2003 GMC Sierra Complaint Log

DURING A TIRE ROTATION AT COSTCO , THEY DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. UPON A FURTHER INVESTIGATION ,THE BRAKE LINES ARE LEAKING AND FOUND TO BE RUSTED OUT. I HAVE BEEN USING THE VEHICLE TO TOW A 2010 AIR STREAM AND THANK GOD NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAS OCCURRED. *TR

APPLIED BRAKES BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH BRAKE SYSTEM SERVICE NEEDED LOST PRESSURE ON PEDAL AND ALL LOST FLUID STILL HAD SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKING (BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND LEAKED OUT FLUID ,LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE FROM STAINLESS STEEL NOT CHEAP STEEL.) *TR

I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS NOTHING... NO BRAKES AT ALL, PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. I MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC, NARROWLY AVOIDING A SERIOUS OR POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I WAS ASTONISHED TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT.THIS VEHICLE HAS 78000 MI. AND IS GARAGE KEPT. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE MANY OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE ISSUE HERE IS COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I THOUGH MODERN BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE A COMPLETE FAILURE? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. SHOULDN'T THE SYSTEM WORK IN A WAY THAT PARTIAL BRAKE FUNCTION REMAINS POSSIBLE WITH THE LOSS OF A BRAKE LINE. I THOUGHT THE SYSTEM IS PARTITIONED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING. IF THE CURRENT SAFETY STANDARD IS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, CLEARLY THE STANDARD HAS NOT BEEN MEET! GM NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. AT THE VERY LEAST WHY ISN'T GM REQUIRED TO USE A HIGHER QUALITY BRAKE LINE TO AVOID THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION!!!!! *TR

WHILE BACKING IN MY DRIVEWAY SLOPED DOWNHILL, APPLIED BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW BEFORE STOPPING. BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I HAD MIND ENOUGH TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP BEFORE RUNNING THROUGH MY GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED FLUID RUNNING OFF THE FRAME RAIL ONTO DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED BRAKE LINES IN FRAME RAIL WERE CORRODED BAD. CALLED DEALER, THEY SAY THEY REPLACE BRAKE LINES ALL THE TIME IN THESE VEHICLES. THEY WANTED $1100. A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACED ALL THE LINES FOR $800. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF VEHICLE. IS THIS A CLASS PROBLEM? SHOULD THIS BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL? HAPPY TO SUPPLY VIN IF NEEDED, JUST DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME. *TR

TRIP FROM LONG ISLAND NEW YORK TO FREEPORT MAINE. TRAVELING 65-70 MPH DURING TRIP ON HIGHWAY 95. ARRIVED IN FREEPORT. CHECKED INTO HOTEL. WENT OUT TO TRUCK 2 HOURS LATER WITH THE INTENTION OF ATTENDING AN EVENT. STEPPED ON BRAKE, STARTED TRUCK, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT RECOVER FROM THE FLOOR. CHECKED UNDER TRUCK FOR LEAKS AND FOUND BADLY RUSTED BRAKE LINES HAD BURST RELEASING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO SEARS AUTO DEPARTMENT WHO HAD TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO EACH WHEEL. SEARS HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS SINCE THE CALIPERS WERE ALSO SO RUSTED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE BLED. IF THESE LINES HAD BURST ON THE HIGHWAY; MY WIFE, MY SON AND ME WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD MAY HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF RUST ON ANY AUTO I HAVE EVER OWNED. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT WATER. ROADS ARE SALTED IN WINTER ON LONG ISLAND. (AS AN ASIDE, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BUMPER PRIOR TO STARTING THE TRIP BECAUSE IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH FROM BEHIND. IT SEEMS THAT INFERIOR MATERIALS WERE PURCHASED BY GM). *TR

DEAR SIRS; WE OWN A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTRA CAB TRUCK. IT WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2003. IT HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT AND GARAGED. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012, OUR SON WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. (THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY MY HUSBAND TO WORK AND BACK DAILY. NO INDICATOR LIGHT EVER CAME ON.) THERE WERE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE STREET. AFTER AVOIDING A BALL THAT HAD ROLLED DOWN A DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE STREET, HE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE THEN PRESSED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE TRUCK. ON HIS THIRD ATTEMPT WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE CURB AND THROW THE TRUCK INTO PARK TO STOP. THANKFULLY, THERE WERE NO KIDS IN HIS PATH. HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP AND HIS LIFE WOULD BE ALTERED FOREVER. NOT TO MENTION OUR LIVES AND THAT OF AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER/ CHILD. LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS REPORTED, WE FOUND THE NHTSA HAS AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS GMC TRUCKS AND SUV?S. THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK WERE DONE BETWEEN 70,000 AND 80,000. ALL PADS WERE REPLACED, 2 NEW ROTORS AND 2 ROTORS WERE CUT. NO MENTION OF BRAKE LINE DETERIORATION, CORROSION, OR VISIBLE PROBLEMS WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AT THAT TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS USED MAINLY BY MY HUSBAND WHO DRIVES IT 6 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK DAILY. NO PROBLEMS, SQUEAKING, OR PEDAL CHANGES HAD BEEN NOTED. WE WERE ALL REALLY QUITE SHAKEN BY THIS INCIDENT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. IT WENT THERE DURING THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY THUS DELAYING THE REPAIR. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD ROTTED OUT. ANY INFORMATION OR DIRECTION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

DUE TO CORROSION THE BRAKES LINE BURST CAUSING A COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE - NO WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED!!! THE LINES CORRODED COMPLETELY IN THE HOLDERS WHICH ATTACH TO THE VEHICLES FRAME. UNDER MODERATE STOPPING PRESSURE THE LINES BURST! ALL METAL LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO EXTREME WEATHER OR SALT WHILE IN MY OWNERSHIP. THIS IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH, 1 MONTH LATER A SECOND BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. MASSIVE RUST ON FRAME AND BUMPERS AS WELL. *TR

RUSTY BRAKE LINES FAILED UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHILE TOWING A BOAT IMMEDIATELY CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY. I HAD TO HAVE THE LINES REPLACED IN A SMALL SHOP DUE TO LOCATION AND LACK OF DEALERSHIPS. VEHICLE IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS 82000 MILES. *TR

I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE SHOP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY THREW IT IN PARK AN TURNED THE TRUCK OFF. I THEN PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND IT AGAIN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HEARD BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING OUT. I PUT THE TRUCK ON THE LIFT AND RAISED IT UP TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. AFTER DOING SO I FOUND VERY RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND COMPONENTS. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS. SEEMS MAYBE GM SHOULD BE FIXING THE ISSUE. I WOULDN'T THINK A TRUCK LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD SHOULD HAVE SUCH RUSTED BRAKE PARTS. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE EXHAUST IS MADE FROM STAINLESS, WHY NOT BRAKE LINES? *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET AND TRIED TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THEN SUDDENLY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I DROVE THE ONE BLOCK BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. I OBSERVED A LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR. UPON INSPECTION, I SAW A BUNDLE OF RUSTY BRAKE TUBES RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME RAIL OF THE TRUCK. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000. THE BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO RUST AND POOR DESIGN. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER AND SALT WERE TRAPPED INSIDE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND POSITIONED ANOTHER WAY, SO THEY WOULD NOT HOLD SALT AND WATER FROM THE ROADS. UPDATED 06/27/12

PUMPING UP BRAKES IN DRIVEWAY WHEN BRAKE LINE BURST ENDED UP WITH NO BRAKES AT ALL FRONT OR BACK COULD ONLY USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO POSITION TRUCK TO BE TOWED. *JS

SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING A STOP LITE ,APPLIED BRAKES WAS A SHUDDER OF ANTI LOCK AND PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A CRASH. *TR

MY WIFE WAS PARKING AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. *TR

BACKING UP TOWARD 60 FT DROPOFF TO UNLOAD DEBRIS.WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.STOPPED WITH E-BRAKE OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN THAT 60 FT DROP.CHECKED UNDER TRUCK AND FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT A BREAK IN THE LINE FROM RUSTING THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LINE,NOT AT A FITTING.WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I STOPPED IN TIME.THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT A MARK! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 03 SIERRA, APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW AT FIRST BUT THEN THE PEDDLE IMMEDIATELY WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I BEGAN TO PUMP IT BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I WAS HEADING TOWARD THE INTERSECTION, THE LIGHT WAS RED, WITH BUSY CROSS TRAFFIC. THE STREET I WAS ON IS NARROW AND STEEP AND I BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED. I SHIFTED THE TRANS INTO THE LOWEST GEAR AND STEPPED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, AS ONCOMING CARS LUCKILY AVOIDED HITTING ME. WHEN I WENT TO MY MECHANIC TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED, HE KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE TOLD ME, SIGHT UNSEEN, THAT THE BRAKE LINE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD RUPTURED. LATER, UPON INSPECTION, HE WAS CORRECT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR. HE REPLACED THE LINE AND I THOUGHT THAT HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM; UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO. AGAIN, I AM DRIVING DOWN A HILL AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS TOWING A VERY LARGE TRAILER THIS TIME AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD LITTLE AFFECT. LUCKILY, THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO RIDE IT OUT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH NOT ONLY THE 03 YEAR BUT 4 OR 5 YEARS PRIOR ALSO. ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF LINES SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE GM USED A UNCOATED STEEL WHICH BEGINS TO BE COMPROMISED WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS WHERE SALT IS HEAVILY USED IN THIS AREA. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT GM USED UNCOATED STEEL INSTEAD OF COATED OR STAINLESS TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS. HAD MY 17 YEAR OLD SON BEEN DRIVING, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS TRUCK. ANOTHER IS ERRONEOUS SPEEDOMETER READINGS. I WILL ADDRESS THESE IN ANOTHER POST. *TR

NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE UNDER MY TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY. DISCOVERED IT WAS BRAKE FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING FROM RUSTED BRAKE LINES. I WAS TWO WEEKS FROM DRIVING FROM FLORIDA TO MID-MICHIGAN..THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS..PULLING A TRAILER. COST $340 TO GET IT REPAIRED NOT REPLACED. *TR

TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER FOR OTHER WORK AND THEY REPORTED TO ME THE LINE WAS LEAKING AND ABOUT TO RUPTURE. I HAVE 2 JEEP PRODUCTS , BOTH IN THE LATE 80'S WITH ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES AND THEY ARE FINE. YOU WOULD THINK THAT A "YOUNGER VEHICLE WOULD BE UP TO THE TASK OF LASTING LONGER THAN 9 YRS. I'VE OWNED OLDER CARS AND TRUCKS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, EVEN MY 1964 CHEVY C-10 DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND I SOLD IT IN 1991 . A CO-WORKER BOUGHT MY OLD CHEVY AND AT THE 30 YEAR MARK FOR IT, THE BRAKE LINES WERE FINE. I BELIEVE THAT ALONG WITH THE MANUFACTURE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ALSO, THEY ALLOW THIS SUBPAR EQUIPMENT ON THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS TO CARRY OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES, DO YOU THINK OBAMA'S KIDS WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO DANGER IN THIS MANNER. IF THE DIRECTOR OF NHTSA HAD A FAILURE OF THIS CALIBER HE OR SHE'D BE ALL OVER THIS DEMANDING AND ENFORCING A RECALL . *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARK. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES LINES WERE FRACTURED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

DRIVING DOWN DRIVEWAY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR RAN INTO SNOW BANK UNABLE TO STOP. *TR

2003 GMC SIERRA PICK-UP 4WD EXTENDED CAB. BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION. DATE OF FAILURE 2/27/12 MILEAGE 23068 COST OF REPAIR $1283.82. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A 2004 GMC AND ALSO NEED TO REPLACE HIS BRAKE LINES. *TR

THIS TRUCK AND I RESIDE IN WISCONSIN BUT WERE IN FLORIDA AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. MY TRAVEL ON 2/21 WAS TO PICK UP MY YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER AT HER SCHOOL. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 40 MPH IN FAIRLY HEAVY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC, I HAD CROSSED A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION ABOUT A MILE FROM THE SCHOOL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN. I PROCEEDED TO THE SCHOOL AT A VERY REDUCED SPEED USING THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUMPING THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO THE SCHOOL. I EXITED THE SCHOOL YARD AND PARKED THE TRUCK. CALLED A TOW TRUCK FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. THE MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINES SAID THERE HAS BEEN A PARTIAL RECALL ON GMC AND CHEVROLET TRUCKS FOR FAULTY BRAKE LINES BUT MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED. HE SAID THE WORST RUST WAS AT THE ABS CONTROL BUT THERE WERE OTHER AREA'S INVOLVED ALSO. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES MUCH OLDER THAN THIS ONE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH. I URGE YOU TO DO A DEEPER STUDY AND RECALL IF NECESSARY, INTO WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE USE OF INFERIOR BRAKE LINES AND/ OR POOR PLACEMENT OF THE ABS CONTROL ON A WIDER RANGE OF THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY OR TAKE PLACE AS WE WERE RETURNING HOME THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS IN TENNESSEE A FEW WEEKS LATER. I AGAIN URGE YOU TO EXTEND THE RECALL FURTHER INTO THIS TRUCKS PRODUCTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

LOW SPEED CRASH IN DRIVEWAY DUE TO SUDDEN RUPTURE OF RT. FRONT BRAKE LINE METAL SECTION AT BANJO BOLT. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK BY A MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT 4 OTHER STEEL LINES ARE LEAKING DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION AND THAT EVERY STEEL LINE ON THE TRUCK IS IN DANGER OF FAILURE DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS NEAR $1000.00 BODY DAMAGE FROM CRASH IS AROUND $900.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ABNORMALLY AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAD FAILED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AT 10 MPH FROM FAILED BRAKE LINE, DUE TO EXCESS CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES. *TR

POWER STEERING COOLER AND LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING, ENGINE OIL COOLER LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING, TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WORK DONEA T GMC DEALER. *TR

BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE, I TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER AND UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND A CORRODED BRAKE LINE THAT HAD FAILED. AS THEY INVESTIGATED FURTHER THEY FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE AND HAVE NEVER EVER HEARD OF CORRODED BRAKE LINES ON A 9 YEAR OLD TRUCK. THIS IS INSANE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE????? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE IS KILLED?????? I HAVE NO PROBLEM TAKING THIS TO THE SUPREME COURT. WHEN DOES MONEY TAKE THE PLACE OF THE MOST BASIC SAFETY FEATURE KNOWN TO THE AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS???? I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY GM AUTO'S AND TRUCKS THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT IT!!!!!! HOW DO THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT? *TR

BOUGHT THE TRUCK RECENTLY FROM VINCE WHIBBS GMC PENSACOLA FL. HAD SOME FRONT END WORK DONE BUT ALSO THERE IS A LOOSE STEERING SHAFT THAT IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL TRUCK. WHILE CORNERING THE TRUCK AT LOW SPEEDS AND GOING OVER BUMPS THERE IS A LOOSE FEELING FELT IN THE STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART WAS NOT BEING MANUFACTURED AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 3500 SERIES TRUCK. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP BEFORE STRIKING A PARKED CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS ARE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT FOR A $4200. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED LAST FEBRUARY AND PUT LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WHICH WERE REPLACED THEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF CORROSION ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT EACH TIME BECAUSE OF CORROSION ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY GM THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK ENOUGH. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR TWO REASONS 1. IT MIGHT NOT STOP WHEN I NEED IT TO AND 2. EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT ENDS UP COSTING ME MORE MONEY. THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE REPLACED LAST SUMMER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS TRUCK HAS COST ME OVER $20,000 IN REPAIRS SINCE 2005 NOT INCLUDING MAINTENANCE ISSUES. WHEN I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. I WAS TOLD I DO NOT DRIVE IT ENOUGH AND THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK IS OLDER IT IS A PART OF LIFE. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NHTSA IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER WITH GM. IF YOU NEED ANY HELP PLEASE CALL ME I WOULD GLADLY HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR

I ONLY HAD 27050 MILES WHEN BRAKE LINES, BURST LUCKILY TRAVELING ONLY 5 MPH. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THEN AT 28,640 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GM DOING? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUALITY OF GM? *TR

MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 PRESENTLY HAS 67,631 MILES ON IT. WITH ABOUT 46,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AT THE END OF 2011, I NOTICED LOW COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A NOTICEABLE LEAK. I CONTINUED TO ADD COOLANT, BUT COULD NEVER FIND THE LEAK. WHILE HAVING MY OIL CHANGED IN JUNE 2016, THE DEALER (WHERE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED AND SERVICED) SAID COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE OIL DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD, AND ESTIMATED APPROX $3500 TO FIX IT. IN DEC 2016, THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE AT $6600. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND GM SERVICE BULLETIN #06-06-01-019B, 12 JUNE 2007, SUBJECT INFORMATION ON GRADUAL COOLANT LOSS OVER TIME WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAK FOUND. IT DISCUSSES A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH CASTECH HEADS USED IN THE 5.3L VORTEC ENGINE AS I HAVE IN MY TRUCK. SUBSEQUENT ONLINE SEARCHES INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG SUCH GM ENGINES. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND ASKED WHAT GM WOULD DO TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THIS KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WOULDN'T DO HELP. I REQUESTED ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE GM REGIONAL REP, AND WAS ALSO TOLD THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. IN MARCH 2017, I WROTE A LETTER TO GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. GM RESPONDED WITH A LETTER TWO WEEKS LATER STATING THAT FOR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER 8-2815264552, THEY "CANNOT PROVIDE ANY COST ASSISTANCE ON THE ENGINE ISSUE ON THE VEHICLE." FURTHER THEY STATED THERE IS NO RECALL OR SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR THE ISSUE. THE FAULTY CASTING OF THE CASTECH CYLINDER HEAD IN THE 5.3L VORTEC ENGINE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN ABOUT 5 YEARS OF GM VEHICLES WHICH GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO CUSTOMERS, BUT CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGES THROUGH ITS SERVICE BULLETIN. GM SHOULD PROVIDE A RECALL OR AT LEAST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THIS KNOWN DEFECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE THEY EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE ALSO SAW SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICE THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKEN AND SPRAYED FUEL ON TOP OF THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO HIS HOME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 DISPLAYED A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD. MY VEHICLE LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL, DECELERATING FROM 65 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT MY TRUCK OFF. ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND MY TRUCK WAS FINE. IT WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT NOT BEING ABLE KEEP THE RIGHT SPEED FOR THE CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

MY 16 YR. SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, WHEN HE LOST HIS BRAKES. FORTUNATELY HE IS A CAUTIOUS DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID STRIKING THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HIM IN TRAFFIC. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED. *TR

CORRODED BRAKE LINES. *TR

I TOOK MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IN FOR AN INSPECTION, INSPECTION FAILED DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES. WAS INFORMED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. IS THIS NORMAL? I LIVE IN THE NORTH..THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF RUST/CORROSION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK AS WELL AS STARTING AROUND THE BODY..AM FACING SPENDING $400-$600 TO REPLACE THE LINES..LOOKING FOR INFO REGARDING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.. *TR

THE REAR BRAKE PADS SQUEALED & WERE GRINDING & THE TRUCK HAD VERY POOR STOPPING POWER. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC & HE WAS DOING THE BRAKE JOB; HE REPLACED ALL FOUR ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE PADS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. WHILE HE WAS DOING THE BRAKES HE OBSERVED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO A POINT THAT IT ALARMED HIM & HE SAID THEY SHOULD BE CHANGED. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE BRAKES HAD WORN VERY UNEVEN. THE FRONT PADS WERE BARELY WORN & WERE ONLY MAKING CONTACT AT A SMALL AREA OF THE ROTOR (ABOUT 1/2" OF THE FULL FACE ON THE ROTOR). THE BACK PADS & ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN & THE ROTORS WERE RUINED. SOME OF THE AREAS UNDER THE TRUCK LOOK AS NEW & OTHER PLACES; MAINLY THE A-FRAMES, BRAKE LINES, SOME FRAME MEMBERS, ETC. LOOK LIKE THEY ARE 15 YEARS OR MORE OLDER. THE BRAKES WERE PUT BACK TOGETHER & NOW THEY ARE SO TIGHT & WON'T RELEASE THE ROTORS, CAUSING THE ROTORS TO OVER HEAT. I AM NOW HAVING HIM REPLACE THE BACK TWO CALIPERS WITH REPLACEMENT CALIPERS THAT USE PHENOLIC PISTONS RATHER THAN STEEL & ARE NOT GM PARTS. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POPPING. THE CONTACT THEN REVERSED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE INTO A LARGE PUDDLE. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE FOUR BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONGSIDE THE FRAME WERE RUSTED, CAUSING THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR WOULD ARRIVE IN ONE WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,597. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ UPDATED 02/03/12 THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SECOND BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON JULY 31, 2014. UPDATED 03/11/15. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID AND FUEL TO LEAK. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX ~30 MILES AN HOUR APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A RED LIGHT. I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL DEPRESSED WITH NO RESISTANCE AND NO BRAKING RESPONSE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARDER, WITH PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND RECEIVED LIGHT BRAKE RESPONSE, ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE JUST SHORT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO AN ASE-CERTIFIED NAPA AUTO CENTER, WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED, AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES. THE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES/CABLE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND RENDERED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE USELESS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS UPWARDS OF $1800.00 THERE WAS NO ADVANCED WARNING OF THIS FAILURE--NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN, ASSEMBLY OR MATERIALS FLAW THAT PUTS PUBLIC SAFETY AT RISK. *TR

BRAKES BLEW OUT COMING DOWN A VERY STEEP HILL. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I HAD A TOYOTA IN FONT OF ME SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF A SQUIRREL CROSSING THE STREET. I HAD ALSO SLOWED DOWN BUT THEN THE TOYOTA STOPPED AND I WENT TO STOP MY BRAKE LINES BOTH FRONT AND BACK BLEW OUT AND MY PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. THANKS TO THE TOYOTA BEING THERE TO STOP ME OTHER WISE I WOULD HAD A VERY BAD CRASH INTO CROSSING TRAFFIC OR HEAD ON INTO A GUARD RAIL OR TREES. I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL NEW BRAKELINES INSTALLED ON MY TRUCK AND THE DAMAGE TO THE TOYOTA AND MY TRUCK COSTING AROUND 2000.00 DOLLARS PLUS THE INSURANCE OVER 2300.00 FOR THE TOYOTA AND MY FRONT END. NOW IM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO IDLE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

METAL BRAKE LINES RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. IT IS EVIDENT WHEN OTHER METAL UNDER BODY COMPONENTS ARE COMPARED TO THE BRAKE LINES THAT THE CORROSION IS EXCESSIVE. IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT INFERIOR ALLOYS WERE USED ON THIS VEHICLES BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BROUGHT TO A STOP. THESE SUBSTANDARD COMPONENTS CLEARLY REPRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM THE VEHICLES ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT HAS BEEN OPERATED IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA AND MAINTAINED EXTREMELY WELL. *TR

THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ONLY TRAVELING VERY SLOW. I CAN SEE BRAKE FLUID PUDDLING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. *TR

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY CORRODED AND COVERED IN RUST. BRAKE LINE THAT FAILED WENT TO RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. PIN HOLE IN BRAKE LINE COULD BE SEEN WHEN PUMPING BRAKES. FORTUNATELY BRAKES FAILED AT SLOW SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A BUILD UP OF RUST ON BRAKE LINES.

STARTED VEHICLE IN MORNING AND NOTICED NO READINGS FROM ANY GAGES, (OIL PRESS., TEMP., TACH., FUEL, SPEED) NOR COULD I READ ODOMETER. SURROUNDING DASH LIGHTS FUNCTIONAL. WHILE DRIVING, I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD .... EVERYTHING BEGAN TO WORK. AT END OF DAY LEAVING WORK, NO PROBLEM ..... STOPPED ON WAY HOME, RESTARTED, PROBLEM RETURNED. TURNED STEERING WHEEL, PROBLEM GONE. ARRIVED HOME, TURNED VEHICLE OFF ..... RESTART, PROBLEM BACK AGAIN. SEARCH ON NET SAYS IT IS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WHAT IS THE COST FOR NEW/USED CLUSTER? IS IT EASY TO INSTALL? *TT

ON MAY 20, 2012 WHEN MOVING MY GMC 1500 PICK UP TRUCK FROM MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE ONLY TO HAVE THE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 21, 2011 I ALSO LOST MY BRAKES WHEN PARKING THE TRUCK AT A LOCAL STRIP MALL. THE REQUIRED REPAIR WAS FOR A CORRODED BRAKE LINE. THANK GOD THAT BOTH TIMES I WAS TRAVELING SLOWLY. AT HIGHWAY SPEED I COULD EASILY HAVE BE KILLED. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT!! *TR