2003 Chevrolet Silverado Complaint Log

LOST BRAKES DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE. (CAR WOULD NOT STOP.) *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LINES TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD A DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS ALL BRAKING FUNCTION, INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ UPDATED 04/27/12

WHILE STOPPED AT A BANK TELLER BOX I APPLIED THE THE BRAKES ONLY TO FIND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE FLUID NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL EITHER. *TR

WAS INFORMED DURING A STATE INSPECTION THAT ALL OF MY METAL BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO HEAVY CORROSION. THE INSPECTION WAS DONE AT THE DEALER WHERE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AND I WAS TOLD THE CORROSION WAS PROBABLY FROM NOT PUTTING MANY MILES ON IT. *TR *JS

A PERSON RAN INTO THE STREET AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON INSPECTION ALL BRAKE LINES WERE IN EXTREMELY POOR CONDITION AND THE MAINLINE BROKE OPEN IN TWO PLACES. SERVICE MANAGER AT THE CHEVY DEALER ADMITTED THAT THEY MADE THE TUBING OUT OF NON-NICKLE PLATED TUBING FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEY WERE ROTTING THROUGH. HE MENTIONED TO CHECK MY FUEL LINE AND SURE ENOUGH, AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FUEL FILTER THE TUBING IS ROTTING APART. ALL OF MY LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. GM HAS REFUSED MY CLAIM FOR BEING DEFECTIVE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK IN 2003 NEW OFF THE LOT AT [XXX] IN ROSEVILLE CALIFORNIA. WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS, I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND LOST POWER. I NEARLY HIT A HOMELESS MAN WITH A SHOPPING CART, AS I CAME UP OVER A SIDEWALK. I CALLED CHEVY AND GOT TOWED BACK IN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SOLENOID? THEY FIXED IT AND THAT WAS THAT. A YEAR LATER, I AM DRIVING DOWN A BUSY MAJOR STREET AND MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS TURNING I LOSE POWER AND MY TRUCK DIES. CARS BEHIND ME HONKING. LIGHT CHANGES TO RED AND CARS STILL BEHIND ME. NOW OTHER LIGHTS ARE GREEN. I TURN MY KEY AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON AND I GET OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE 4 TEENAGERS IN MY TRUCK WITH ME SCREAMING. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX] AND THEY TEST DRIVE. NOTHING HAPPENS. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. COULDN'T GET IT TO DIE ON THEM. A YEAR LATER, MAKE A U TURN ON BUSY STREET. IT DIES AND LOSES POWER. I HAVE NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. CARS HONKING. AGAIN TAKE IT TO [XXX]. NOTHING. A YEAR LATER, TAKING A CAR LOAD OF WOMEN OUT TO DINNER AND DRINKS. ALL HARD WORKING MOTHERS. I AM THE ONLY NON DRINKER. AT MIDNIGHT I AM TAKING THE WOMEN HOME. U-TURN AT INTERSECTION, AND TRUCK DIES. AGAIN. NO BRAKES OR STEERING. SCARED WOMEN. TURN IT OVER AND IT GOES. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX]. THEY HAVE JUST MOVED TO ANOTHER BUILDING DOWN THE STREET. ALL MY RECORDS OF IGNITION PROBLEMS GONE. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE ANY OF THEM WENT. THEY TEST DRIVE. NOTHING. THEY HAVE YET TO FIX ANYTHING ON IT. IT HASN'T DONE IT IN OVER A YEAR. BUT NO TELLING WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. IT JUST HAPPENS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BRAKE LINE TO REAR END BURST CAUSING MY TRUCK TO BE UNABLE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. FORTUNATELY, NO CARS WERE COMING THE OTHER WAY. *TR *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOOR BOARD ABNORMALLY. THE SERVICE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE AND PARK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,100.

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, APPROX 70MPH, VALVE STEM SEPARATED FROM NEW TIRE CAUSING COMPLETE DEFLATION WITHIN ABOUT 2 OR 3 MINS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF HITTING SOMETHING IN ROAD, NO TRAUMA TO RIM OR STEM ITSELF (OTHER THAN THE SHARP SPLIT FROM WHERE IT SEPARATED FROM TIRE), NO EXTREME CONDITIONS, JUST NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. TIRE WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD WITH LESS THAN 2,000 MILES. TOOK TIRE TO GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER. THEY REPLACED TIRE AND VALVE STEM WITH NEW ONE. OLD TIRE AND STEM LEFT WITH GOODYEAR. TIRE: GOODYEAR WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR, LT245/75R16, DOT MD11 Y5JV 2810. *TR

FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO BEING RUSTED OUT. *TR

MY SPEEDOMETER NEVER GOES BELOW 20MPH EVEN SETTING STILL AND WHEN I'M MOVING IT READS 90 PLUS EVEN IF I'M GOING 40 MPH. WHEN THE TRUCK IS TURNED OFF IT STILL READS 20 MPH. *TR

MY 2003 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A COMMON AND RECURRENT PROBLEM. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK, AND ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. A FEW MINUTES OF WEB SEARCHING ON THIS TOPIC PRODUCED A NUMBER OF RESULTS AND MY CONCLUSION IS THE ISSUE IS COMMON. THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE SUCCESS RATE FOR THE REPAIR IS NOT GOOD, WITH MANY REPAIRED VEHICLES HAVING SUBSEQUENT BOLT FAILURES. MY VEHICLE IS IN AN AUTHORIZED CHEVY SERVICE GARAGE HAVING THE BOLTS REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS FOR $486, IF CYLINDER HEAD DID NOT NEED TO BE REMOVED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN BROKE A TAP OFF IN THE REAR MOST BOLT LOCATION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAPPENED BEFORE HEAD REMOVAL OR AFTER. IT BECAME NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND WAS REQUOTED AT $1600. A CALL WAS MADE TO GM 3-6-12. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE FORE THEY COULD BE OF NO ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER. I AM CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE WARRANTY TERMS. MY ISSUE IS WITH THE SCALE OF THIS ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE COST TO THE OWNERS. THE ISSUE CAN CAUSE EMISSIONS PROBLEMS DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE AND FURTHER EXPENSE. *TR

BRAKES ARE SOFT AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHEN IS PUSHED REQUIRING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FOOT PRESSURE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER AND DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS A NEW BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, NEW BRAKE PADS, NEW ROTORS, AND NEW BRAKE FLUID. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THE VIN HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR SERVICE BRAKE FAILURES FOR THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE RECALL (ID # 04V045000) OR FAULTY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. *JS

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED ON MARCH 1 2013 DIDN'T NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT A SLIGHT ENGINE NOISE. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE NOISE WAS TAPPING VALVES, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A YEAR. WHEN I CHANGED THE OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THAT THE REAR MANIFOLD BOLT WAS MISSING, LOOKED AT THE OTHER SIDE, THAT WAS MISSING ALSO. I HEARD I COULD E-MAIL YOU TO REPORT A PROBLEM SO I DID.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR TIRES, LINE SIZE: LT265/75/R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND TOOK THE FAILED TIRE TO THE TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE SHOP REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12T003000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRE SIZE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ UPDATED 03/29/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN APPLIED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE REAR BRAKE LINES BEING CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

THIS VEHICLE FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES AND LEAKING EXHAUST AROUND HEAD GASKET. *TR

I HAVE SEVERAL BROKEN BOLTS ON MY EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF FOR EMISSIONS RELATED CODES. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS A SMOG TEST UNLESS THIS IS FIXED. SEVERAL AUTO SHOPS WANT ABOUT $1,000 TO FIX THIS. ITS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND IS KNOWN BY CHEVY/GM AND YET THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP OR FIX IT. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! *TR

ON WEDFEB15/12 THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON FULLY AND UPON BRAKING THE TRUCK PULLED TOWARDS ON COMING TRAFFIC SOUNDING LIKE METAL ON METAL.-LETTER FEB20/12 TO GM.THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLED OUT OF MY HANDS-LETTER DEC9/13 TO GM.I HAVE COMPLAINED BY LETTER TO GM.MAR14,APR5,JUN4,OCT19 AND DEC9/13 ABOUT THIS ABS PROBLEM AND THEY KEEP CLOSING MY FILE AND AS OF JAN9/14 BY PHONING ME REFUSE TO RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINTS.MR ROESTI-OWNER BRADLEY CHEV HAS STATED BY LETTER IF A SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ALL SORTS OF STRANGE THINGS COULD HAPPEN.BARNES WHEATON CHEV SERVICE MGR JESSIE-IF ONE BRAKE SENSOR ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY THE COMPUTOR WILL SEND ALL THE BRAKING POWER TO THE OPPOSITE WHEEL.NOV13/13 PRESTON CHEV SERVICE ADVISOR-HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE ABS SYSTEMS AT LOW SPEEDS-REPLACED CONTROLLER TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING OFF LEAVING STUDS IN THE HEADS (4) MY LATE 2002 CHEVY Z71 DEVELOPED AN EXHAUST LEAK AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTED BANGING AT IDLE OR AFTER PARKED. ENGINE HAS BLACK EXHAUST ON THE HEAD WHERE WE FOUND THE MAIN LEAK. SO, CARBON MONOXIDE HAS BEEN COMING INTO THE CAB AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SEEMS HOTTER THAN NORMAL. WHEN CHECKING INTO THE ISSUE, I FOUND EVERY TRUCK IN OUR COMPANY FLEET HAS THIS SAME ISSUE AND OUR ASSOCIATES THAT HAVE PERSONAL TRUCKS DRIVING TO WORK CHECKED THEIRS AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. FROM 1999 THRU 2008 YEARS. WHEN CONTACTING OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, THEY ADVISED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. EVERY PERSON I MENTION THIS TO, CHECKS THEIR TRUCK AND HAS THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE BROKEN BOLTS. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CONTRACTING AND EXPANDING TOO MUCH- CHEAP STEEL ATTACHED TO ALUMINUM HEADS APPEAR ON ALL OF THE V-8 TRUCK ENGINES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH HEAT AND CARBON MONOXIDE AS WELL AS THE COSTS TO REPAIR. *TR

A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKES EVEN THOUGH I QUICKLY PUMPED THE PEDAL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET AROUND THE STOPPED VEHICLE AND COAST TO A STOP. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE AFTER TAKING DOWN THE GAS TANK FOUND A RUSTED AND DETERIORATED BRAKE LINE. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ON A SUPER HIGHWAY AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPENED AT THAT TIME. I BELIEVE A RECALL ON ANY VEHICLE IS NECESSARY IF THIS SITUATION HAS ARISEN BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE ASAP. THANK YOU; *TR UPDATED IVOQ 04/19/12 UPDATED 05/02/12 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 05/30/12 UPDATED IVOQ 05/31/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BACKING PLATE FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. AS A RESULT, THE BACKING PLATE, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND FRACTURED CAUSING AN EXTENSIVE LEAK. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V161000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE PEDAL UNTIL IT WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

SEAT BELTS ARE CLEAN AND FREE OF DEBRIS, BUT DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER BELTS. *TR

DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK AND APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR..VEHICLE DID COME TO A STOP AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING BUT HAD NO BRAKE PRESSURE...FOUND LINE UNDER L/S ALONG FRAME RAIL ROTTED AND LEAKING...AFTER A FULL INSPECTION AT THE DEALER.FOUND ALL BRAKE LINES TO BE ROTTED OR RUSTED PREMATURELY...THIS VEHICLE IS NOT A WORK TRUCK IS VERY WELL KEPT.. *TR

SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT IN 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500, APPLIED BRAKES AND FOOT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES! AT A REPAIR SHOP, TRUCK WAS PUT ON A LIFT AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING. TRUCK IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND NOT USED OFF-ROAD OR IN ANY WAY THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS CONDITION. APPARENTLY IT IS A DEFECT AND COME TO FIND OUT AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS BRAKE CORROSIAN ON CHEVY TRUCKS AND DRIVERS HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. NO RECALLS ON IT YET. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE CHEVY FESSES UP AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE TRUCKS? *TR

CAME HOME FROM GETTING FUEL, BACKED UP TO ATTACH TRAILER BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, INSPECTED AND FOUND STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE JUST COASTS ALONG AND RUNS ROUGH. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T CLEAR THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY, ON BUSY EXPRESSWAYS OR ON MAIN ROADS AND SIDE ROADS. THE GAS PEDAL LOSES COMMUNICATION WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS NERVE WRACKING WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE WONT RESPOND TO STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. TRYING TO GET OVER SEVERAL LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. IT IS ALSO BAD WHEN ON A BUSY, MAIN ROAD, THE VEHICLE "ACTS UP". I HAVE TO PULL OVER, BLOCKING TRAFFIC, UNTIL I CAN GET IT GOING AGAIN. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO A RESTAURANT TODAY 01/15/12 AND HIT THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED AND WOULDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAD HIT A BUMP PREVIOUSLY AND HEARD THE DOOR CHIME THEN LESS THAN 10MINS LATER THIS FAILURE. PREVIOUSLY I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES UNTIL THEN

RECENTLY I HAD A CLOSE CALL WITH MY 2003 2500HD SILVERADO. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP BUT THE PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO ASSIST IN GETTING THE TRUCK STOPPED. I NARROWLY MISSED CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I DISCOVERED THAT ATLEAST 1 OF MY BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. I'VE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY RECOMMEND ALL THE BRAKE LINES BE REPLACED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION IN ALL THE LINES. I WAS ABLE TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE TRUCK ON THE LIFT. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LINES. THIS IS MY PERSONAL TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN KEPT VERY CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT AND IS ONLY USED LIGHTLY. I BELIEVE THE LINES ARE DEFECTIVE. BRAKE LINES DON'T TYPICALLY RUST OUT IN AN 8 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I DON'T LIVE NEAR THE OCEAN, SO THE ONLY SALT IT MAY SEE IS IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AND GM SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND MAKE THE REPAIR. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED CHEVROLET, SILVERADO, 2003, WITH 55,000 MILES FROM THIS DEALER. WITHIN ONE WEEK, IT SUFFERED A BRAKE FAILURE. IT WAS TOWED BACK, REPLACED THE LEAKING TUBING, AND RETURNED TO SERVICE. ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER BRAKE FAILURE, TOWED BACK, AND THIS TIME EVERY STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THIS TRUCK HAD BEEN GARAGED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE STEEL BRAKE LINES.(VIN-[XXX] THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY VERY DANGEROUS, BUT BECAUSE IT IS BENEATH THE VEHICLE, IT IS VERY HARD TO DETECT BEFORE HAND. THIS ISSUE NEEDS VISIBILITY AND SAFETY ALERTS SO MECHANICS AND AUTOMOTIVE AND TRUCK DEALERSHIPS CAN PERFORM MORE THOROUGH INSPECTIONS TO PRECLUDE FATAL ACCIDENTS. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER MECHANICS, THEY ARE SEEING AN INCREASED FREQUENCY OF CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINES. I CAN GET CORRODED BRAKE LINES, IF NEEDED FOR EXAMINATION. BUT WE NEED MORE ATTENTION FOCUSED ON THE IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN & THEN WE NEED TO STOP USING THE DE-ICERS OR REQUIRE VEHICLE BUILDERS TO USE CORROSION RESISTANT STEEL TUBING (SUCH AS STAINLESS STEEL TUBING).I KNOW IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE! I HOPE YOU CAN GET THE ?BALL? ROLLING. LET ME KNOW WHAT MORE YOU NEED / WANT. KIND REGARDS, [XXX] OFFICE:[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WENT OUT TO THE TRUCK, STARTED IT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ALONG WITH A WARNING BEEP INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO THIS WAS GIVEN, WHICH IS VERY SCARY AS I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, UPON INSPECTION (WORD FOR WORD FROM INVOICE) "BRAKE LINE FROM ABS TO UNIT TO REAR AXLE AND ONE RUSTED THRU FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS UNIT, OTHER LINES FROM ABS UNIT VERY RUSTY ALSO, REPLACED ALL RUSTED BRAKE LINES, FREE UP BRAKE BLEEDS AND BLEED BRAKE SYSTEM, ROAD TESTED AND RECHECKED OKAY" THIS KIND OF FAILURE SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE, TRUCK WITH THIS LOW MILES AND AGE, REALLY? COST TO FIX $1,010.64 WITH TOW. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LINES WITH BRAKE LINES THAT WILL NEVER CORRODE, WHY WASN'T THIS DONE AT FACTORY TO BEGIN WITH? I REGULARLY TOW HEAVY EQUIPMENT, GRANTED THE TRAILERS HAVE BRAKES, BUT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

IN LATE DEC MY DIESEL FUEL RETURN LINE ROTTED OUT FROM RUST, AND WAS LEAKING DIESEL FUEL ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AT IDLE. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL I STOPPED TO RE-FUEL AND REALIZED FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK. I WAS ON TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS, ABOUT 500 MILES FROM HOME AND THERE WERE NO OPEN AUTO SHOPS AROUND THAT I COULD FIND. I WAS ABLE TO CUT THE ROTTED SECTION OUT AND BAND AID FIX THE SYSTEM WITH SOME RUBBER FUEL LINE AND HOSE CLAMPS FROM AUTOZONE. THIS FIX HAS SEEMED TO HOLD UP FAIRLY WELL FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN USING MY TRUCK. FAST FORWARD TO LAST WEEK WHEN MY BRAKE LINE DECIDED TO BURST, SPEWING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND GET IT TOWED BACK HOME WHERE IT NOW SITS. I'VE BEEN DOING THE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WITH THESE SAME RUSTED OUT LINE ISSUES ON THESE GMC VEHICLES. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT GM ABOUT IT BUT I AM SURE THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AS THE TRUCK DOES HAVE HIGHER MILLAGE. HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH UNDER 100K ON THEIR VEHICLES! HERE ARE SOME OF THE LINKS... NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP10003 HTTP://TRUCKS.ABOUT.COM/B/2011/08/01/BRAKE-LINE-CORROSION-SUSPECTED-IN-GM-TRUCKS.HTM HTTP://TRUCKS.ABOUT.COM/OD/GENERALMOTORSTRUCKS/A/BRAKE-LINE-CORROSION-PROBLEMS-IN-GM-TRUCKS.HTM HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX/.F0D4FE5?DISPLAYRECENT

HIT IN REAR OF DRIVER SIDE CORNER OF BED AND SENT TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH FRONT OF TRUCK THEN ROLLING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HALTING TO A STOP. HIGHWAY PATROL REPORT TAKEN. *TR

WHEN FUELING MY 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 HD PICKUP I NOTICED FUEL SPILLING OUT WHEN I TOOK THE SCREWDRIVER TO REMOVE THE CLAMP I NOTICE THE FILLER NECK WAS RUSTED THRU AND THE RUBBER HOSE WAS JUST FLOATING. NOW I CALLED CHEVROLET PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THIS IS GOING TO COST ME $400.00 FOR THE PART BECAUSE IT IS SOLD ALL ONE PIECE. *TR

WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP LIGHT, I APPLIED EXTRA PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP IN TIME. THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND THE DASH INFORMATION SCREEN NOTED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. SINCE NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME, I TRAVELED WELL INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL SAFELY INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE TECH STATED THAT MY BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED IN ONE LOCATION, AND WAS GOING TO RUPTURE IN SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS. ALL BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF DETERIORATION IN THOSE LINES. I AM VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW, AND I AM THE ONLY OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER REVISED THE STEERING BOX BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES, BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

THE HEADS OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS TO THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE BREAKING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WERE REPEATED ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETECTED THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES UNDER DRIVER SIDE OF TRUCK. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON I-95 AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO AVOID ROAD WAY DEBRIS. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPING DIDN'T HELP ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK DID SLOW DOWN BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY TRUCK SUSTAINED MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE FRONT END. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE BRAKE LINE BURST AND ALL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED AND NEED REPLACING. THERE WERE NO PRIOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR

I'M CURRENTLY REPLACING MORE BRAKE LINES AS THEY HAVE FAILED AND STARTED TO LEAK. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN WAS IN 2009 WHERE MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER MAKING A SUDDEN STOP TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. IT BLEW OUT A CORRODED BRAKE LINE. I'VE REPLACED THE ROTORS IN 2009 CAUSE THEY WERE ALL ROTTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE AREA, AND NOW THE BRAKE LINES NEAR ABS MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE LEAKING AND PEDAL AND ABS KEEPS PUSHING IN TOO FAR AND ABS GOES OFF PREMATURELY. MY FRAME HAS BAD RUST ALL OVER IT AND I AM VERY METICULOUS ABOUT CLEANING MY TRUCK OFF WHEN ROAD SALT IS ON IT. THE UNDER CHASSIS HAS CORROSION ON THE CROSS MEMBERS, FRAME, AND TORSION BARS, IT ALL LOOKS BAD. THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH A THIRD PARTY AND HAVE HAD MANY OTHER PARTS REPLACED THROUGH THEM DUE TO FAILURE, THEY DO NOT COVER COST OF BRAKE LINES DUE TO ROT. *KB

MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WENT INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND IDLE SPEED. IT TOOK SEVERAL RESTARTS BEFORE IT CLEARED AND WOULD RUN CORRECTLY. ABOUT THE TIME I MADE IT HOME IT WENT BACK INTO THIS MODE AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. *TR

HAD CORRODED FUEL LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATED THAT BRAKE LINES LOOKED IN BAD SHAPE AND SUGGESTED THEY BE REPLACED ALSO. HAD LIMITED USAGE OF MY TRUCK WHILE I LOOKED INTO HAVING THEM REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WITH MY WIFE IN TRUCK, AS I WENT TO STOP, LINE RUPTURED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I CAME CLOSE TO GOING THROUGH STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING CAR. I REPLACE THE LINE SINCE IT WAS EASY, AND NOW ON 7/8/2003 TWO MORE LINES HAVE RUPTURED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY AND HE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT AFTER HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CREATE A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

WHILE UNDER HARD BRAKING THE DRIVERS REAR BRAKE FAILED JUST ABOVE AXEL. AFTER THE REPAIR DURING THE TEST DRIVE 3 LINES RUPTURED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RAIL JUST BELOW THE DRIVERS FEET NEXT TO THE ABS MODULE. I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA11001 ALREADY STARTED ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING THROUGH STATE INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERALLY CORRODED. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

TRUCK HAS 82,000 MILES. SPEEDOMETER BEEN ACTING UP LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.SITTING PARK IT READS 40MPH.I SEE WHERE EVERYONE WHO OWNS A SILVERADO HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CLUSTERS. ARE ALL MY GAUGES GONNA GO OUT NOW?....HOW BAD ARE THE ALL GONNA BE OFF?.....THIS IS BAD.....AND EVERYONE KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM TOO...THATS THE WORST PART. MY NEXT TRUCK WILL BE A TOYOTA! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO RETAIN ITS PASSENGER. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.