Complaint 921648

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES

Owner Narrative

6/5/12 AFTER ONLY 54K MILES ON MY 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 2WD PICKUP, I EXPERIENCED AN INSTANTANEOUS AND COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF A CORRODED BRAKE LINE(S), WHICH BURST, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND PRESSURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE BRAKE APPLICATION AFTER EXITING THE OFF-RAMP OF A HIGHWAY; I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED (APPROX. 15MPH) WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE OR INJURIES INVOLVED. FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE GM DEALER REVELED THAT ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED BRAKE LINES WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND PRONE TO FAILURE AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR TERM. THE GM DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE ONE BRAKE LINE THAT HAD FAILED FOR $600.00 AND INDICATED TO ME THAT REPLACING ALL NECESSARY BRAKE LINES WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE. I ELECTED NOT TO HAVE GM REPAIR MY VEHICLE; SINCE THE COST FOR REPLACING ONE BRAKE LINE @ $600.00 IS RIDICULOUS! FURTHER, REPLACING THE FAILED BRAKE LINE ONLY WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME SINCE THE ASSOCIATED BRAKE LINES ARE CLOSE TO FAILING AS WELL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPUTABLE AUTO REPAIR FACILITY, WHO OFFERED A MUCH MORE REASONABLE QUOTATION AND WHO PERFORMED A COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION/REPAIR OF MULTIPLE SUSPECT BRAKE LINES IN ORDER TO MAKE THE VEHICLE TRULY SAFE. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH GM DUE TO THEIR NON-RESPONSIVENESS OF THIS VERY SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND ASSOCIATED RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS REASONABLE FOR BRAKE LINES TO FAIL DUE TO CORROSION WITHIN THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF OPERATION; ESPECIALLY, FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 54K MILES. THIS IS TRULY A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, HOWEVER, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT GM WILL ACT WITHOUT FEDERAL INTERVENTION. DISAPPOINTED IN GM - *TR

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