- NHTSA will investigate 6.2 million full-size GM trucks and SUVs for brake line failure.
- The brake lines are said to have corroded in everyday driving.
- Consumers have filed 110 complaints about the issue.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into 6.2 million General Motors vehicles, including the 1999-2003 Chevrolet Suburban and the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, for possible brake line failure due to corrosion.
Such an action is sometimes the precursor to a recall. The preliminary investigation involves 6 million 1999-2003 GM C/K pickups, including the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado as well as GM's full-size SUVs — the Suburban, Tahoe and Yukon. The preliminary investigation also includes an estimated 189,000 model-year 2003 Silverado 2500HD trucks.
In its failure report summary, NHTSA said it has received 110 complaints regarding brake problems in the aforementioned vehicles and allegations of three crashes — all involving Silverado 2500HD and Sierra 2500HD pickups. There have been no injuries or fatalities reported, according to NHTSA.
"The complaints allege the loss of braking effectiveness due to brake line rupture because of corrosion," said NHTSA. "In 37 of these complaints, the brake line failure was confirmed by a dealer inspection. Three complaints allege that corroded brake line failure resulted in a crash. A preliminary evaluation has been opened to determine the frequency, scope and safety consequences of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles."
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigations said it received a petition in early March requesting the investigation of four-wheel-drive 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD pickups for brake line corrosion that can result "in a burst failure of a hydraulic brake line under normal usage and brake line pressure."
The petitioner told NHTSA the corrosion resulted in "a large increase in stopping distance and with the brake pedal pushed to the floor."
The petition further stated that inspection of the vehicle after the failure determined the cause to be a rusted brake line," according to NHTSA's summary of the petition. "This failure occurred under normal driving conditions with only six years of service."
The probe into GM vehicles over brakes comes on the heels of a major announcement by the automaker on Monday that it will expand the use of its brake override software globally by 2012. It also coincides with the federal government on Monday slapping Toyota with the maximum civil penalty of $16.4 million for failing to notify NHTSA of "the dangerous sticky pedal defect for at least four months," said NHTSA.
Inside Line says: No guarantee of a recall in the case of the 6.2 million GM vehicles under scrutiny by the feds. But be aware that NHTSA is studying whether a further investigation is warranted. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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hobbitonkennel says:
08:26 AM, 05/24/2012
We have a 2004 Chevy Suburban. Recently, as I was trying to hitch a trailer to the truck, my brakes failed COMPLETELY. There was NO braking whatsoever. The entire braking system would not work, regardless of the purported 'cross-braking' system that was supposed to prevent a complete brake system failure. I drove the 5 miles home using first gear (automatic trans) and my parking brake. After having the truck towed to the repair shop, I was told that the brake lines were so corroded that not ONE LINE was viable. The corrosion occurred where the lines were attached to the frame using plastic clips. At almost every clip attachment, the lines were so rusted that they collapsed they were moved. The shop has taken a complete set of pictures of this problem. The shop also told me that several days after they got our truck, another Chevy (I believe a 2003 Tahoe) was brought in with the same problem. After gathering all the information we can accumulate about these vehicle failures, we will send a complete report to the NHTSA. If this failure had occurred on the road, an seriou,s possibly fatal, accident would certainly have occurred.
sumwrnusa1 says:
11:33 AM, 12/31/2011
I have a 2003 Chevy 2500 HD.. with less tha 60,000 miles..
Was hauling some gravel when the brakes lines ..The ones between the master cylinder and the proportioning valve burst,due to corrosion..
I replaced them both today 12/31/2011...
After I bled the air out of the system.. Another line burst.. The one that leads to the left front wheel..
I have an acquaintance who is a school teacher,that recently replaced ALL the brake lines on her 2003 chevy 1/2 ton.. at a price near $1800..
I guess the feds and GM will do something about this after there enough people KILLED...
After all this...And the Obama bailouts.....My next truck will be a FORD..
hammermax says:
05:03 AM, 11/11/2010
My 2003 3500 was recently totaled by my insurance company when (2) of the brake lines on my truck burst at the same time.
1. for the rear brakes and 1. that goes from the antilock brake controller to the master cylinder.
My truck and a loaded trailer rolled backwards down my driveway and over a crosstie wall and the trailer hit a tree,stopping the rig so suddenly the hitch on the duramax sheared off,the trailer lifted and shoved into the tailgate and truckbed. The safety chains stopped it from crushing my cab and me!
Since their is no "recall" my insurance was filed under "collision" this will cause my rates to go up over the next several years!
Thanks GM !
Upon further investigation we found ALL the brake lines were rusted badly.
Of the 5 lines that come from the antilock brake controller (3) had some holes and the other (2) were close to rupturing....
On top of all this when I called (2) different dealerships in my area the response was basically( Gm does not make brake lines..Go to the Napa parts store and buy a roll of bulk brakeline and a cutter and flearing tool..cut off your factory ends and make your own lines!!!)
Thanks again GM..!
I will travel to testify and am keeping proof of my crash...They need to pay for this!
hal9000 says:
08:23 AM, 04/16/2010
Hey edmunds..where are our 20-30 updates on this recall?
atenza94546 says:
04:05 PM, 04/08/2010
t bone 85 I like your effort of finding the article and here the thing Americans fingers are pointing outward. NHTSA is not own by Toyota, if Toyota has to come clean the Gov't agency needs to be the cleanest of all.
Pinning down Toyota makes all manufacturers come clean this time.
This year is pobably the highest number of recall in the history.
But wait U.S. is not a socialise country!!!! Then what are the agency there for????
Above article: 1999-2003 Chevrolet Suburban and the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, for possible brake line failure due to corrosion...
Interesting to see GM internal memo will say about the 1999 - 2003 recalled vehicles with 110 complaints. Don't you argree !! Come on I am not defending Toyota but all of their stuff have pretty much come out. Japanese business are not any better than anyone out there.
And its year 2010...
Thanks for the name FANBOY I am a fanboy, and I m a fanboy of American Auto maker, but they let me down 3 times through the past. I drive a GM made do you??
No thought GM USA is making imrpovement, but it could more to come with their historic bad track record at the end of the day GM was a world biggest manufacture, and they will have more recall in front of them then Toyota, becuase its pretty much is all recalled on.
tbone85 says:
08:26 AM, 04/08/2010
Atenza, if you're trying to make the argument that GM USA is the only incompetent car company, then I wish you well in your fantasy world. The fanboy-hater rants "GM sucks/is perfect" or "Toyota is perfect/sucks" may be entertaining to some, but are really just childish. If you're making the argument that Toyota has handled their recent recalls better than GM, then for a start I refer you to:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100408/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_recall_43
None of these companies are immune from mistakes. GM USA has made major mistakes over the last couple of decades. Their current product lines include some excellent vehicles and some that are not good. To varying degrees, every manufacturer including Toyota is in that same position.
Everyone has their opinion on what products they like or don't like. You've posted some interesting information at times, but often you simply mindlessly bash Americans or American products. I suspect you have more to offer if you could just grow beyond the fanboy-hater goofiness.
atenza94546 says:
04:10 PM, 04/07/2010
tbone 85 Not other car companies completely incompetant, it is just GM USA is incmpetant. I will not thought that GM China will be incompetant or GM Europe for the Opel incompetant. Why it is the GM USA are being so incompetant.
Out of all the GM recalls for the past decade, GM executives has not come out to apologize and to ensure with words and actions about their quality and safety.
GM has lost it a long time ago.
tbone85 says:
03:15 PM, 04/07/2010
Atenza, you are the one insulting people with your childish and simple-minded anti-American comments. I am the foremost advocate of taking responsibility, whether it be Toytoat, GM, or any other car company. It's your infantile fantasy that Toyota is perfect and other car companies completely incompetant that forms your "philosophy".
Foaming at the mouth doesn't change the truth: you are a Toyota fanboy who is incapable of participating in an adult discussion. You simply got called on it. Don't turn your beany so tight, mommy and daddy will probably give you some milk and cookies before bed if you stop holding your breath.
dodge_pilot says:
02:09 PM, 04/07/2010
This is a serious issue for consumers. I had to replace all the lines on a 1999 Suburban and now a 2001 Silverado. GM isn't interested. They wiill pay off the government loan and buyer beware as usual. It's all about profit margin.
atenza94546 says:
10:11 PM, 04/06/2010
The true classice example from tbone 85 like the red neck americans that never admit wrong doing. Bleming on other for their own mistakes.
Too bad most stupid americans start buying Japanese made since the 70's such as Toyota.
Too bad the Japanese owns the majority of the world auto market.
Too bad GM is now the Government Motor.
Too bad if Toyota need stimulas money from Japanese gov't it will be from the selling of US bonds.
Too bad many stupid americans are still opting for other Japanese, European, and Korean made booohooo....tbon85