Complaint 1107049

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES

Owner Narrative

WAS DRIVING WITH 3 OF MY CHILDREN TO A FOOTBALL PRACTICE. WAS ON MO STATE HWY 70 DOING APPROX. 60MPH. AN INCIDENT OCCURRED AHEAD OF ME WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE SLOW DOWN. HIT MY BRAKES HARD(LIKE ALL OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME) AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND TRUCK LOST AT LEAST 90PCT OF BRAKING POWER. ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF ANY BRAKES. IT WAS AN HONEST MIRACLE THAT ME AND MY CHILDREN ALONG WITH ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT AT THAT SPEED WERE NOT KILLED OR BADLY INJURED. IT WAS A SPLIT SECOND INCIDENT AND ACT OF MIRACULOUS LUCK THAT AVOIDED A CATASTROPHE. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO THINK AND JUST REACTED OUT OF INSTINCT AND SWERVED FROM MIDDLE OF THREE LANES INTO GRASS SHOULDER(WHICH RESULTED IN TERRIFYING ATTEMPT AT KEEPING CONTROL AND NOT FLIPPING TRUCK OVER ETC. GOING FROM 60PLUS MPH ON A TIGHT SHOULDER IN A HIGH TRAFFIC MAJOR HWY IN SUBURBAN ST LOUIS. A MIRACLE WE SURVIVED. WHEN ON SHOULDER ATTEMPTING TO KEEP CONTROL WITH NO BRAKES I DID THINK AND ENGAGED EMERGENCY BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH BASICALLY ZERO AFFECT AT HELPING SLOW DOWN. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS AND TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR MY CHILDREN AND NOT SOON FORGOTTEN! DISCOVERED IT WAS A METAL BRAKELINE RUSTED ON FRAME MOUNT UNDERNEATH DRIVER DOOR THAT BURST CAUSING THIS. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2001 AND PURCHASED WITH 14,000 MILES. LOOKING ONLINE FOR PARTS TO REPLACE(WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE, MONEY TOO TIGHT TO AFFORD THE LOWEST QUOTE FROM REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE ALL STEEL LINES OF $1000 TO $1500)WHAT NOW PAY ALMOST WHAT TRUCK IS WORTH TO FIX? GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE. WHY NOT AT LEAST HAVE MORAL STRENGTH ENOUGH TO PUT OUT A BULLETIN TO INFORM OR SELF INSPECT? I AM AT A LOSS EXPRESSING MYSELF AT GM'S LACK OF CHARACTER. I WILL NEVER OWN AS WILL MY CHILDREN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. WHY BUY AMERICAN? SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH A JAPANESE COMPANY. NEVER WOULD HAVE COME TO THIS WITH TOYOTA OR HONDA. SAD! *TR

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