2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Service Brakes Problems

MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, BY AT LEAST DOUBLE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CURVE OR CAR IN FRONT OF HIM THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL IT COULD BE INSPECTED AND FOUND A LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. ALL OF THE MAIN BRAKE PIPES WERE RUSTED AND FRAGILE. TAKING TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL BRAKE PIPES REPLACED WITH KIT MENTIONED IN (TSB) 13-05-22-001. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS FIGHTING A RECALL BY SIGHTING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE SYSTEMS AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES FOR BOTH SYSTEMS FAILED. AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEEMS THAT HAVING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE BY ALMOST DOUBLE WITH OUT WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 170,000

BRAKE LINE FAILURE: I HAD A RUPTURED STEEL BREAK LINE FAILURE WHILE APPLYING NORMAL BREAKING PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION OF BREAK LINES, I FOUND ALL BREAK LINES WERE RUSTED AND IN DANGER OF ALSO RUPTURE.

Mileage: 179,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED, AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE UPON SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE DOWNHILL ORIENTATION OF THE ROAD SURFACE. LEFT ROADWAY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH TRACTOR-TRAILER. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE. NO INDICATION THAT ANY PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. IT WAS DISCOVERED UPON INSPECTION THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER BODY AND ENGINE COMPONENTS. METAL COMPOSITION OF BRAKE TUBING SEEMS VERY PRONE TO CORROSION. COMPLETE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS NOW NECESSARY. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST CATASTROPHICALLY AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS COMING UP TO STOPPED CARS AT AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE TO AVOID REAR ENDING ANOTHER TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE LANE AT THE TIME. I THEN HAD TO MAKE A SHARP TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT TO AVOID RUNNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WHICH DID HAVE TRAFFIC). I HAD ZERO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER. I TRIED PUSHING DOWN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT HAD NO EFFECT ( I LATER FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINES WERE FROZEN IN A LARGE CHUNK OF ICE NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AND WOULD NOT MOVE). THE PICKUP BED DRAINS DOWN ONTO THE LOWER FRAME IN THIS AREA AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE ICE BUILDUP. I CONTINUED THROUGH THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND ALL I COULD TO WAS DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW MYSELF DOWN. LUCKY AGAIN...THE PARKING LOT WAS NEARLY EMPTY AND VERY LONG. AFTER ABOUT 4-500 FT I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO JAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS FAILURE. THE LINES WERE NOT LEAKING. I HAVE NOW READ ONLINE THAT GM HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS OF RUSTED LINES ON THEIR PICKUPS SUDDENLY FAILING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT SUDDENLY FAIL. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. NON-CORROSIVE NICKLE COPPER BRAKE LINES EXIST THAT DO NOT RUST. THESE SHOULD BE MANDATORY ON ALL VEHICLES. *JS

Mileage: 96,522

IT STARTED WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, BUT NOBODY WILL OWN UP TO FIXING IT, AS WE MOVED FROM PA TO FL. THEN THE BRAKE LINES WENT, ALL OF THEM, NOW WITH THE AIRBAG ISSUE THE PCM IS SENDING ALL KINDS OF STUPID CODES LIKE THE AIRBAG ISSUE IS AFFECTING THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 119,400

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM ICE FISHING , ON A HILLY AND CURVY ROAD WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. HE HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL , HE AVOID A FEW TREE BEFORE SMASHING INTO A SMALLER TREE JUST MISSING WERE HIS FRIEND WAS SEATED.THE TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER WERE IT HAS ABOUT $5000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. I JUST GLAD MY SON AND HIS DIDN'T GET HURT. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE STATIONARY AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT (NO LIGHT ON DASH). UPON INVESTIGATION A BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BRAKE FLUID COVERING UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

THERE IS A GM RECALL #05068C- PRODUCT SAFETY- FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION. THE 2002 AVALANCHE IS LISTED, BUT MY 2003 IS NOT. I LIVE IN INDIANA, ONE OF THE STATES LISTED IN THE RECALL. MY 2003 AVALANCHE HAS THIS FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 159,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,053.

Mileage: 143,053

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TO BACK BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL BRAKE FLUID CAUSING AN INABILITY TO STOP. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL ALL FLUID WAS GONE AND NORMAL BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOSS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. *TR

Mileage: 120,509

WHILE LEAVING A FUNERAL IN NEAR SWEETWATER TN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT PRESSURE AND THEN THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE RIDING WITH ME. AFTER PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, I NOTICED I DID HAVE BRAKES BUT NOT POWER BRAKES. I PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM AROUND THE GAS TANK. WITH NO CHOICE, I HAD TO DRIVE THE TRUCK BACK TO KENTUCKY. APPR. 175 MILES IF NOT MORE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-75. I KNOW TRUCKS HAVE PROBLEMS AND I KNOW THERE IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAVE HAD ON THESE TRUCKS. I HAVE OWNED CHEVY TRUCKS MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINES. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, HOW IS CHEVROLET ISSUING A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

MY BRAKE LINE SPLIT OPEN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THEY ARE VERY RUSTED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHILE PULLING MY BOAT ON A LONG DECLINE AT 55 MPH, A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SIGNALED TO TURN LEFT. I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL EASED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I TOLD MY WIFE THAT THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM ALARM DID SOUND, BUT THAT DOES NOT COMFORT YOU WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP BEFORE PLOWING A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE COLLISION, ONLY DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC AND THE FACT THAT I WAS A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE TURNING VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. I DIDN'T MEASURE MY STOPPING DISTANCE, BUT IT WAS WELL OVER 100 YARDS. I GOT OUT OF MY AVALANCHE AND SAW THE FLUID TRAIL. THERE IS A CLUSTER OF 5 BRAKE LINES RUNNING TOGETHER BY THE FRAME, RIGHT AT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ONE OF THOSE LINES BROKE. THEY WERE ALL SEVERELY CORRODED. I HAD THE TRUCK AND BOAT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPAIRED 5 CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST WEEK. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 125,900

ON NOVEMBER 11, 2013 I WAS BACKING MY 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN MARYLAND WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. AS I WAS STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY LOST ALL RESISTANCE. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY BRAKING ACTION. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, WHO SAID THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND RUPTURED. I WAS CHARGED $1150 TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. TEN MONTHS (SEPT 5, 2014) AND LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER I AGAIN LOST ALL BRAKING POWER, THIS TIME WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH LEAVING A PARKING LOT NEAR A CARWASH. I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WHO SAID THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED. HIS ESTIMATE IS $2200 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

Mileage: 34,511

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IT WAS FINE BUT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT BUT THEN JUST STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I ACCELERATE UP A HILL. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE DIM. EVERYTHING ON THE MIRROR COMES AND GOES. IT WILL GO MONTHS WITHOUT WORKING AND THEN COMES BACK ON. THE SUSPENSION IS TERRIBLE. FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SHAKE THE WHEELS COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK WHEN I HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'VE ALMOST LOST CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO IT SHAKING SO HARD. LATCH ON THE TAILGATE BROKE OFF AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ROTOR ON BACK COMPLETELY BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

I WAS DRIVING MY 03 AVALANCHE LIKE ANY OTHER DAY AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. INSTINCTIVELY I PUT IT INTO 1ST GEAR AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. COME TO FIND OUT, THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. I EXAMINED ALL LINES AND THEY SEEM TO ALL BE RUSTY. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY BREAK TOO. *TR

Mileage: 188,000

AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, A LOSS OF PRESSURE WAS FELT. LETTING OFF AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES LEAD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO THE FLOOR / FRONT OF DRIVER CAB. AT THE POINT THERE WAS NO BRAKING PRESSURE FELT AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO TRAVEL AT IDLE SPEED INTO THE INTERSECTION. TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS AT APPLYING THE BRAKES LEAD TO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GOING OFF, AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE YIELD SIMILAR / FAILED RESULTS. THE TRUCK WAS SAFELY STEERED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT IN PARK TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A REST. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND LET REST A PERIOD OF 5 MINUTES AND THEN TURNED ON AND BRAKES TESTED WHILE IN PARK. NO BREAK PRESSURE WAS FELT AT THE PEDAL. BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT PORTION OF THE TRUCK. NO BYSTANDER INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED. ASIDE FROM THE DRIVER, A FOURTEEN MONTH OLD WAS THE ONLY OTHER OCCUPANT, NEITHER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. *TR

Mileage: 157,400

I WAS DRIVING ON I95 TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH WHEN I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD STATED SERVICE BRAKES. LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAITED FOR MY VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. EVIDENTLY THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GM TRUCKS AND IS A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS NOT IN THE CAR LIKE THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A PART THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO STOPPING YOUR VEHICLE. GM CLAIMS THAT YOU STILL HAVE BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THAT IS TOTALLY NOT TRUE. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 202,000

RUPTURED REAR BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER SIDE DOOR DUE TO EXTREME RUST OF LINES. INSPECTION REVEALS ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME RUST, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD TRUCK. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NOT DRIVING ON THE ROADS AT ANY SPEED. WHY THE RISK OF USING SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS FOR BRAKE LINES? WHY NOT USE STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES? *TR

Mileage: 134,600

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT ROUGHLY 35 MPH I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM CAME ON AND SET CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKE AND GET SOME PRESSURE BUT I COULD HERE A HISSING SOUND ANYTIME I PRESSED THE PEDAL. I WAS WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THERE WAS A HOLE FROM A RUSTY SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE OVER THE TOP OF THE CHASSIS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AREA. EVERY TIME YOU STEP ON THE PEDAL IT WOULD SPRAY A STEADY STREAM OF BRAKE FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 166,154

CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED A HOLE AND LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID. THIS LED TO INABILITY TO BRAKE ADEQUATELY TO STOP. ALL 4 BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE AND SIMILAR GM VEHICLES EXPERIENCING BRAKE LINE FAILURES. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,353.

Mileage: 59,353

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A RUSTED BRAKE PIPE WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. LUCKILY I WAS ON MY STREET AND TRAVELING JUST UNDER 25 MPH. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE UNDER SIDE OF VEHICLE I DISCOVERED NOT ONE BUT, TWO LEAKS. I DO EXPECT SOME ISSUES WITH A VEHICLE MY AGE AND MILEAGE BUT, NOT A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. I DID CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS JUST TO LEARN THAT THE PARTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUE. *TR

Mileage: 154,798

APPROACHING STOP LIGHT, HIT BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THERE WAS NO BRAKE AT ALL. NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT LIGHT , SO I TURNED RIGHT AND COASTED INTO PARKING LOT. HAD TRUCK TOWED HOME, FOUND RUSTED AND SPLIT BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVERS DOOR, THE OTHER 3 LINES IN THE BUNDLE WERE ALMOST GONE TOO, JUST MOVING ANOTHER ONE CAUSED IT TO BREAK OPEN, SO .AS OF TODAY , I REPLACED THE FRONT4 LINES.AND PLAN ON DOING THE REAR THIS WEEK... THE ENTIRE UNDER- CARRIAGE IS RUSTY, WAY MORE THAN NORMAL, I RESTORE ARS AND HAVE A 1951 CHEVY, THAT'S ORIGINAL FRAME AND LOOKS NEW.. I COMPARE TRUCKS EVERY TIME I GET A CHANCE,,,AND THIS CHEVY IS BADDD. LOVE THE TRUCK, JUST HATE REPLACING, BRAKES, ROTORS, LINES ALL THE TIME...REAR BACKING PLATES HAVE BEEN. RUSTED AWAY, SINCE 2005. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER DUE TO A LEAK IN ONE OF THE FRONT METAL BRAKE LINES. TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED ME ALL THE METAL BRAKE LINES WERE HIGHLY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED JIM MCKAY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THESE BRAKE LINES ARE ON BACK ORDER WITH NO INDICATION OF WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. REPAIR SHOP HAS TO CUSTOM MAKE ALL BRAKE LINES WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $1,500 - $1,600. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT CORRODE, THIS IS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. LINES SHOULD BE STAINLESS STEEL, IF NOT, COATED AT A MINIMUM. *TR

Mileage: 43,500

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO PREPARE FOR A RIGHT TURN. AT FIRST THE BRAKES WERE BEGINNING TO BE EFFECTIVE, BUT SUDDEN LOSS OF HYDROLOGICAL PRESSURE RESULTED IN BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND LITTLE TO NO BRAKING POWER WAS AVAILABLE. INDICATOR LIGHTS AND BELLS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED SERVICED. VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS PLACED INTO PARK. BRAKE FLUID WAS VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL. *TR

Mileage: 103,012

BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THANK GOD IT WAS EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING. BRAKE LINE HAD A COMPLETED RUSTED AND BURST. WHEN LOOKING TO REPAIR, THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND BLISTERED. ALL OTHER LINES WERE ABOUT TO BURST. HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND MUCH OLDER AND HIGHER MILEAGE VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS HOW BAD THE LINES WERE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I KNOW IT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

TL* THE CONTACT 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000.

Mileage: 76,000

LOST BRAKES. LINE FROM FRONT OF TRUCK TO BACK BRAKES RUPTURED. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE IN RUSTED CONDITION AND NEED REPLACEMENT. *JB

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT AND HE WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE AN UNLOADED TRAILER IN MY YARD, I BEGAN TO BACKUP TO THE TRAILER APPLYING THE BRAKES SINCE I WAS LINED UP TO THE TRAILER, APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE MESSAGE FLASHED STATING BRAKE ISSUE AND LOTS OF BELLS GOING OFF. INCIDENT OCCURRED 8/23/13, HAD TRUCK TOWED TO GARAGE SINCE IT TOOK 10X THE DISTANCE TO TRY TO STOP THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE THE TRUCK IS AT THE GARAGE WAITING ON PARTS I DO NOT HAVE ACTUAL MILEAGE BUT HAS APPROXIMATELY 91K MILES. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER WARNINGS AND HAD NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. *JS

UPDATE TO COMPLAINT 10538262 AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES I FORGOT TO PUT IN KEY DATA. I HAD A BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LEFT FRONT AND FORGOT TO LIST THAT IN MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND ALSO LINES UP WITH THE CURRENT OPEN ITEM: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11001 ALL THE BRAKES LINES NEED TO REPLACED SINCE THEY ARE RUSTY, FALLING APART AND VERY BRITTLE. LUCKY THIS ISSUE TO NOT OCCUR WHEN I USING THE TRUCK EARLIER IN THE DAY WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE TRUCK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE AN UNLOADED TRAILER IN MY YARD, I BEGAN TO BACKUP TO THE TRAILER APPLYING THE BRAKES SINCE I WAS LINED UP TO THE TRAILER, APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE MESSAGE FLASHED STATING BRAKE ISSUE AND LOTS OF BELLS GOING OFF. INCIDENT OCCURRED 8/23/13, HAD TRUCK TOWED TO GARAGE SINCE IT TOOK 10X THE DISTANCE TO TRY TO STOP THE TRUCK AND WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE THE TRUCK IS AT THE GARAGE WAITING ON PARTS I DO NOT HAVE ACTUAL MILEAGE BUT HAS APPROXIMATELY 91K MILES. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER WARNINGS AND HAD NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. *JS

APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - TRUCK COULD NOT STOP - RAN INTO BUSHES ON SIDE OF ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 199,000

I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH APPROACHING STOPPED TRAFFIC, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DO NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME AND I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW TO A STOP. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL FOUR OF THE BRAKE LININGS WERE RUSTED THROUGH. I HUNT AND FISH WITH THIS VEHICLE AND GO OFF ROAD A LOT, THIS IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. TO HAVE A OFF ROAD VEHICLE MANUFACTURED WITH BRAKE LININGS THAT RUST THROUGH IS CRIMINAL. *TR

Mileage: 110,206

DRIVING WENT TO STOP DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES I REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES AND REPLACE BUMPER LIGHTS COST ABOUT 4, 000.00 THE ABS WENT OUT WHICH IS NOT FIX. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

08/31/2011 BRAKE LINE FAILURE. SECOND BRAKE LIE FAILURE OCCURRED 04/15/2012.THIRD BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED 7/28/2012.FOURTH BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED 1/27/2013. AT THAT TIME IT WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE ALL REMAINING BRAKE LINE SEGMENTS WHICH WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION. THE TOTAL FOR THE INCIDENCES MENTIONED WAS $1586.15. *TR

Mileage: 76,501

PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS GOING UPHILL. THAT WAS PROBABLY WEN FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW. HAD A LITTLE BRAKE POWER LEFT, TURNED TRUCK AROUND, WENT ONE BLOCK TO MY HOME , PLLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY GOING UPHILL AGAIN WHEN THE REAR BRAKE INE BLEW, STOPED THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HAD TO HAVE ALL BREAK LINES REPLACED DUE TO RUST. FORTY YEARS SERVICING AOTOS NEVER HAD ALL OR ANY BREAKLINE RUST OUT. REPLACED FLEXIABLE HOSES ON BRAKE CALIPERS WHEN THE BECAME BRITTLE, BUT NEVER HARD LINES, EVEN ON A 1971 CADDY I HAD FOR 25 YEARS. THIS HAPPENED ONE BLOCK FROM HOME AT THE BEGINNING OF A PLANNED 100 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP, AT 65MPH WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. SOMEONE WAS WATCHING OVER US, NOT GM, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE PREMADE BRAKELINES TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM! *TR

Mileage: 60,135

STARTED DRIVING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND A WARNING LIGHT FINALLY TURNED ON TO "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM". I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO CHECK AND SEE IF THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW AND SAW THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO SEE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AT A CONSISTENT RATE. PRIOR FROM THIS HAPPENING, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ALERTS. *TR

Mileage: 63,500

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45 MPH AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING OR A WARNING LIGHT. IT MADE ME ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY PREGNANT WIFE AND I WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. IT SEEMS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, IT SHOULD BE FIXED ASAP. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

I WAS ABOUT TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ON TO A SIDE STREET AND MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO TAKE BACK ROADS AND PLAN MY STOPS WHILE DRIVING IN LOW GEAR TO SAFELY MAKE IT TO THE SHOP. A BRAKE LINE BURST. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LINES ARE RUSTED AND ROTTED. ALL THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT COST ME ABOUT $1800.00. *TR

Mileage: 136,000

WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. NO PRIOR WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, FRONT AND BACK. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

REPLACED REAR BRAKE LINE TWO WEEKS PRIOR. WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND FRONT BRAKE LINES BLEW OUT. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

A VERY GOOD FRIEND NOTIFIED ME YESTERDAY THAT HIS SAME YEAR AVALANCHE EXPERIENCED A BURST BRAKE LINE AND CAUSED HIM TO HAVE TO CRASH HIS VEHICLE TO STOP IT. HE TOLD ME WHERE THE LINE HAD BURST AND STATED THAT CHEVROLET USES STEEL BRAKE LINE INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL. I INSPECTED MY 2003 AVALANCHE AND NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE LINES ARE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF CORROSION. LMC TRUCK PARTS SELLS A REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINE KIT FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR A REASONABLE PRICE OF 379.00. IT IS THAT HARD TO FORCE VEHICLE MANUFACTURES TO USE STAINLESS STEEL INSTEAD OF REGULAR STEEL IN THEIR BRAKING SYSTEMS. YOU FORCED SEAT BELTS, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS, ETC... WHY NOT THIS! *TR

I WAS IN ANSONIA CT ON 6TH OCTOBER 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 09:47. HAD PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO REFUEL. NO ISSUES AS I TRAVELED IN THE MORNING. AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE STATION TO HEAD BACK TO THE HIGHWAY I WENT TO PLACE ON THE BRAKES WHILE GOING DOWNHILL APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. WITHIN 2 SECONDS DASH WARNING OF " CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM " FLASHED ON INFORMATION DISPLAY. HAD NO BRAKES, NON AT ALL. PULLED INTO LOWEST GEAR AND RAN THRU THE RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. I PROCEEDED TO PULL A SHARP RIGHT TURN INTO A COMMUTER LOT USING THE CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE INEFFECTIVE AT REDUCING SPEED. CALLED AAA AND DISCOVERED RUPTURED BRAKE LINES ALONG THE FRAME RAIL BELOW DRIVERS SIDE FOOTWELL AREA. *TR

Mileage: 321,640

I HAD JUST LEFT A STORE AND STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I PROCESSED TO THE NEXT LIGHT I PUT MY FOOT ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE BRAKE PIDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY THE OTHER DRIVER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT LEAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LIGHT RIGHT AWAY AND THAT GAVE ME TIME TO GO THROUGH WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT NEVERTHELESS IT WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD OF BEEN REAL BAD, AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME $1400.00 TO REPLACE ALL OF MY BRAKE LINES DUE TO THIS INCIDENT AND CAUSE GM DOES NOT MAKE THE PRE-BENT BRAKE LINES FOR MY TRUCK ANYMORE (WHICH IS STUPID). AS MUCH AS THESE VEHICLES COST I WOULD OF THOUGHT THAT THESE BRAKE LINES WOULD BE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND NOT (PROBABLY) CHINA METAL. *TR

Mileage: 127,000

I WAS TAKING MY 3 BOYS TO SCHOOL WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL PRESSURE IN THE BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS NOW LEAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A RUSTY BRAKE LINE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THESE LINES SHOULD BE RUSTING OUT SO PREMATURELY. I HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME AREA MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. I OWNED A 1988 CHEVROLET S-10 BLAZER FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND HAPPILY PUT OVER 228,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER ONCE HAD A BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH. I AM REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH AN IMPROVED TEFLON COATED BRAKE LINE. I DO NOT WANT THE SAME INFERIOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PUT BACK IN PLACE OF THE CURRENT RUSTED LINE. THE LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO PROPER STANDARDS. THE WORST PART IS NOW WONDERING WHICH BRAKE LINE WILL BE NEXT. ALL GM VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. YOU CAN FIND THOUSANDS OF STORIES JUST LIKE MINE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. YESTERDAY I SPOKE TO A GM EMPLOYEE WHERE I BOUGHT MY TRUCK AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 2002 TAHOE. GM AGREED TO REPLACE EVERY BRAKE LINE ON HIS TRUCK FOR A FLAT FEE OF $250 BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW BECAUSE FOUR LIVES WERE AT STAKE ON 8/29/2012 WHEN I LOST ALL THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SITUATION BUT NO ONE SHOULD DIE OVER AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS WHICH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES ALREADY. *TR

Mileage: 95,542

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

ON APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE LINE HAD RUSTED THRU ABOVE THE LEFT REAR SPRING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A LINE HAS RUSTED THRU. THE FIRST TIME I LOST BOTH BRAKES. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AS YOU CAN SEE THEY DID NOT REPLACE ALL THE PROBLEM LINES. I HAD IT DONE BY OAKWOOD SERVICE CENTER IN AUBURN, NY. AT LEAST NOW I BELIEVE I AM SAFE. *TR

Mileage: 177,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000