2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED. SPRING OF 2016, I HAD A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD ENOUGH BRAKING LEFT TO STOP INT TIME. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST. REAR SECTION OF FRAME IS RUSTING ALONG WITH LINES ON DIESEL FUEL COOLER AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS NOT MY PRIMARY VEHICLE. WE USE IT FOR TRIPS AND TO PULL OUR CAMPER. I HAVE TRIED TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON SALTY AND SLOPPY ROADS. THE PAINT ON OUTSIDE AND THE INTERIOR LOOKS GREAT. I AM CONCERNED ON HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND TOW.

THE BRAKE LINE TO THE FRONT BRAKES BURST AND RESULTED IN NO BRAKES. IN 2013 THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BURST AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN EITHER CASE. I REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKE LINE AND I EXPECTED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE MY RESEARCH INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED TO ISSUE A RECALL. THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT A VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION THAT IS TEN YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE ITS BRAKES FAIL COMPLETELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. WHY ARE THESE VEHICLES ALLOWED TO BE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE LINES MADE OF MATERIALS THAT WILL CERTAINLY FAIL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DRIVER, ESPECIALLY AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER HAS THEIR BRAKES FAIL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. YOU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES INVOLVED.

INVOLVING MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO C2500HD, VIN: [XXX]; WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THIS VEHICLE,ON A FLAT SURFACE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL. NARROWLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE...MINUTES EARLIER I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY. THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING NEAR THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TAKATA RECALL. THIS IS MY THIRD EVENT RELATING TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THIS EVENT, I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID ABOVE MY FUEL TANK AND AT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THERE APPEARS TO BE FLUID ON THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO INSPECT THE LINE ABOVE THE FUEL TANK AT THIS TIME. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE WET FRAME BEHIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. IT SHOWS A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. THE FIRST TWO EVENTS MY JUVENILE SON WAS DRIVING. FOR ALL EVENTS WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO BE OPERATING IN OUR YARD, SO NO ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TWO EVENTS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES THAT FAILED, SHOWED THAT THESE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, INSPECTING THE LINES THAT ARE VISIBLE, THEY ALL SHOW SIGNS OF RUSTING. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION, SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY DEALER PAPERWORK TO DOCUMENT THE REPAIRS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF GENERAL MOTOR TRUCKS OUT THERE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE MYSELF DECIDED TO JUST REPAIR IT THEMSELVES, AVOIDING THE COMPLAINT PROCESS. OR, I QUESTION IF, LIKE MYSELF, THEY EVEN HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT. PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THE LAST EXPRESSION OF FRUSTRATION. FINALLY, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DIE FOR THIS TO BECOME SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR A RECALL ORDER? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS VERY SERIOUS MATTER!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,330.

THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM IS INCREDIBLY RUSTED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH CORROSION BEFORE ON A VEHICLES BRAKE LINES. LUCKILY, THE LINE THAT RUNS FRONT TO BACK RUPTURED WHILE MOVING SLOWLY DOWN MY OWN DRIVEWAY! I LOOKED AT THE REST OF THE LINES UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND WAS AMAZED AT THE CONDITION OF THESE LINES. I AM VERY DISTURBED THAT THESE LINES ARE SO BADLY EFFECTED BY "NORMAL" NEW ENGLAND ROAD CONDITIONS. IT IS QUOTED FROM THE DEALER THAT IT WILL COST ME $1300.00 OR MORE TO REPLACE THE LINE SET. DISGRACEFUL.