1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN MERGING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, OFF RAMP, THERE WAS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. OTHER CARS WERE APPROACHING AND I COULD NOT BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP. SO I DROVE ONTO THE SHOULDER OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS INSTANTANEOUS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CORROSIVE BRAKE LINES....UPDATED 10/22/14 *BF

BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION. UPON INSPECTION, ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING TO BAY CITY MICHIGAN TO GO SHOPPING. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AS THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF HERS, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. AFTER A SECOND OR TWO OF FAIRLY HARD BRAKING, THE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE HITTING THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HERS. THANKFULLY THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE SHOULDER THAT SHE COULD PULL OFF AND SLOWLY COME TO A STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITHOUT A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE AND IT WAS DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD INTO A GRASSY FIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE FILED A REPAIR AND PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM AGAINST THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 08/30/12

ON MARCH 12 2012 I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD GOING TO WORK WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME THEREFORE KEPT ON GOING SO I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND SWERVED TO THE LEFT AVOIDING A CRASH.. AT THAT TIME WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED BUT IT TOOK CONSIDERABLY LONGER TO STOP THE TRUCK SINCE I HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKING EFFORT... I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE 4 LINES THAT WERE CLUSTERED TOGETHER ON THE FRAME BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS CONTROLLER HAD BURST. ALL 4 OF THE LINES WERE VERY RUSTY. IN ADDITION, TODAY MARCH 16 2012 I WENT BY THE SHOP TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD DONE ON THE REPAIR.. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD REPAIRED THE LINE AND WHEN HE WAS BLEEDING THE BRAKES, ANOTHER ONE OF THE LINES HAD BURST. *TR

I WAS LEAVING GIANT EAGLE GROCERY STORE. I PULLED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND PULLED UP TO THE CROSSWALK. THERE WAS A MOTHER WITH HER TWO SMALL CHILDREN CROSSING. I PUT ON MY BRAKES TO STOP TO LET THEM CROSS AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANKFULLY I PUT ON THE PARKING BRAKE AND STOPPED TWO FEET FROM RUNNING THEM OVER, I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK AND SAW ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS MODULE WAS BLOWN OUT. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ON MY TRUCK ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. THIS IS THE SECOND BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THIS TRUCK. ONE OF MY REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED DO TO CORROSION LAST YEAR. I PATCHED THAT ONE AND I'M GOING TO PATCH THIS ONE SINCE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF THE BRAKE LINES CAUSE MY DEATH OR SOME INNOCENT PEOPLE TO DIE WHEN I CRASH INTO THEM BECAUSE OF THESE CHEAP JUNK BRAKE LINES GM PUT ON THESE TRUCKS! *TR

ON JANUARY 11 2012 I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 1999 HOME FROM WORK. IT WAS A CLEAR NIGHT WITH CLEAR ROAD CONDITIONS. I WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES, AND AS WAS THE CASE WHEN THE BRAKE LINES BLEW IN MY CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 2000 I FELT LITTLE TO NO PRESSURE BEFORE THE PEDAL SLAMMED TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PAY $300 FOR NEW LINES. THE REAR AXLE BRAKE LINES ON BOTH SIDES BLEW, AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKE LINE GOING TO THE BRAKE CALIPER FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINES REPAIRED BY A DEALER AT NO COST TO ME, AS I HAD THEM DONE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. I HAVE FAITH IN GM, AND CONTINUE TO BUY NOTHING BUT GM PRODUCTS, AND WOULD LIKE MY PROBLEM REPAIRED WITH THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY THAT I HAVE SEEN WITH GM PRODUCTS IN MY HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

I HAD JUST FINISHED REPLACING THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS. (I CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY BRAKE JOBS I HAVE DONE IN MY CAREER). I WENT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE. EVERYTHING FELT FINE UNTIL I MADE A HARD STOP. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES AT ALL. I AM A BRAKE SYSTEMS ENGINEER WITH OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE, SO I KNEW I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I PUT THE TRUCK BACK UP ON MY LIFT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SOLID BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE REAR AXLE HAD RUPTURED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. ALL THE OTHER BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED AND APPEAR AS IF THEY COULD RUPTURE AT ANY MOMENT. I DROPPED THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACED THE RUPTURED LINE WITH A NEW ONE I FABRICATED. I DO THIS TYPE OF WORK ON NEARLY A DAILY BASIS SO I AM QUALIFIED TO DO SO. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS HAPPENED IN A LIGHTLY TRAVELED OFFICE PARK AND NOT WHEN I REALLY NEEDED THE BRAKES OR IN TRAFFIC. IT IS MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, AS AN AUTOMOTIVE CHASSIS SYSTEMS ENGINEER WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE BRAKE INDUSTRY, THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IF THEY HAVE SPENT ANY SIGNIFICANT TIME IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF EXCESSIVE MOISTURE OR WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SEVERELY INJURED OR WORSE. I WILL NO LONGER TRANSPORT MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION THE RESULT WOULD ALMOST DEFINITELY HAD BEEN A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WHO INFORMED HIM ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE COVERED WITH RUST, CORRODED AND WAS LEAKING. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES AT THE CUSTOMER EXPENSE FOR $670. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 308,000.

REAR MAIN BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXTREME RUSTING CONDITION. THIS LINE IS LOCATED ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE UPPER CHASSIS RAIL. FURTHER INSPECTION OF ALL BRAKE LINES RESULTED IN A VERY RUSTED CONDITION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN A SNOWSTORM, I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER CAR, THAT HAD LOST CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO NARROWLY MISS HIM, BUT WHEN I WENT TO STOP, MY BRAKES HIT THE FLOOR. I WAS REALLY LUCKY NO ONE ELSE WAS AROUND, BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP. *TR

1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 2WD, I HAVE NO ABS BRAKES HAVE NOT HAD THEM FOR YEARS THE ABS MODULE WENT OUT THE TRUCK WAS BARLEY 6 YEARS OLD TO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *KB

ON 11-10-11 I PURCHASED A PREOWNED SILVERADO 1500 LS TRUCK FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET,3606 BRISTOL HIGHWAY, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37602. I WAS UNABLE TO TRY OUT THE TRUCK UNTIL THEY REPAIRED A LEAKING BRAKE LINE WHICH I WAS ADVISED HAD RUSTED.. AFTER PURCHASE I GOT IT HOME AND WAS EXAMINING THE UNDER FRAME ASSEMBLIES AND FOUND ALL THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTING PREMATURELY. THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED A PATCH LINE WHERE THE RUST RUPTURE HAD BEEN. THE TRUCK IS OTHERWISE RUST FREE AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I REALIZE THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS OF PURPOSE UNDER THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE FROM THE DEALER OR GM ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT THERE IS LIABILITY FOR DEFECTIVE DESIGN WHICH SURVIVES TO SUBSEQUENT OWNERS. I PLAN TO TOW A CARGO TRAILER WITH THE TRUCK AND AM AFRAID THERE WILL BE FURTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. I'VE NOW LEARNED THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THESE VEHICLES AND STRONGLY URGE A RECALL IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE DRIVING PUBLIC AND THE OWNERS OF THESE DEFECTIVE TRUCKS. *TR

I WAS SLOWING UP TO STOP AT THE STOPLIGHT AND WAS CLOSE TO STOPPING WHEN SUDDENLY MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. FORTUNATELY I WAS GOING SLOW AND MANAGED TO COME TO A ROLLING STOP. I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE MY VAN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY FOUND A CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE LINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REST OF THE BRAKELINES WERE ALSO VERY CORRODED BADLY AND WOULD LIKE ALSO NEED REPLACED DUE TO THE CORROSION. *TR

1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500. MOVING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION FOUND MULTIPLE CORROSION POINTS IN STEEL BRAKE LINE, THAT RESULTED IN HOLES IN THE LINE. TWO CORROSION POINTS/HOLES LOCATED IN THE "CLIPS" THAT HOLD BRAKE LINE IN PLACE. ONE "CLIP" INSIDE THE MAIN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ANOTHER ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHERE LINE LEAVES ENGINE COMPARTMENT GOING TO REAR OF VEHICLE. *TR

WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT AT A CONGESTED INTERSECTION, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. AFTER INSPECTION I NOTICED I HAD A BROKEN BREAK LINE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARED THAT SEVERAL WERE VERY CORRODED AND APPEAR READY TO BREAK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE TRUCK IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER AND I AVERAGE LESS THAN 8,000 MILES A YEAR ON IT. *TR

WE WERE IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH A TRAILER AND BOAT ATTACHED AND PROCEEDING DOWN A HILL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND ABLE TO STOP, THEN BACK UP. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 50 MPH AND NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, IT WAS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE METAL BREAK LINES HAD RUPTURED AND WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID WHERE IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. IT APPEARS THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAVE SIGNIFICANT CORROSION THAT COULD CAUSE THEM TO RUPTURE DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND YOU HAVE LITTLE BRAKING POWER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. ACCIDENT AVOIDED ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN ONCOMING LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID STOPPING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 137,000 MILES. SIMPLE ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 1999 THROUGH 2003 CHEVY TRUCKS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS GM CHOSE FOR THESE BRAKE LINES AND A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED IN ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS. *TR

BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED LEAKS IN THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY ARE GANGED TOGETHER APPROX 12"-18" BEFORE THE EBCM. THIS FAILURE CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO SLIGHTLY BUMP THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED. *TR

I WAS BRAKING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD ABOUT 10% OF NORMAL BREAKING POWER. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS ALMOST OUT OF BRAKE FLUID. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW FLUID LEAKING FROM A GROUP OF FOUR BRAKE LINES RUNNING UNDER THE DRIVE'S SIDE DOOR ALONG THE SIDE OF A FRAME BEAM. IT APPEARED AS EACH OF THE FOUR INDIVIDUAL LINES WERE RUNNING THROUGH A COILED WIRE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND ONE OF THE LINES WITHOUT A COIL WIRE SURROUNDING IT AND IT WAS THE LEAKING LINE.

1. BRAKE LINE TUBING CORROSION BLEW A HOLE IN THE BRAKE TUBING WHILE BRAKING TO MAKE A TURN. 2. BRAKE LINE FLUID DRAINED FROM MASTER CYLINDER, TRUCK CAN NOT BE DRIVEN, IT TOOK SOME SERIOUS DRIVING TO GET THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO VEER INTO AN OPEN PARKING LOT BEFORE SLAMMING INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 3.THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED AND IS NOW SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT BRAKES. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT OTHER CHEVY SILVERADO OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME BRAKE LINE CORROSION FAILURE. *TT

FAILURE OF BRAKE LINE FEEDING REAR BRAKES. RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS THE 2ND FAILURE. *TR

MY 1999 CHEVY TRUCK BRAKES FAILED AND I HAD TO PUT IT IN A DITCH TO STOP IT BEFORE I RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I GOT IT PULLED OUT OF THE DITCH BY A TOW TRUCK WE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A BUSTED BRAKE LINE BUT EVERY LINE UNDER THE TRUCK WAS RUSTED ALL MOST IN TO FOR IT TO BE NO OLDER THEN IT IS, UNDER THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE IT IS 50 YEARS OLD CHEVY HAS A BAD PROBLEM ON THERE HANDS. *TR

RUSTED BRAKE LINE CAUSED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION. LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID WHILE PUMPING BRAKE TRYING TO STOP. USED EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. LINE WAS REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER WHILE COMING TO STOP. DIFFERENT RUSTED BRAKE LINE SPRUNG A LEAK. THIS LEAK APPEARS TO BE LOCATED WHERE BRAKE LINES ARE ATTACHED BY A CLAMP LOCATED ON TOP OF CHASIS FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE OF TRUCK. TRUCK IS NOW UNDRIVABLE SO IS OUT OF SERVICE WAITING DECISION OF WHO WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR