2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500 Service Brakes Problems

WITH MY AVALANCHE, I WAS TOWING A TRAILER WITH A CAR LOADED AND TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 10 MPH, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW FOR A TURN AND LOST NEARLY ALL THE BRAKING POWER. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES FORWARD OF THE ABS MODULE LOCATED INSIDE THE LEFT FRAME RAIL DIRECTLY BENEATH THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ALL BRAKE LINES IN THAT AREA WERE COVERED WITH CORROSION. ALL BRAKE LINE WERE REPLACED WITH NEW STAINLESS STEEL LINES AFTER RESEARCHING THAT THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WAS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR RECALL. REPAIR COST: $950.00. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT BRAKE PROBLEMS OF THIS FREQUENCY AND MAGNITUDE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO RECALL AS IT IS APPARENT THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND VERY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 98,000

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2002 AVALANCHE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OR DASH LIGHTS. ALTHOUGH HE DID GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION HE WAS TRYING TO STOP FOR THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND NO ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS A BRAKE LINE FAILING.

Mileage: 200,000

SATURDAY JANUARY 23, 2016 DURING A SNOW STORM MY 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE 2500 VIN# [XXX] LOST ALL BRAKE CONTROL DUE TO FAILED AND CORRODED BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER SIDE DOOR AT RETAINER CLIP ON SIDE OF FRAME WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS OF SOFT PEDAL OR INTERMITTENT BRAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TRUCK DRIVEN A 2004 1500 WITH THE SAME FAILED LINE IN SAME PLACE ON FRAME. JUST BEFORE THE BRAKE LINE FAILED THERE WAS A SMALL CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT THAT TURNED RIGHT IF THEY CAME TO A FULL STOP I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE AROUND THEM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY AND OR DEATH OF THE OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR. I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL NOT JUST DRIVERS OF THE AFFECTED TRUCKS BUT ANYONE OR OBJECT IN ITS PATH. I ASKING FOR GM TO RECALL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR A REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES AT THE COST OF GENERAL MOTORS WITH BRAKE LINES COATED LIKE THE POLY ARMOR LINES TO AID IN THE RESISTANCE OF CORROSION. THE CURRENT LINES ARE ONLY MADE OF STEEL WITH NO TOP COATING AND ARE ROUTED IN DIRECT SPRAY OFF OF TIRES AND ROAD WITH NO SPLASH SHIELD TO PROTECT LINE FROM SPRAY OR FOREIGN OBJECTS FROM STRIKING LINES. SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 104,000

THE AVALANCHE IS OUR TOW VEHICLE (ONLY) WHICH IS WHY IT HAS SO FEW MILES FOR A 2002 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. NORMALLY IT IS TOWING A 9000 POUND 28 FOOT TOY HAULER, BUT JUST BY PURE LUCK IT WAS TOWING A SINGLE AXLE FLAT BED TRAILER WITH THE CAB FOR A 1935 CHEVROLET PICKUP ON IT BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TRIED TO STOP AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. TRIED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES AND THE CABLE SNAPPED. STOPPED BY DRIVING UP A HILL INTO THE GRASS. TOOK THE AVALANCHE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKE LINES ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THEY WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. IN THE COURSE OF GETTING THE BRAKE LINES OUT THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ALSO LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL FOR REPAIR WAS $2900.00, PLUS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 6 WEEKS. GRANTED THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD, BUT I HAVE A 1963 STUDEBAKER THAT STILL HAS SOLID BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT THE AVALANCHE WASN'T TOWING A 9000 POUND 28 FOOT LONG TRAILER AT 70 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT THERE WAS A PENDING PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED, AND I NEED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR

Mileage: 62,313

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. FOUND BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVERS DOOR RUSTED THROUGH AND GUSHING FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 131,000

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, PEDAL RIGHT TO THE FLOOR I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER BRAKES HAD BEEN WORKING FINE BEFORE INCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED BLOWN BRAKE LINE BELOW DRIVERS DOOR AT FRAME RAIL AND ALL LINES LOOK TERRIBLE. ONLINE INVESTIGATION SHOWS THIS TO BE VERY COMMON PROBLEM LETS GET THIS RECALL ISSUED BEFORE ANYONE DIES. THE ABILITY TO STOP IS PRIORITY ONE THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT. *TR

Mileage: 134,250

WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I RAN INTO MY UTILITY TRAILER, BUT NO DAMAGE WAS CAUSED. AVALANCHE IS AT THE GARAGE NOW, HE INFORMED ME THIS IS COMMON WITH CHEVY TRUCKS. ALL BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1000 AND $1200. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER EXAMINATION SAW BRAKE FLUID UNDER TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 43,983

RUSTED BRAKE LINES BURST CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS GOING 65 MPH AND MY ENGINE DIED I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. THE SECOND TIME THE ENGINE DIED I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND IT SHUT OFF. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK, JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I MADE A LEFT AND WAS GOING TO THE NEXT LIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT AND THE ENGINE DIED. I TRIED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON, BUT THEY WERE VERY TIGHT AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO FIGHT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND JUST MADE THE TURN WITHOUT HITTING THE OTHER TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 105,242

AS I WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY AVALANCHE IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FIRM AND THEN BECAME SOFT AND DEPRESSED QUICKLY QUITE FARTHER THAN NORMAL. THE AVALANCHE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET IT TO COME TO A FULL STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE I INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A GREAT DEAL OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE UNDER BODY AND PUDDLED ON THE GROUND. AS I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND FLAKING OFF RUSTED MATERIAL. THE BRAKE LINE FAILED BECAUSE OF WEAKENED TUBING CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND THERE WAS NO PRELIMINARY WARNING OF BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN EXCESSIVELY LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP THAN NORMALLY WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. I FREQUENTLY TOW A 6,500 LB PULL BEHIND CAMPER WITH MY AVALANCHE AND IF THIS BRAKE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING TOWING AND IN TRAFFIC DURING A STOP IT MOST LIKELY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 80,000