2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

TRAVELING AT 25MPH, MY WIFE LOST COMPLETE BRAKING AND RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT. FORTUNATELY THE TIMING WAS SUCH THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND HAVE NOT ILLUMINATED SINCE THE INCIDENT. DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED AND RUPTURED CAUSING LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THANK GOD FOR EMERGENCY BRAKES, 1ST GEAR, AND AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. *TR

AS MY SON WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY GOING DOWN THE STREET, WE NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WE CALLED HIM TO LET HIM KNOW AND HE COMMENTED "THAT MUST BE WHY I ALL OF SUDDEN HAVE NO BRAKES." WHAT AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THIS COULD HAVE BEEN IF HE WAS GOING 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. AS A NEW, YOUNG DRIVER, I AM NOT SURE IF HE WOULD KNOW HOW TO REACT QUICK ENOUGH TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR HOW TO STOP A TRUCK THIS SIZE WITHOUT BRAKES WORKING. AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION ON-LINE, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR HAD AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ISSUES WITH BRAKE LINES CORRODING WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN CHEVROLET FOR NOT ISSUING A FORMAL RECALL IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXTREMELY BAD ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON MY SON'S OR ANYONE'S LIFE. THEY NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AT THE VERY LEAST BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THREE OF THE BRAKE LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE MODULATOR VALVE WOULD ALSO REQUIRE REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,498 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,550.

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH CHIME AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON DASH DISPLAY. CHEVY SERVICE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED RUPTURED CONNECTION FROM LINE TO BRAKE MODULATOR CAUSED BY CORROSION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL BRAKE LINES AT COST OF $1700. ORDINARY STEEL IN THIS APPLICATION IS A POOR MATERIALS CHOICE--STAINLESS STEEL WOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM TOLD NEW LINES ARE RUBBER COATED FOR LONGER LIFE. ANTIQUE VEHICLES (OVER 25 YEARS OLD), ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE THIS ISSUE, NOT A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK. *JS

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BUT WOULD LOSE PEDAL PRESSURE QUICKLY. AFTER I ARRIVED AT HOME I INSPECTED MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS EMPTY. INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS COVERED ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY UNDER MY SEAT. THE BRAKE LINES APPEARED BOTH CORRODED AND RUSTED. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EMERGENCY VEHICLES FOR 30 YEARS SO I WAS ABLE TO AVERT DISASTER AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. *TR

DRIVING ALONG AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PULLED OVER AND BRAKE FLUID GUSHING OUT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT! ALMOST EVERYONE OF THEM. NO RUST ON TRUCK. NO RUST ON UNDERBELLY, NO RUST ANYWHERE EXCEPT BRAKE LINES AND TRANSMISSION LINES. GARAGE KEPT AND FOR 6 OUT OF THE 10 YEARS, NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER. HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINES BUT HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPLACED YET. HAD TO REPLACE EVERY BRAKE LINE ON THE TRUCK. $1000 BILL. HAVE RECEIPT. *TR

I BACKED TRUCK UP TO DOCK TO LOAD BOAT ON IT AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. GETTING READY TO PULL AWAY I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THEN PUSHED ON BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN PULLED FORWARD TO SEE WHY I HAD NO BRAKES, ONLY TO FIND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR CHEVY AND GMC TRUCKS, JUST GLAD THAT NO ONE GOT HURT. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *JB