Complaint 1007914

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES

Owner Narrative

TRAVELLING TO WORK ONE MORNING ON A BUSY, WELL TRAVELED ROAD I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THERE WAS A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME AND WE ALL HAD TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TO THE FLOOR AND I REALIZED I HAD LOST THE BRAKES. REALIZING THAT I WAS GOING TO REAR END THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME I WAS FORCED TO SHIFT TO 1ST GEAR ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND SWERVE TO THE RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING SOME HUGE TREES AND RUNNING INTO A DITCH. AFTER MY NERVES SETTLED DOWN I SAFELY PULLED OUT OF THE EMBANKMENT AND SLOWLY DROVE THE TRUCK TO A SAFE OPENING VERY CLOSE BY. I STARTED TROUBLESHOOTING MY BRAKES AND FOUND A LEAK UNDER THE TRUCK BEHIND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. I LOOKED CLOSER AND FOUND THAT ONE OF MY BRAKE LINES HAD BURST OPEN. LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES REVEALED THEY WERE ALL RUSTED BADLY. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED HOME. AS WE WERE DRIVING HOME THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT THESE TRUCKS HAVE A STRONG HISTORY OF RUST PROBLEMS OF THE BRAKE LINES AND OTHER AREAS. AFTER UNLOADING THE TRUCK I WENT ONLINE AND STARTED READING ABOUT THE RUST PROBLEMS ON THESE VEHICLES. I WAS SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON AN ISSUE SO IMPORTANT AS BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT. I AM WONDERING IF SOMEONE HAS TO GET KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT. I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO OWNS A 1999-2000 GMC OR CHEVY PICK UP TRUCK TO CHECK YOUR BRAKE LINES AND IF THEY ARE RUSTING (WHICH ALMOST ALL ARE) TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.DOT.GOV/VEHICLECOMPLAINT.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.