NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
133 reportsClear category filter136,000 miles · Sep 12, 2012
Service Brakes
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUPTURED LINE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE CORROSION. AFTER APPLYING BRAKES AND RECEIVING SOME RESISTANCE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. VERY MINIMAL BRAKING WAS AVAILABLE BY RAPIDLY PUMPING THE BRAKES AND LIBERAL USE OF THE PARKING BRAKE...I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER TRAVEL…
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COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUPTURED LINE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE CORROSION. AFTER APPLYING BRAKES AND RECEIVING SOME RESISTANCE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. VERY MINIMAL BRAKING WAS AVAILABLE BY RAPIDLY PUMPING THE BRAKES AND LIBERAL USE OF THE PARKING BRAKE...I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. I WAS THANKFUL NO TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS AS THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH AND PROPERTY DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH. AFTER SAFELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE I DISCOVERED ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WHICH RUN ALONG THE LEFT FRAME RAIL IN A GROUP OF 4 LINES, HAD RUPTURED. ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES HAD SIGNIFICANT CORROSION...I THOUGHT BRAKE LINES WERE STAINLESS STEEL... I ALSO NOTICED MILD CORROSION ON THE ADJACENT FUEL LINE, WHICH APPEARED TO BE ALUMINUM. IT'S A GOOD THING I RECENTLY GOT MY PARKING BRAKE REBUILT...THE MIDDLE CABLE BROKE (ALSO FROM CORROSION AND IN ABOUT THE SAME AREA AS THE BRAKE LINE FAILURE) AND DURING REPAIRS THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE BACKING PLATE AND ENTIRE EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSY, ALSO DUE TO CORROSION. I DO NOT HAVE A BOAT, NOR WOULD I CONSIDER MY VEHICLE TO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE SALT FROM ROADWAYS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10475252
87,000 miles · Sep 9, 2012
Service Brakes
REAR STEEL BRAKELINE FAILURE CAUSED BY RUST-THROUGH, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKEFLUID. LEAK WAS AT BEND OVER FRAME BRACKET AND FITTING FOR FLEXIBLE RUBBER HOSE FOR REAR AXLE BRAKE . DID UNDER VEHICLE INSPECTION OF BRAKELINES ON VEHICLE, ALL BRAKELINES FRONT AND REAR NEED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. …
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REAR STEEL BRAKELINE FAILURE CAUSED BY RUST-THROUGH, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKEFLUID. LEAK WAS AT BEND OVER FRAME BRACKET AND FITTING FOR FLEXIBLE RUBBER HOSE FOR REAR AXLE BRAKE . DID UNDER VEHICLE INSPECTION OF BRAKELINES ON VEHICLE, ALL BRAKELINES FRONT AND REAR NEED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. LINES BETWEEN MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER AND LINES TO ALL SERVICE BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT. LOSS OF REAR BRAKES CAUSED REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. REMAINING FRONT BRAKES SYSTEM WOULD HAVE BEEN USELESS IF LOSS WAS AT HIGH SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10474425
81,002 miles · Aug 25, 2012
Service Brakes
THE BRAKES FAILED IN TRAFFIC APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. A SEVERE COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE ABS CONTROLLER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING A SUDDEN RUPTURE AND BRAKE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, ALL BRAKE LINES WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED FROM END TO END.…
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THE BRAKES FAILED IN TRAFFIC APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. A SEVERE COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE ABS CONTROLLER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING A SUDDEN RUPTURE AND BRAKE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, ALL BRAKE LINES WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED FROM END TO END. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472458
128,000 miles · Aug 24, 2012
Service Brakes
LUCKY I WAS SITTING AT A WENDY'S PICKUP WINDOW WHEN I FELT A POP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CHECKED AND FOUND THAT 2 OF MY BRAKE LINES HAD PIN HOLES LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED ALONG WITH GAS LINE (FROM MASTER CYL TO ABS BLOCK AND BACK) IT IS SITTING AT A CHEVY DEALER IN VA BEACH BECAUSE THEY SAID…
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LUCKY I WAS SITTING AT A WENDY'S PICKUP WINDOW WHEN I FELT A POP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CHECKED AND FOUND THAT 2 OF MY BRAKE LINES HAD PIN HOLES LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED ALONG WITH GAS LINE (FROM MASTER CYL TO ABS BLOCK AND BACK) IT IS SITTING AT A CHEVY DEALER IN VA BEACH BECAUSE THEY SAID COST OVER 3000 TO FIX OR TOTAL IT, GLAD IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS REALLY DRIVING LIKE ON THE WAY HOME TO PA AFTER VAC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472394
90,269 miles · Aug 9, 2012
Service Brakes
I LIVE IN A SECTION OF TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS, STEEP HILLS. ON THE WAY HOME, I BEGAN BRAKING TO KEEP BELOW THE 35MPH SPEED LIMIT, AND THE BRAKES WENT WAY FURTHER DOWN THAN NORMAL, BUT THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN. SINCE I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME, I KEPT GOING ON MY WAY VERY SLOWLY. I DOWNSHIFTED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FIRST GEAR THE…
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I LIVE IN A SECTION OF TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS, STEEP HILLS. ON THE WAY HOME, I BEGAN BRAKING TO KEEP BELOW THE 35MPH SPEED LIMIT, AND THE BRAKES WENT WAY FURTHER DOWN THAN NORMAL, BUT THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN. SINCE I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME, I KEPT GOING ON MY WAY VERY SLOWLY. I DOWNSHIFTED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FIRST GEAR THE NEXT TIME I NEEDED TO BRAKE (AT MY HOUSE), THIS TIME THE BRAKE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THE RUSTY BRAKE LINE THAT HAD RUPTURED, AND SEVERAL OTHER BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES THAT WERE VERY RUSTY AS WELL. TRUCK REMAINS PARKED FOR NOW, TO REPLACE THE BROKEN LINE, (THE ONE THAT RUNS FROM THE ABS/PROPORTIONER TO THE REAR BRAKES) AND THE OTHER RUSTY BRAKE LINES AS WELL AS THE RUSTY FUEL LINES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469978
180,200 miles · Jul 18, 2012
Service Brakes
BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATES AND BUZZES. BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR THIS BEFORE, AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN, SEVERAL YEARS LATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10466427
134,000 miles · Jul 1, 2012
Service Brakes
MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AFTER A STOP LITE PUT MY FOOT ON MY BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, ALMOST HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME, STOPPED AND SAW MY REAR DRIVER SIDE LINE LEAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463871
108,516 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Service BrakesSuspensionWheelsCrash
I WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AND THERE WAS NO BRAKES ALSO HAPPENED WHEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT OF STORE .I TOOK TO GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH HUB BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED ME TO LOSE ALL MY BRAKES. I HIT A CONCRETE HANDICAP SIGN WAS LUCKY NOT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHY WOULD GM MAKE A …
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I WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AND THERE WAS NO BRAKES ALSO HAPPENED WHEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT OF STORE .I TOOK TO GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH HUB BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED ME TO LOSE ALL MY BRAKES. I HIT A CONCRETE HANDICAP SIGN WAS LUCKY NOT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHY WOULD GM MAKE A TRUCK THAT WOULD LOSE ITS BRAKES IF A BEARING WAS LOOSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE TRUCK THAT THE SAME THING MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AND MAYBE THE NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO LUCKY. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 4 DAYS EARLIER MY ABS LIGHT FLICKERED ON THEN OFF 1 TIME. REMAINED OFF AFTER THAT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10461227
103,000 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Service Brakes
STARTED TRUCK, WENT TO PUT IN GEAR AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND HAD A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. UPON INSPECTION, THE LINE THAT WENT FROM THE ABS MODULE UP TO THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD RUPTURED (SMALL PIN HOLE). ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK ARE …
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STARTED TRUCK, WENT TO PUT IN GEAR AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND HAD A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. UPON INSPECTION, THE LINE THAT WENT FROM THE ABS MODULE UP TO THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD RUPTURED (SMALL PIN HOLE). ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK ARE ABOUT RUSTED THROUGH. THIS RUPTURE LEFT ME WITH NO BRAKES ON THE TRUCK. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT WHILE PUTTING IN GEAR INSTEAD OF WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE ON THE ROADS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10461183
125,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Service Brakes
MY 16 YR OLD SON DROVE THRU AN INTERSECTION WITH NO BRAKES. JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. I KNOW 4 OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN THE SAME KIND OF VEHICAL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I WILL BE CONTACTING THEM SO THEY CAN ALSO FILL THIS COMPLAINT OUT. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE TO GET THIS MESS FIXED UP ?????????? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10460776
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.
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