Complaint 1094860

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES

Owner Narrative

I WAS APPROACHING THE STOPLIGHT FLETCHER DRIVE AND LEE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH HEADING EAST ON LEE HIGHWAY AROUND 1600 EDT IN WARRENTON, VA. THERE WERE FOUR (4) CARS WAITING TO TURN LEFT ONTO FLETCHER DRIVE IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES STARTED TO GRAB BUT THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THEN HIT MR. [XXX] VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MPH. I WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL MAKING CONTACT WITH [XXX] CAR. I ASKED IF HE WAS OK OR HURT AND HE REPLIED YES, I AM OK. WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP?? I EXPLAINED THAT I TRIED. I THEN SUGGESTED THAT BOTH OF US PULL INTO THE FAUQUIER BANK PARKING LOT AND EXCHANGE INSURANCE INFORMATION. AT THIS TIME, I NOTICED MY BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE PARKING LOT (COFFEE CAN OR MORE IN 10 MINS). I STATED THAT SINCE IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE, I WOULD FEEL BETTER SUBMITTING IT THROUGH INSURANCE. I ALSO SHOWED HIM THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. [XXX]. ASKED WHY I WAS DRIVING WITH FAILED BRAKES AND I EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES HAD FAILED AT THE INTERSECTION, THAT MY BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THAT MY TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN PICKED-UP FROM SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP (COUNTRY CHEVROLET) ON MONDAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP JUST INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THEY HAVE CORRODED THROUGH AND BASICALLY "EXPLODED". A SIMILAR ISSUE OCCURRED WITH MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IN 2009, BUT WITH NO ACCIDENT. ALL BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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