OFF AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE EVEN ACCURATE TO ANY DEGREE WHEN THEY DO COME ON. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE TRUCK SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING BUT AFTER I WAS SAFELY OFF THE ROAD IT STARTED AGAIN. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. MYSELF OR MY MECHANIC, WHO WORKS FOR THE COUNTY AND IS VERY CAPABLE. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR VEHICLES AND THIS SEEMS TO BE QUITE COMMON. I ALSO OWN A 2003 SUBURBAN AND THESE THINGS ARE STARTING WITH THAT TRUCK TOO. THESE HAVE BEEN GOOD TRUCKS BUT I WANT TO BE SAFE AND NOT HAVE TO GET RID OF MY VEHICLES. ABS,WIPERS,DEFROST,HVAC, AND ALL GAUGES ARE AFFECTED. I HAVE REPLACED HVAC CONTROLS AND DASH GAUGES AND OTHER PARTS BUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEMS. SUCH AS WHATEVER HVAC CONTROLS THAT I PUT IN IT STILL ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. WATCH OUT IF YOUR SPEEDOMETER ACTS STRANGE. *TR

A BRAKE LINE BURST DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION, ALMOST RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH. I HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO THE BERM TO AVOID THE CRASH. AFTER INSPECTION ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND RUSTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ALSO RUSTED, CORRODED AND LEAKING. THEY ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

HAD DRIVEN TRUCK HOME FOR LUNCH.WAS RETURNING TO WORK. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AT REDLIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO GET TRUCK INTO PARKING LOT. PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND UNDER DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL. I WAS SCARED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. BRAKE LINES RUSTED. I HAD NO WARNING. ONE MINUTE I HAD BRAKES AND THE NEXT MINUTE I HAD NO BRAKES. HAD TRUCK TOWED. *TR

THE FLEX COUPLERS THAT ATTACH THE HARD BRAKE LINES TO THE ABS MODULE ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT THEY ARE LEAKING NOW. BESIDES THE BRAKE LINES, THE TRUCK IS RUST FREE. THIS IS A 100% SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM STILL CONTINUES TO IGNORE. *TR

ON THE EXPRESSWAY ON THE WAY FROM WORK TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, THANK GOD THERE WAS ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN CARS THAT I PUMPED THE PEDAL AND DOWNSHIFTED TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK FOR THE CAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT ( PIN HOLE) . THE CHEVY DEALER INDICATED THE GM DOESN'T MAKE THIS LINE SO I HAVE TO HAVE LINE BENT BY A GARAGE. *TR

DRIVING ON A SECONDARY RD STOPPED TO TURN. BRAKE LINE BLEW UNDER DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT USUALLY STAY ON.THE OTHER DAY THEY CAME ON WHILE DRIVING SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT MY BRAKES TO STOP AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AVOIDING THE CAR THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK THANKFULLY THEIR WERE NO PEOPLE WALKING. NOW THAT I HAVE THIS PROBLEM I HAVE STARTED TO NOTICE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THE SAME VEHICLE AS ME I SEE THE SAME LIGHT ON THERE INSTRUMENT PANEL.HAVE HEARD THAT THEIR ARE PLACES REBUILDING THE EBCM BECAUSE OF INFERIOR PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE TURN FOR HOME, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP, I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT DOWN IN GEAR AND MAKE TURN, I THEN DRIFTED TO STOP AND USED PARKING BREAK TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DRASTIC BECAUSE I DID HAVE MY 3 YEAR OLD IN CAR SEAT IN BACK. THE BREAK LINE THAT RUNS ACROSS FRONT OF VEHICLE TO SUPPLY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BREAK HAD SPLIT AND MOST OF MY BRAKE FLUID WAS GONE. I THOUGH CARS HAD A BACK UP SYSTEM TO PREVENT THIS, BUT MY PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND WOULD NOT PUMP UP. AT MOST THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE SLOWED A LITTLE, BUT A COMPLETE FAILURE IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND RUPTURED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKING ABILITY. *TR

WENT TO MOVE THE TRUCK, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LEFT REAR LINE HAS A LEAK WHERE THE LINE RUNS ALONG THE FRAME BY THE FUEL TANK. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT LINES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING. *TR

BRAKE LINE FAILURE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON SOUTH MINIVILLE ROAD IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VA, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT FROM WORKING FINE AND THEN STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. ITS WAS LUCKY THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND SOMETHING CHEVY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING. *TR

DRIVING IN A NORMAL SITUATION, BRAKING TO GET OVER INTO TURN LANE AND THE BRAKES WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. FOUND BRAKE LINES UNDER LEFT FRONT OF CAB RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM TO LOSE PRESSURE. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN A CRITICAL SITUATION BECAUSE I LOST ALL BRAKING POWER, VERY SCARY. *TR

BRAKE LINE STARTED LEAKING WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND HE SAID ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY. BRAKES LINES RUSTED THROUGH. BROUGHT TO DEALER TO FIX 9/17/13/. HAD TO RETURN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND INFORM THEM TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES AS THEY ARE ALL RUSTED THROUGH, THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE GM ISSUE (I FOUND THE ISSUE ONLINE) . THEY HAD ONLY REPAIRED REAR LINES AND DIDN'T BRING THE LINE TO THE FRONT, JOINED IT TO OLD LINE WITH UNION. LEAKED AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY ON 10/1/13 . BROUGHT IN 10/4/13 INSISTED ON TOTAL BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT. REQUESTED THE GM OFFERED KIT $500.00 FOR THIS PURPOSE THAT GM AS OFFERED TO OWNERS AND DEALERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM . REQUESTED DEALERSHIP CREDIT THE PRIOR BANDAID WORK IT DID. *TR

STARTED TRUCK. PUT FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. FELT USUAL RESISTANCE AT BRAKE PEDAL. PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKES HAD A TOTAL FAILURE. TRUCK ROLLED ACROSS STREET WHILE I WAS SHIFTING TRUCK TO NEUTRAL AND TRYING TO STOP. STEEL BRAKE PIPES WERE NOT LEAKING BEFORE I STARTED THE TRUCK. STEEL BRAKE PIPES HAVE AT LEAST 2 LEAKS IN THE PIPES NOW. 1 LEAK IS IN THE REAR BRAKE SUPPLY (STEEL) PIPE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS MODULE. THE OTHER LEAK IS IN A STEEL BRAKE PIPE NEAR THE ABS MODULE. BRAKES WORKED FINE, WITH NO LEAKS, WHEN I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK A FEW DAYS BEFORE. FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND TOTAL. I HAD NO BRAKES AS SOON AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED.

DRIVING HOME FROM A MORNING OF SHOPPING, I WENT TO STOP TO MAKE A TURN INTO WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED THE TRUCK WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP.. I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A PURCHASE AT WALGREEN'S, BUT WHEN I WAS FINISHED I DECIDED TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. I COULD SMELL AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE BRAKE FLUID, BUT WASN'T SURE BECAUSE THE CONTAINER WAS STILL AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK HOME, APPROXIMATELY A HALF A MILE, AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME, I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN, AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I COULD SEE A BREAK IN THE BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE AND NOTICED VAPORS COMING OFF THE PIPE. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON, SO I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIALS USED FOR INSURING PEOPLE'S LIVES WITH THESE INFERIOR LINES. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THE COST COULD BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 1800 DOLLARS. IS THIS WHERE OUR QUALITY MANUFACTURING HAS TAKEN US? NO WONDER THE JAPANESE ARE WINNING. *TR

BACKED UP OUT OF TURNAROUND. DROVE TO END OF DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED. TURNED LEFT OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND ACCELERATED UP TO SPEED. DROVE ABOUT A MILE AND APPROACHED CROSSROAD TO TURN RIGHT. STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR SO I PUMPED IT AND HAD NOTHING WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOBODY AT THE CROSSROAD AND I WENT PAST IT AND MANAGED TO COME TO A STOP DOWN THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT A RUSTED BRAKE LINE HAD BURST NEAR THE PROPORTIONING VALVE LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR. ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACED. I FOUND THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS A VERY COMMON EVENT IN THESE VEHICLES. THE OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE SHOULD AT LEAST BE WARNED BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR WORSE SINCE THERE ARE STILL MANY ON THE ROADS. THIS POOR DESIGN AND USE OF INFERIOR MATERIALS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF VEHICLE SAFETY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK AT 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 231,000.

WHILE APPROACHING STOP SIGN/INTERSECTION BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE, TRUCK FAILED TO STOP UNTIL WELL PAST INTERSECTION. HAVE EXPERIENCED ABS PULSATING AND SOFT PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT SINCE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS VERY LOW MILES. *TR

TRAVELING ON ROAD AT POSTED SPEED OF 35MPH APPROACHING A HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. TRIED TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRUCK WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT AND THROUGH INTERSECTION OF A SECTION OF HIGHWAY THAT IS 8 LANES WIDE. IF NOT FOR EARLY TIME OF DAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE TRAFFIC AND KILLED SOMEONE. STOPPED TRUCK BY SLAMMING INTO PARK. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT PRIOR TO THIS OR AFTER.

JUST NORTH OF COLUMBIA, SC MERGING ONTO I-20, TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOWED AHEAD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WE MANAGED TO SLOW, UTILIZING EMERGENCY BRAKING AND GEARING TO AVOID A CRASH. AFTER LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE, WE DISCOVERED THE REAR LEFT BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. WE ARE HAVING IT REPAIRED AT A GM DEALERSHIP. THE REPORTED DIAGNOSIS IS BRAKE LINE CORROSION. THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE BRAKE LINE AND PURGING THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO REPAIR THE ISSUE.

RUSTY BRAKE LINES CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES. POOR DESIGN AND PRODUCT BY GM. WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP. BRAKE LINE BLEW.MY SON AND WIFE ALMOST DIED. THIS TRUCK IS A RUSTY CRAP TRUCK. THE ROCKER PANEL ARE RUSTED THRU. OH, AND GM DOES NOT MAKE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENTS EITHER IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT. SHAME ON YOU GM. *TR

REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. WHEN I TRIED TO GET BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. I BRAKE LINE WAS BADLY CORRODED AND BROKE THROUGH. I HAD ZERO BRAKING ABILITY AND HAD TO BACK THE TRUCK OUT OF THE GARAGE USING ONLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF BROKEN BRAKE LINES DUE TO BAD CORROSION ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT ALSO RESULTED IN A BROKEN, BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE BREAKING AND LEAKING FLUID, AND RESULTED IN ZERO BRAKING ABILITY. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED FOR REPAIR THAT TIME. NOT SURE HOW IM GOING TO GET IT FIXED THIS TIME. ALL REMAINING BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO BADLY RUSTED AND ARE SURE TO BRAKE SHORTLY IF NOT REPLACED. THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK IS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED TO A POINT THAT APPEARS THAT THE TRUCK IS 100+ YEARS OLD. THE FRAME IS NEARLY TO THE POINT OF BEING RUSTED THROUGH. THESE ARE SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WITH THESE TRUCKS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY CHEVROLET. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS NEGLIGENCE BY USING INFERIOR MATERIAL FOR BRAKE LINES AND FRAME STEEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A LOUD TICKING SOUND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

BRAKE LINE FAILURE TWICE. TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE LINES FAILED UNDER PRESSURE [ONCE WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN] [ONCE WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR] EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE USED TO STOP PICK-UP BOTH OCCASIONS

1ST TIME - STOPPING AT DEALER. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LINE FROM ABS TO LF BRAKE FAILED. DEALER QUOTED ~ $1000 TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. REPLACED FAILED SECTION. 2ND TIME: ABOUT TO EXIT FREEWAY. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND ENTERED RAMP MUCH TOO FAST. WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SOME HYDRAULICS. LINE FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS MODULE FAILED. REPLACED LINE. 3RD TIME - EXITING TURNPIKE. BRAKE LINE FROM ABS TO REAR BRAKES FAILED. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. NOT TRUE THERE IS BRAKING AVAILABLE WHEN ONE LINE FAILS. REPLACED LINE. GUESS I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED AFTER FIRST FAILURE. *TR

MY TRUCK HAS THE BAD GM CASTECH CYLINDER HEADS THAT LEAK COOLANT INTO THE OIL. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM VIA GM TSB. DEALER AND MFG. REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. I FEEL THIS IS NOT A MECHANICAL WEAR ISSUE. IT IS BAD HEADS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. *TR

LUCKILY I WAS SITTING STILL AT A STOP LIGHT. THE PEDAL JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PUMP THE BRAKES BACK UP THAT A WARNING LIGHT EVEN CAME ON. UPON INSPECTION THE HARD LINE SUPPLYING THE REAR BRAKES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. ALSO CONTRARY TO OTHER REPORTS I HAVE HEARD THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, NOT JUST THE REAR BRAKES. *JS

HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES. LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED CAUSING FAILURE AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKES. THANKFULLY FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THREE MONTHS EARLIER FRONT ROTORS WERE BADLY PITTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SOME PARTS IN REAR BRAKES BADLY RUSTED. BAD RUST ON PARTS OF UNDER CARRIAGE. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE ON INTERSTATE 65 SB WHEN ATTEMPTING A PANIC STOP. A SEMI-TRUCK TRAILER BLEW A TIRE WHICH SENT SHRAPNEL/DEBRIS FLYING IN THE AIR. TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE TRUCK AND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME PANICKED AND "SLAMMED" ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID THE FLYING OBJECTS. IN TURN, I HAD TO FULLY APPLY MY BRAKES TO THE POINT OF ABS INTERVENTION. THERE WAS ONE TO THREE CYCLES OF THE ABS BEFORE I LOST ALL BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOWS THAT ONE OF THE THREE METAL BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RAIL, UNDER THE CAB RUPTURED (HENCE LOSS OF PEDAL PRESSURE). THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHERE THE BRAKE LINES TRANSITION FROM ABOVE THE FRAME RAIL TO ALONG SIDE THE FRAME RAIL. ALL THREE BRAKE LINES IN THIS AREA ARE CORRODED BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO VISUALLY TELL THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION DUE TO A SPIRAL SHIELDING THAT IS WRAPPED AROUND THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF BRAKE LINE. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE; HOWEVER HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. *TR

WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 30 MPH +/- AND APPLIED BRAKES EVENLY AND SMOOTHLY. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND LIMITED BRAKING AVAILABLE. PROCEEDED CAUTIOUSLY TO A PARK 2 BLOCKS EAST. PARKED AND INSPECTED VEHICLE. FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING DRIVERS FRONT AT UPPER BACK OF CALIPER. LIMPED VEHICLE HOME, PLACED ON STANDS, PULLED WHEEL AND FOUND METAL END OF FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE ADJACENT TO THE HOLLOW BOLT THAT CONNECTS TO CALIPER WAS NOW MULTIPLE LAYERS OF RUST SATURATED WITH BRAKE FLUID. ORDERED IN A REPLACEMENT LINE AND REPLACED. OLD LINE RETAINED AND EXCESS RUST FLAKED BACK TO REVEAL A PIN HOLE RUST THROUGH ROUGHLY 1/2 INCH ABOVE CALIPER MOUNTING POINT. RESIDUAL BRAKING AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS NOT CAPABLE OF STOPPING A VEHICLE QUICKLY IN TRAFFIC OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THREE OR FOUR YEARS PRIOR REAR STEEL BRAKE LINES UNDER BED FAILED DURING A PANIC STOP WHEN DEER RAN INTO THE ROADWAY. RUSTED LINES WERE THE CAUSE BUT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE PANIC STOP CONDITIONS. NOT A GENTLE STOP AS THE LINE ABOVE. *TR

DURING A SCHEDULED MAINT./REPAIR VISIT AT A MAJOR CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THEY ADVISED THE SHOCK ABSORBERS COULDN'T BE REPLACED; THE UPPER MOUNTS FOR BOTH REAR SHOCKS WERE GONE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I TAKE THE TRUCK TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR THE NEEDED RESTORATION WORK, THEN RETURN. I LATER INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK AND FOUND EXTENSIVE ROT AND RUST ON MAJOR FRAME STRUCTURES. BOTH UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS APPEAR TO HAVE ROTTED AWAY. BOTH FRAME SPREADER TUBES, TO WHICH THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS AND THE REAR FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ARE ATTACHED, HAVE LOST MOST OF THEIR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. I ALSO NOTED MOST MAIN FASTENER BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE LOST THEIR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY,DUE TO ROT AND RUST. IN DECEMBER OF 2009, I REPLACED THE FUEL STRAPS. ONE BRAKE LINE FAILED (ROTTED OPEN), CAUSING BRAKE LOSS, AS I WAS DEPARTING THE SERVICE VISIT. ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. IN JULY OF 2011, I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTTED OUT BUMPER. I AM NOW SEEING ROT AND RUST BREAKING THROUGH THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY TRUCK. IN LIGHT OF THE MAJOR RUST AND STRUCTURAL FAILURES I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY, I STARTED RESEARCHING NHTSA'S DATA BASE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES WITH THEIR SILVERADO, OR IF THIS WAS AN ANOMALY. I WAS QUITE STARTLED TO FIND NUMEROUS REPORTS BEING CITED FOR IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND FAILURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. TWO ISSUES CONCERN ME: FIRST, MAJOR RUST & ROT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THIS MODEL AND LATER ONES FOR OVER A PERIOD OF 10-13 YEARS. SECOND, DO, OR SHOULD SERVICE SHOPS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVISE WHEN SIGNS OF MAJOR DETERIORATION OCCUR, SO WE CAN MAKE REPAIR/INVESTMENT CHOICES? I'VE OWNED SEVERAL TRUCKS, KEEP THEM FOR 8-10 YEARS, THEN REPLACE THEM. I'VE SEEN SURFACE RUST OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOT THIS KIND OF FRAME/UNDERCARRIAGE DETERIORATION OVER A RELATIVELY SHORT TRUCK LIFE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED ONLY SLIGHTLY. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT THE SHIFT LEVER BECAME FRACTURED AND EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH OF THE BRAKE LINES AND CABLES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

UPON LEAVING THE ZILPO CAMPGROUND IN KENTUCKY, TOWING A 15 FOOT BASS BOAT WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN AGES 5 AND 6 YEARS IN THE BACK SEAT, I APPROACHED THE PARK RANGER CHECK STATION AY 30-35 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR LEAVING NO BRAKING ABILITY. I WAS FORCED TO SWITCH TO THE ON-COMING LANE TO AVOID REAR-ENDING MY FRIEND [XXX] WHO WAS STOPPED AT THE CHECK STATION. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE ON-COMING LANE. WITH THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR ON A SEVERE DOWNHILL GRADE I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY COME TO A STOP AT A PULL-OFF ABOUT A MILE LATER. MY TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED 50 MILES TO CRAIG'S AUTO REPAIR IN WINCHESTER, KY. THEY FOUND MANY RUSTED BRAKE LINES THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $1,000. HAD THE LANE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT, THIS COULD HAVE PROVED TO BE FATAL. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TT

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING AND PUMPING THE BRAKES DID VERY LITTLE TO ASSIST. WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN SINCE THIS WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF A LOWER GRADE, AND WAS ABLE TO NURSE IT TO A LARGE PARKING LOT. INSPECTED THE CAUSE AND SEEN THE CORRODED BRAKE LINES AND COULD NOT TELL WHICH OF THE 5 LINES WERE THE CAUSE. *TR

THE FUEL LINE SUPPLYING THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL RUPTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION IT IS IN AND FUEL WAS SPRAYING OUT UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK,. DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT REPAIR, DUE TO HAVING TO REMOVE THE BED/CAB FOR REPLACEMENT AND ACCESS TO IT. THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES ARE IMPROPERLY ROUTED FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION AND SALT DAMAGE. IN MY OPINION, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THIS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM RECTIFIED. THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS SAME TRUCK FAILED FROM CORROSION TWO YEARS AGO. SAME SCENARIO, IMPROPER ROUTING CAUSING EXCESSIVE AND PREMATURE FAILURE FROM RUST AND CORROSION DUE TO THE LOCATION THEY ARE IN. *TR