NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
24 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jun 24, 2013
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED CHE…
Read full complaint
2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALER, WHERE AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BREAK IN ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES, AND ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SO DETERIORATED AND RUST ENCRUSTED, THAT ALL OF THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10521329
62,392 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO CORROSION, THE BRAKE LINES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO CORROSION, THE BRAKE LINES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, AS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALER WHERE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MACHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,392.
NHTSA ODI #10505375
114,916 miles · Mar 20, 2013
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A 2-WAY STOP. UPON TURNING RIGHT, MY FOOT WENT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND GOT HOOKED ON A PIECE OF METAL EXTENDING FROM THE ARM OF THE ACCELERATOR. THIS CAUSED MY FOOT TO BE TRAPPED BELOW THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT ATTACHED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE SPUN BACK AND FORTH WHILE TRYING TO GET MY FOOT…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A 2-WAY STOP. UPON TURNING RIGHT, MY FOOT WENT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND GOT HOOKED ON A PIECE OF METAL EXTENDING FROM THE ARM OF THE ACCELERATOR. THIS CAUSED MY FOOT TO BE TRAPPED BELOW THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT ATTACHED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE SPUN BACK AND FORTH WHILE TRYING TO GET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I HIT A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM WHICH I WAS TURNING PINNING IT TO THE GUARD RAIL. ALTHOUGH BOTH TRUCKS HAD STOPPED, THE TIRES ON MY TRUCK WERE STILL SPINNING BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS STILL HOOKED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND WEDGE BELOW THE BRAKE PEDAL. ONLY AFTER I TURNED THE KEY OFF COULD I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK. IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF MY TRUCK I HAD TO UNLACE MY SHOE AND PULL MY FOOT OUT, THEN PRY IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ACCELERATOR, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF MY SHOE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503759
36,000 miles · May 4, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 2003 AVALANCHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR 2002 REGARDING THE ANTILOCK COMING ON AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. GM REFUSES TO INCLUDE OUR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY STATED THAT NO CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE ANTILOCK SPEED SENSOR AND/OR HUB ASSEMBLY FROM THE 2002 TO 2003. IF WE HAVE THE SA…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 AVALANCHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR 2002 REGARDING THE ANTILOCK COMING ON AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. GM REFUSES TO INCLUDE OUR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY STATED THAT NO CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE ANTILOCK SPEED SENSOR AND/OR HUB ASSEMBLY FROM THE 2002 TO 2003. IF WE HAVE THE SAME PRODUCT IN OUR 2003 AVALANCHE, THEN WHY DOES IT NOT DESERVE TO BE INCLUDED WITH RECALL AND REQUIRE GM TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM IS IGNORING THE CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH LATER YEAR VEHICLES AND IS NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. AVALANCHE OWNERS NEED TO GET TOGETHER TO COMPLAIN TO FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10457446
80,000 miles · Dec 30, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR PASSENGER-SIDE BRAKE LINE FAILED, ABOVE THE REAR AXLE ON EXIT RAMP OF MAJOR HIGHWAY. COMPLETELY CORRODED LINE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. ELECTRONIC RUST PREVENTION SYSTEM (SACRIFICIAL ZINC AT ALL 4 CORNERS) INSTALLED BY DEALERSHIP WHEN TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, YET ALL BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACEMENT. DEALERSHIP (HEINRICH CHEVROLE…
Read full complaint
REAR PASSENGER-SIDE BRAKE LINE FAILED, ABOVE THE REAR AXLE ON EXIT RAMP OF MAJOR HIGHWAY. COMPLETELY CORRODED LINE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. ELECTRONIC RUST PREVENTION SYSTEM (SACRIFICIAL ZINC AT ALL 4 CORNERS) INSTALLED BY DEALERSHIP WHEN TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, YET ALL BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACEMENT. DEALERSHIP (HEINRICH CHEVROLET OF LOCKPORT, NY) QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $1000 JUST IN LABOR TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'LL REPLACE THEM MYSELF. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10441787
149,200 miles · Dec 22, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ROTTING BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE, NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM LINES. CORROSION SO BAD REQUIRES ALL LINES TO BE REPLACED. DEALER ALSO DAMAGED BRAKE CONTROLLER DURING REPAIR AND CHARGED ME THE REPLACEMENT COST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440998
90,887 miles · Dec 12, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY BRAKING ACTION. THE PEDAL CAME BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION AND I PRESSED IT AGAIN HARDER THE SECOND TIME WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN BUT LOCKE…
Read full complaint
PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY BRAKING ACTION. THE PEDAL CAME BACK UP TO NORMAL POSITION AND I PRESSED IT AGAIN HARDER THE SECOND TIME WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN BUT LOCKED UP THE WHEELS AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP.
NHTSA ODI #10439649
40,000 miles · Dec 10, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE LINE EXPLOSIVE FAILURE BEFORE THE FIREWALL. 95% LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. INSPECTION OF LINES INDICATES CORROSION. ALSO HEAVY CORROSION ON FRAME MEMBERS NOTED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. AT 25000 MI. REPLACED ALL ROTORS AND PADS WITH NON CHEVY PARTS. NO MO…
Read full complaint
BRAKE LINE EXPLOSIVE FAILURE BEFORE THE FIREWALL. 95% LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. INSPECTION OF LINES INDICATES CORROSION. ALSO HEAVY CORROSION ON FRAME MEMBERS NOTED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. AT 25000 MI. REPLACED ALL ROTORS AND PADS WITH NON CHEVY PARTS. NO MORE ROTOR ISSUES. NOW ALL BRAKE LINES CHANGED DUE TO CORROSION AND BURST LINE HAS CAUSED A MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. THERE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES HERE AND IT'S TIME FOR NHTSA TO STEP IN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10439243
120,000 miles · Aug 18, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD SEIZE AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLCED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE REAR BRAKE CONTINUED TO SEI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD SEIZE AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLCED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE REAR BRAKE CONTINUED TO SEIZE AND SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA ODI #10420047
94,000 miles · Jun 1, 2011
Air BagsService Brakes, Hydraulic
"SERVICE ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY...DISABLING AIR BAGS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10404000
NHTSA investigations
1EA11001 · Brake Line Corrosion Failure
Opened Jan 5, 2011 · Closed Apr 8, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.The subject vehicles represent the first five MY's of GM's GMT800 platform production, of which approximately 2,038,504 vehicles were sold in salt states (the subject vehicles).The GMT800 platform includes the following vehicles:1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 series pick-up trucks; 2000-2006 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles; and 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Avalanche sport-utility vehicles.General Motors produced a total of approximately 10,427,062 GMT800 vehicles for sales in the United States, including almost 5 million that were sold in salt states.Although there are over 60 different brake pipe routing configuration used in GMT800 vehicles, with the exception of the rear crossover pipes in MY 200x-2007 vehicles that changed from rear disc to drum brakes, all of the vehicles use brake pipes from the same supplier with a common double-wall, brazed steel pipe design with a combination of hot dip Zinc-Aluminum corrosion protection coating and Aluminum paint outer layer known in the industry as AlGal (ASTM-B750). ODI analysis of field data regarding GMT800 vehicles identified a total of 3,645 complaints of brake pipe corrosion failures, including 107 alleging crashes, and 40 injuries.Though only 20% of total GMT800 production, due to age and region the subject vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the failure experience; with 2,702 of the complaints (75%), 88 of the crashes (82%) and 20 of the injuries (50%) reported in those vehicles.Analysis of the complaints showed strong correlations to vehicle age and region.For vehicles with less than 8 years of service, the complaint rates were minimal for all regions.In the salt states the failure rates begin to climb as the vehicles advance in age, particularly in the Northeast corner of the United States.The complaint rates in the salt states go from less than 0.1 incident per thousand vehicles (IPTV) at 7 years in service to over 1.0 IPTV after the 12th year of service for the subject pickup trucks and utility vehicles.Most of the failures reported to ODI occurred in vehicles with more than 10 years in service.ODI?s investigation did not identify any specific defect conditions that were causing or contributing to the brake pipe failures.Nor did the analysis isolate the problem to any subject vehicle sub-populations when analyzed by vehicle type or production range.The investigation found that vehicles experiencing brake pipe corrosion failures were likely to have general patterns of excessive corrosion on the majority of the brake pipe assembly and appear to be occurring due to expected wear out for the brake pipe coating material used in the subject vehicles and the environmental conditions in severe corrosion states.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor t
Illustration