NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
120 reports145,000 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Service Brakes
WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY AND THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH VEHICLE NOT STOPPING. DROVE IT INTO THE CUL-DE-SAC ACROSS THE STREET, APPLIED BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN, DIDN'T STOP, WENT INTO DRIVEWAY AND PARKED IT. HUSBAND WENT UNDERNEATH AND NOTICE LARGE AMOUNT OF LE…
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WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY AND THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH VEHICLE NOT STOPPING. DROVE IT INTO THE CUL-DE-SAC ACROSS THE STREET, APPLIED BRAKES AT THE STOP SIGN, DIDN'T STOP, WENT INTO DRIVEWAY AND PARKED IT. HUSBAND WENT UNDERNEATH AND NOTICE LARGE AMOUNT OF LEAKING FLUID. AT NO TIME DID ANY INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON. TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR (CHEVY DEALER TOO FAR TO SAFELY DRIVE) AND THEY SAID MASSIVE CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINE AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I WAS INCREDIBLY LUCKY NO NEIGHBOR KIDS WERE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK AS I WAS BACKING UP. IT IS GOING TO BE A HORRENDOUS REPAIR BILL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532474
181,000 miles · Jul 8, 2013
Service Brakes
I WAS TOWING MY BOAT AND HAD TO STOP FOR A YELLOW, THEN RED LIGHT. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT STOP, RAN THROUGH THE LIGHT. I MADE IT THROUGH BEFORE TRAFFIC ENTERED THE INTERSECTION, SO NO ACCIDENT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A REPAIR FACILITY WITH SAFETY FLASHERS ON. MECHANIC SAYS ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS …
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I WAS TOWING MY BOAT AND HAD TO STOP FOR A YELLOW, THEN RED LIGHT. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT STOP, RAN THROUGH THE LIGHT. I MADE IT THROUGH BEFORE TRAFFIC ENTERED THE INTERSECTION, SO NO ACCIDENT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A REPAIR FACILITY WITH SAFETY FLASHERS ON. MECHANIC SAYS ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY ARE BADLY RUSTED! REPAIR COST IS EXPECTED TO BE 800 DOLLARS! WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, HAD JUST COME OFF THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10523700
146,000 miles · May 16, 2013
Service Brakes
A WAS EXITING RT 50 ONTO ROUTE 8, WEST BOUND RAMP...IN QUEENANNES COUNTY MARYLAND, THE LIGHT CHANGED SUDDENLY FROM GREEN TO YELLOW AND I REALIZED I COULD NOT MAKE THE LIGHT. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND VEHICLE STARTED TO STOP, AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST LET GO AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. FOUND I HAD NO POWER BRAKES, JUST THE MECHA…
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A WAS EXITING RT 50 ONTO ROUTE 8, WEST BOUND RAMP...IN QUEENANNES COUNTY MARYLAND, THE LIGHT CHANGED SUDDENLY FROM GREEN TO YELLOW AND I REALIZED I COULD NOT MAKE THE LIGHT. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND VEHICLE STARTED TO STOP, AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST LET GO AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. FOUND I HAD NO POWER BRAKES, JUST THE MECHANICAL PORTION. I HAD PARKS TIRE AND AUTO, IN GRANSONVILLE CHECK IT OUT TODAY, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013 THE MECHANIC MATT HRISKO SAID THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALL CORRODED AND THE RIGHT FRONT LINE SPRUNG A LEAK DUE THE CORROSION. MOREOVER, HE SAID ALL THE LINES WERE CORRODED AND IN DANGER OF SPRINGING HOLES TOO. HE ALSO FOUND A COUPLE OF THE BLEEDER VALVES WERE CORRODED AND/OR LEAKING TOO. THE ASE MECHANICS THERE, EDDIE AND MATT, SAID THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO MANY OF THESE REPLACEMENTS THAT THEY WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THEIR OWN FLARING KITS...IT IS A BIG JOB...THE FENDERS HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND ALL, ABOUT 7 TO 8 HOURS LABOR. JUST THE LINE REPLACEMENTS WOULD BE UPWARDS OF $800.00. THE CALIPERS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED THEN TOO, AS THE FITTINGS TO ADJUST/BLEED THE BRAKES ARE CORRODED, SOME ARE FROZEN SHUT AND OTHERS LEAKING. THAT WOULD ADD UPWARDS OF ANOTHER $1200 TO $1500. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR ## VIN PASSED ##
NHTSA ODI #10512427
131,589 miles · Mar 30, 2013
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
HAVE 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 4WD 5.3 ENGINE A/T. WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OUT & LOST ALL STEERING/BRAKES. 131,589 MILES ON ODOMETER AT TIME. MANAGED TO COAST VEHICLE ONTO SHOULDER, WAITED 2 MINUTES, STARTED VEHICLE AGAIN, PULLED OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC JUST TO MAKE IT 2 BLOCKS BEFORE STALL OUT AGAIN. …
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HAVE 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 4WD 5.3 ENGINE A/T. WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OUT & LOST ALL STEERING/BRAKES. 131,589 MILES ON ODOMETER AT TIME. MANAGED TO COAST VEHICLE ONTO SHOULDER, WAITED 2 MINUTES, STARTED VEHICLE AGAIN, PULLED OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC JUST TO MAKE IT 2 BLOCKS BEFORE STALL OUT AGAIN. REPEATED THIS PROCESS SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I FOUND A GAS STATION. SUSPECTING WATER IN GAS, ADDED 1 BOTTLE OF GAS LINE ANTI-FREEZE. DROVE REST OF WAY HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. REPLACED FUEL FILTER, PCV VALVE, AIR FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, AND CLEANED THROTTLE BODY JUST TO HAVE STALL OUT THE VERY NEXT DAY. NO CODES ARE DISPLAYED IN MESSAGE CENTER IN DASH BOARD. STALLS OUT RANDOMLY WITHOUT A PATTERN. WAIT 1-2 MINUTES THEN WILL START AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505113
213,000 miles · Feb 18, 2013
Power Train
SAT. 2/16/13 I STARTED MY 02 SUBURBAN UP BY TURNING THE KEY THROUGH AN OPEN DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 6 INCHES. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR YEARS, BUT REALLY NOTICED IT THIS TIME BECAUSE MY ARM GET HIT BY STEERING WHEEL SINCE I WAS OUTSIDE VEHICLE. NORMALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS I AM SEATED IN CAR AND…
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SAT. 2/16/13 I STARTED MY 02 SUBURBAN UP BY TURNING THE KEY THROUGH AN OPEN DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 6 INCHES. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR YEARS, BUT REALLY NOTICED IT THIS TIME BECAUSE MY ARM GET HIT BY STEERING WHEEL SINCE I WAS OUTSIDE VEHICLE. NORMALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS I AM SEATED IN CAR AND NOTICE IT SEEMS TO JUMP FORWARD. IT HAPPENS PROBABLY ONCE EVERY 100-150 STARTS. ANY IDEA WHY AND WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. AFRAID SOMEONE MAY BE IN FRONT OF CAR SOMEDAY AND MIGHT GET HURT IF IT LURCHED. ALSO COULD HAVE DONE DAMAGE TO MY GARAGE DOOR IF IT HAD BEEN DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498521
69,789 miles · Feb 13, 2013
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP I APPLIED BRAKES WHICH WITHOUT ANY WARNING WENT TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AT STOP SIGN AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE SUBURBAN IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO STOP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498006
31,412 miles · Jan 7, 2013
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 02/26/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER TECH ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PREVALENT IN THAT AREA. UPDATED 03/1/2013 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10491628
169,500 miles · Nov 17, 2012
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. PLEASE ADD MY NAME TO THE NHTSA # EA11001 INVESTIGATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484997
64,000 miles · Oct 22, 2012
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE WHERE HE THEN NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE WHERE HE THEN NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
NHTSA ODI #10481394
118,000 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Service Brakes
ON 10-5-12 I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN EATON RAPIDS MICHIGAN. I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO COAST AND SLOW ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I NOTED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CHECKED AND NOTED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD BLOW…
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ON 10-5-12 I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN EATON RAPIDS MICHIGAN. I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO COAST AND SLOW ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I NOTED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CHECKED AND NOTED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD BLOWN AND SPRAYED BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE. I NOTED FLUID ON THE GROUND UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW ON FLUID. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO WARNING LIGHT ON THE IN DASH COMPUTER. THE BRAKES WENT FROM WORKING JUST FINE TO NOTHING! I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT ANDREWS AUTOMOTIVE IN MASON, MI. THEY ADVISED THAT TWO OF THE LINES HAD BLOWN AND THE OTHER TWO WERE SO RUSTY THAT THEY COULD GO AT ANYTIME AND RECOMMENDED THEY BE REPLACED AS WELL. I HAD THEM REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I TRAVELED TO SOUTH DAKOTA FROM MICHIGAN OVER THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY. 1100 MILES EACH WAY. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAULING THE MOTORCYCLE TRAILER, OR THE CAMPER OVER THE SUMMER, A CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. I HOPE CHEVY STEPS UP AND RECALLS THE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED IN ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. IF YOU OWN ONE, HAVE THE LINES REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. I WAS VERY LUCKY. SOMEONE IS BOUND NOT TO BE. THE BILL TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES WAS $818.50. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479910