2004 Chevrolet Suburban Brakes

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A NORTHERN VIRGINIA INTERSTATE, BRAKES WERE APPLIED FOR TYPICAL TRAFFIC SLOWDOWN. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE WARNING LIGHT ALERTING DRIVER OF A BRAKE ISSUE CAME ON. AT THAT POINT, I TESTED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDDLE SUNK TO THE FLOOR WHILE QUICKLY LOOSING BRAKING RESISTANCE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN ABOUT A MILE. LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING/DRIPPING OUT OF THE BRAKE LINE WHICH WAS RUPTURED. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THIS TO A SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES. ALL OF THE LINES WERE CORRODED. CHECKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THIS WAS A "TYPICAL" ISSUE AFFECTING 2004 CHEVY SUBURBANS BUT THAT A PRODUCT RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED YET. I WAS THANKFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN MY 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR TO SCHOOL. *TR

STARTED DRIVING AND WITHIN 5 MIN, I LOST ALL BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND DRAINED NEARLY ALL FLUID. HAD LINES REPLACED WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES FOR MEGA BUCKS. RUSTED LINES BURST AT ONE POINT, HOWEVER, RUST/CORROSION WAS PRESENT AT SEVERAL POINTS IN THE SYSTEM. DID NOT SEE ANY RECALL OR NOTICE TO THE DEFECTIVE OR SUBSTANDARD BRAKE LINES IN 2004 CHEVY SUBURBANS. OLD LINES APPEARED TO BE CHEAP POT METAL. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE DONE ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. *TR

OBVIOUS CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES OF 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN. BY JUST APPLYING THE BRAKE FOR FEW TIMES, THE BRAKE FLUID IS GUSHING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE (BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS). ALSO NOTICE RUSTING BRAKE LINES UP TO THE ENGINE HOOD (THIS THING SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT HAPPENED, I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE IN ANY VEHICLE I HAD OWNED, BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST EVEN BEYOND THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE!). I ALSO INFORMED CHEVY (TEL: 800-222-1020)ABOUT THIS LIFE SAFETY FAILURE, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT AND CHEVY MUST ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS CORROSION PROBLEM ON BRAKE LINES. *TR

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY COMING TO RED LIGHT DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE BEFORE GOING THROUGH RED LIGHT, HELD DOWN VEHICLE HORN TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS WHICH SAVED ME FROM INJURING/KILLING SOMEONE ELSE OR MYSELF. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE ON SHOULDER OF ROAD NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING DOWN THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN FRONT OF REAR TIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AS A RESULT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, COASTED TO STOP WITH ASSISTANCE OF PARKING BRAKE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED TO A FAILURE POINT, THE ONE LINE THAT FAILED WAS FOR THE REAR BRAKES FROM THE BLOCK DEVICE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE INNER FRAME RAIL (ABS UNIT OR BOOSTER) FOR A VERY WELL KEPT FAMILY VEHICLE WITH LOW MILES AND NO SUBSTANTIAL RUST ANYWHERE ELSE BUT THE BRAKE LINES, AND THIS ONE AREA THAT GETS CONSTANT ROAD SPRAY DIRECTLY AT THE LINES AND BLOCK/BOOSTER/ABS ON THE INNER FRAME DRIVERS SIDE. THIS WAS A SHOCK TO FIND, AND NOW AFTER LOOKING ONLINE THAT NHTSA HAS THE LONGEST OPEN CASE WITH CHEVY FOR 99-02 AND SEEMS LIKE IT WILL SPREAD TO 07 SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS SUBURBAN WEIGHS LIKE 6000 POUNDS, A TANK, AND WILL CRUSH ANYTHING IN ITS WAY IF THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER MAKES/MODELS OF CARS & TRUCKS AND THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER NEEDED TO REPLACE A BRAKE LINE WAS ON MY OLD 1984 DODGE RAM PICKUP I PLOW SNOW WITH ALL THE TIME AND IT WAS 25YRS OLD AT THAT TIME NOT 10YRS OLD LIKE THE CHEVY. WE NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL OF THE THOUSANDS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ON CHEVY TRUCKS/SUV'S. PURCHASED NEW IN MANCHESTER CT FOR OVER $36,000 IN APRIL 2004.. I DO NOT HAVE THE $1000+ ON HAND TO HAVE THIS REPAIR COMPLETED AT THIS TIME WITH 2 CHILDREN IN COLLEGE AND 2 MORE SOON TO BE. *TR

I WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES AS I APPROACHED A CURVE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARDS. USING LOW GEAR AND PARKING BRAKE I MANAGED TO GET THE SUBURBAN HOME WITH NO INCIDENT. BRAKE LINES FRONT TO BACK WERE REPLACED BY SERVICE CENTER. CAUSE ,RUST THRU. *TR

THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINE CAUSED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, COMPROMISED, AND ALL MUST BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN A RESTAURANT DRIVE THROUGH. MOMENTS BEFORE PULLING INTO THE DRIVE THROUGH, I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER ON A BUSY ROADWAY WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I DO NOT FEEL BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE MADE OF MATERIALS THAT CAN CORRODE AND FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE TRUCK IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. WITH NON-CORROSIVE METALS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE TUBING IT IS INEXCUSABLE FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS TO PREVENT CLEARLY FORESEEABLE INJURIES AND DEATHS. *TR

BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO RUST CORROSION. DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL IN THE DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE LINE BROKE BELOW DRIVER'S DOOR AND CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL. *TR

ON 8/30/14 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN A CAR CAME OUT FROM A STREET ON THE LEFT SIDE AND PULLED IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT LOOKING, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES QUICK AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING HIM, HE HAD NO IDEA AS I WAS SWERVING OUT OF THE WAY TO NOT HIT HIM, HE WAS MAKING HIS TURN, I GOT ON THE HORN AND HE JUST PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT AND GAVE ME A WAVE AS TO SAY HE WAS SORRY. ANYWAY, WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE FAST, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE CHASSIS, THERE WAS NO STOPPING THIS TRUCK. I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN SAY YOU ARE STILL ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES, YOU CAN'T PUMP THEM. IT IS NOW SITTING AT THE MECHANICS GETTING FIXED, SO FAR HE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $600-$800 LABOR, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK THE TRUCK YET AS I WRITE THIS. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SO ROTTED, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, AND I ONLY BOUGHT THIS 9/17/13, THE TRUCK ORIGINALLY CAME FROM PENNSYLVANIA. *TR

THE BRAKE LINE UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR RUPTURED AND CAUSED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, COMPROMISED, AND ALL MUST BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT AND MY SON WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT BUT THAT WAS MERELY FORTUITOUS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT PERMANENT BRAKE LINES SHOULD FAIL. THE TRUCK IS USED VERY INFREQUENTLY AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. HAD I OR A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE SOMEONE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED CARS SINCE I WAS 17 AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BRAKE HARD LINE RUPTURE. WITH THE NON-CORROSIVE METALS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE TUBING IT IS INEXCUSABLE FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST GM TO PREVENT CLEARLY FORESEEABLE INJURIES AND DEATHS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I HAD TO REPEATEDLY PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THE SUBURBAN TO STOP. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT PULLING THE BOAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WHEN I PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKELINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE LINE. *TR

I TURNED ON MY ENGINE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND PUT THE SUV IN REVERSE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO MOVE EVEN WITH MY FRONT ON THE BRAKE WHILE PUTTING IT IN REVERSE AND I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND THIS STOPPED THE VEHICLE. HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. THERE WAS NO WARNING ABOUT BRAKE FLUID BEING LOW AND THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AT 8:30 PM. MY HUSBAND LOOKED NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE AND SAW THE BRAKE LINE DRIPPING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID OUT ON THE DRIVEWAY ALL RUSTED. WHY WASN'T THIS MADE WITH STAINLESS STEEL? THIS IS A CAR FOR FAMILIES WHICH MEANS MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL HAVE A CHILD IN THE CAR WHEN IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. *TR

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING....NOTICED SLIGHT BRAKE PEDAL LOSS , THEN TOTAL FAILURE WITHIN MINUTES...MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE CORRODED AND WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED..THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS AND ALL OTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURES OF ANY GMC MADE VEHICLES. *TR

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ANOTHER BRAKE LINE COMPLETELY CORRODED AD INOPERABLE. HAD SAME ISSUE ON ANOTHER BRAKE LINE 6-MONTHS EARLIER. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONNECT TO REMAINING LIES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF CHILDREN WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED.

2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF BRAKE FAILURE WITH CORRODED BRAKE LINES OF 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH UNDER 100K MILES. FIRST WAS IN JANUARY 2013, COMPLETE LOSE OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED FRONT BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS ETC. AT THE TIME, WE HAD THE REAR BRAKE LINES INSPECTED AND REPAIR SHOP STATED THEY SEAMED OK. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON AUGUST 24, 2013. TRAVELING ON I-495 IN MASSACHUSETTS (WHILE PULLING A BOAT TRAILER) AND APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC AHEAD AND BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY WENT SOFT AND ALMOST COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THEN BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID SLOWED TRAFFIC AHEAD AS ONLY FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKING.(ALONG WITH TRAILER BRAKES) AND CAR COULD NOT SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP. AFTER NEARLY CASING A MAJOR ACCIDENT, WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE EXIT AND DRIVE TO NEAREST SEARS REPAIR SHOP (1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD). AFTER BRAKE INSPECTION, COMPLETELY CORRODED BACK BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL; IN LINE AT DRIVE-THROUGH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH BOARD AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIFTING FORWARD. THE MESSAGE CENTER IN THE DASH DISPLAYED "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM." LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER INTO A PARKING SPACE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED - RUSTED THROUGH. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO PRODUCE A VEHICLE THAT SELLS FOR OVER $45,000.00 THAT WON'T EVEN LAST 10 YEARS...ESPECIALLY WHEN SUCH A FAILURE IS LIKELY TO HAVE CATASTOPHIC CONSEQUENCES. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT DUE TO THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. *TR

SEVERE BRAKE LINE CORROSION UNDER VEHICLE. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500 FAILED DURING AN ATTEMPTED STOP. THE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SUBSEQUENT TESTING OF THE BRAKES REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM LINES LEAVING THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS SPRAYING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. IT WAS STATED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS CORROSION WAS DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS FOR WINTER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $2,500. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR SNOW PLOWING OR SPREADING ROAD SALT. *TR

DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED SUDDENLY AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON AS WELL AS THE BRAKE "IDIOT" LIGHT. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT IDLE I NOTED EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AFTER PLACING MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND WAS VERY SLOW IN RETURN. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND VISUALLY CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND CONNECTIONS. I NOTED THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS NOT COMPLETELY AT THE FULL MARK. I CONTINUED TO OBSERVE THE HYDRAULIC CONNECTIONS AND FOUND NO ACTIVE LEAK AND NO FLUID ON THE GROUND BENEATH THE VEHICLE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP IN TOWN (OUT OF STATE VISIT) ADVISING THE SHOP OWNER OF THE PROBLEM INVOLVING BRAKE TRAVEL. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINES ON MY VEHICLE WERE ROUTED ALONG THE VEHICLE FRAME, MADE OF STEEL, AND UNPROTECTED RESULTING IN CORROSION, HOLES, AND ACTIVE LEAKS. TWO OF THE LINES WERE REPAIRED AND NOW THE REMAINING TWO LINES REQUIRE REPAIR. I OBSERVED AND NOTED CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ALONG THE VEHICLE FRAME RUNNING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND CROSSING OVER THE RIGHT SIDE. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND FAILED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCATED IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION TAG. THIS LOCATION WAS OBSCURED FROM VIEW BECAUSE A PLASTIC WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINES AND EXTERIOR OF THE FRAME. I BELIEVE THE PLACEMENT OF THE PLASTIC CONDUIT CONCEALS VISION / INSPECTION OF CORRODING BRAKE LINES. I BELIEVE UNPROTECTED STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL ABRASION AND MOISTURE BETWEEN THE UNPROTECTED BRAKE LINE AND THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN BRAKE LINE FATIGUE AND WATER BASED CORROSION RESULTING IN HOLES AND FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. I NEVER OBSERVED THE OPERATION OF THE "BRAKE" ICON LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE MESSAGE PANEL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN AN URBAN AREA I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING DOWN MORE THAN USUAL AND WENT DOWN EVEN MORE AS I WAITED FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND FOUND THE LEVEL ABOUT AN INCH LOWER THAN NORMAL. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW A SMALL POOL OF BRAKE FLUID FORMING ON THE DRIVE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. FURTHER SEARCH SHOWED THAT A BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AND ALL THE LINES WERE BADLY CORRODED. I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND CAREFULLY DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER ADDING FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR. THE DEALER CONFIRMED MY FINDING AND INDICATED THAT ALL THE LINES WERE SO BADLY RUSTED THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY FAIL SOON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT THEY ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE LINES IN THEIR CURRENT CONDITION. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE LINES WAS $1,200. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF HOWEVER, THE ABS CONTINUED IN OPERATION, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE BRAKE LINES ON MY SUBURBAN WERE ROTTED (I DID NOT KNOW THIS UNTIL AFTER) AND THEY RUPTURED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TOWING A TRAILER. I ONLY AVOIDED A CRASH BY DOWNSHIFTING AND USING MY EBRAKE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE FROM SEARCHING THE WEB AND I AM SHOCKED THIS IS NOT ALREADY A RECALL. *JS