2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES BLOWING OUT IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE ABS MOTOR, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE, ALONG THE FRAME, UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SEAT. *TR

Mileage: 60,502

ON OCT.7, 2011 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN. IN JUST NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. A WARNING SOUND CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. JUST THAT QUICK !, BRAKE LINE FAILURE! IF SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING FASTER THAN 40 MPH. THEIR MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BAD INTERSECTION COLLISION. SHE NERVOUSLY WAS ABLE TO CREEP THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. I RESEARCHED THIS CONDITION ON-LINE AND WAS STARTLED TO FIND NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING OVER 6 MILLION VEHICLES WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS.IT'S A TRAVESTY THAT THIS CAN GO ON.IT MUST BE THE GOVERMENTS WAY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO POLICE ITS OWN COMPANY. *TR

UPON BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AFTER RETURNING FROM A SHORT ERRAND, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED SINCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STOPPED THE CAR AT LOW SPEED. ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM WERE LIGHTED AND THE MESSAGE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" CAME ON. UPON INSPECTION, THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND THE FLUID WAS DRIPPING FROM THE UNDERSIDE A LITTLE FORWARD OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE RUSTED OUT STEEL BRAKE LINES IN A CLUSTER OF FOUR LEADING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER BACK TOWARD THE REAR OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THIS TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING OCCURRED AT THE VERY END OF THE TRIP SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM BEFOREHAND. SIX LENGTHS OF THE RUSTED STEEL BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 106,995

IN 2003 I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND PRESENTLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT. THREE WEEKS AGO MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AT 30 MPH. SHE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE FRONT PASSENGER STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THRU. ON FURTHER INSPECTION, ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY AND IN BAD SHAPE. I HAVE INQUIRED INFORMATION FROM 6 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, ALL OF WHICH HAVE SEEN AND REPAIRED THE EXACT PROBLEM MANY TIMES. I AM TOLD THAT IN 2006, GM STARTED ANNODIZING THEIR STEEL BRAKE LINES AGAIN. BUT FOR THE SUBURBANS BUILT IN 2003 AND 2004, THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RECTIFIED AND GM HAS NO RECALL ON THEM. SINCE SUBURBANS ARE PRIMARILY USED TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE, I WOULD THINK THIS ISSUE WOULD BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO YOU. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES WITH AFTER MARKET STAINLESS STEEL LINES AT MY OWN EXPENSE, $1200. *TT

Mileage: 26,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED RAPIDLY TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 90,000

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 4WD 5.3L, GM HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BRAKING ON THESE TRUCKS WHERE IT TAKES TOO LONG TO STOP. I HAVE REPLACED ALL PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. ALSO PERFORMED ABS BRAKE BLEEDING TO SEE IF AIR WAS IN THE ABS MODULE/PUMP ASSEMBLY. TRUCK STILL AT TIMES SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO STOP. IT ALWAYS TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP. THERE IS NO ABS ACTIVATING DURING THIS TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 2007. *TR

BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. BRAKES GONE ! *TR

Mileage: 108,643

CORRODED BRAKE LINES ON 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN CAUSED A FRONT END CRASH WHEN BRAKE LINE BURST AT CORROSION. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A SNOW BANK IN MY PATH AND NOT ANOTHER CAR. I APPLIED THE BRAKES COMING TO A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MYSELF AND MY WIFE WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT, UNABLE TO STOP, WITH NO TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE CROSS STREET, LUCKILY. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SLOWLY AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING FROM THE BRAKE WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED UPON INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 84,432

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,900.

Mileage: 38,900

1) SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER DURING STOP WITH NO WARNING. 2) PEDAL TRAVELS ALMOST COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. BRAKING FORCE IS MUCH LESS THAN NORMAL. THIS IS NOT AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION. 3) EXAMINATION SHOWS THAT A HARD (STEEL?) HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HAS CORRODED AND RUPTURED. *TR

Mileage: 79,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME AND WOULD OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN TRANSIT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ABS WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE SENSORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

Mileage: 55,000

AFTER AN INITIAL FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE (LINE RUPTURED ABOUT TWO FEET BEHIND THE ABS VALVE) WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING, AND AFTER THIS LINE WAS REPLACED, I INSPECTED THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE LINES AND NOTICED EXTREME CORROSION ON BOTH LINES THAT RUN FROM A JUNCTION CONNECTION ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL TO THE HOSES ON EACH CALIPER. WHILE CHECKING THE FITTINGS AND INSPECTING THE LEFT LINE IT LITERALLY CRUMBLED, BROKE AND STARTED LEAKING. I REPLACED BOTH LINES AND BLEED THE SYSTEM. THE CAR HAD BEEN INTO THE DEALER WITHIN LAST YEAR (APPROX.) FOR BRAKE LINE INSPECTION AFTER OBSERVING A LOT OF RUST. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT LINES WERE OK AND THAT A LOT OF RUST WAS NORMAL AND OK. I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS INSPECTION. *TR

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN REQUIRIES TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. NO ABS, NO PARTIAL PEDAL, STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION. DEALER PROVIDED ROUGH ESTIMATE OF $1500 PLUS TAX TO REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 35,241

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE UNNECESSARILY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD FALL TO THE FLOORBOARD. WHENEVER THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Mileage: 40,000

ABS WOULD INCORRECTLY ENGAGE WHEN STOPPING AT LOW SPEEDS (< 5 MPH). INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE SINCE ABS STARTS PUMPING INSTEAD OF JUST APPLYING BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS ON IDEAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND AT LOW SPEED/NON SKIDDING STOPS. *TR MECHANIC REPLACED WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY ON BOTH FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT WHEELS (WHEEL HUB INCLUDED NEW ABS SPEED SENSOR). PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE. GM HAS ALREADY RECALLED 99 - 2002 (MINE IS A 2003) SUBURBANS FOR THIS. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ABS SENSORS WERE BADLY CORRODED (PRESUMABLY) FROM SALT GETTING INTO CONTACT WITH THE SENSOR. MECHANIC ALSO INDICATED THAT HE HAS FIXED THIS IN *MANY* SUBURBANS AND IN MANY CASES THAT CAME AFTER OWNERS HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO GET DEALERS TO FIX THE ISSUE. MECHANIC SAID DEALERS WERE REPLACING THE ABS COMPUTER, AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND PROBLEM STILL WASN'T FIXED. IMPORTANT NOTE: IT APPEARS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A RECALL IS DONE, DEALERS SHOULD AT LEAST BE AWARE OF THIS COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH SUBURBANS FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

BASED ON NHTSA #05V379000, OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM OF ENGAGING THE ABS SYSTEM WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON A SLOW STOP. THE REFERENCED RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE YEAR 2003 AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THEN NOT AT ALL FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. MY AUTO MECHANIC HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM IS A CORROSION OF FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *TR

Mileage: 68,250

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN IS HAVING THE SAME ABS PROBLEMS THAT LED TO THE RECALL OF 99-2002 SUBURBANS IN THE "SALT BELT". I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AS WELL AS GM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE 2003 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS WELL. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 55,000