1996 Chevrolet Tahoe SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEED STARTED INTERMITTENT NOW CONSISTENT IN UNWANTED ACTIVATION RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THERE IS A CURRENT CAMPAIGN FOR 1999-2002 THAT SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 1996 VEHICLES. CAMPAIGN NO. 05V379000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HIS RESIDENCE AND THE CONTACT COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

MY '96 CHEVROLET TAHOE 2-DOOR SUFFERED COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS WHEN A BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE IN-SERVICE. THE TAHOE, USED PRIMARILY IN ILLINOIS IN THE WINTER, SUFFERED THE FAILURE IN MAY OF 2008 WITH ABOUT 102,000 MILES ACCUMULATED AND WITH NO WITH NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE. THE BRAKE LINE SIMPLYBURST/ FAILED COMPLETELY WHEN THE LINE (MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL BELOW THE RADIATOR) COMPLETELY FAILED, LEAVING BLOWN OUT GAP ABOUT AN INCHLONG IN THE LINE. THE TRUCK WAS SLOWING TO A STOP SIGN WHEN THEN LINE FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, SO THERE WAS NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IMMEDIATELY TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR ESTIMATION AND REPAIRS (NOT A CHEVY GARAGE). THESE REPAIRS REQUIRED COMPLETE VEHICLE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT (EXCEPT TO THE FRONT ANT-LOCK UNIT) AND COMPLETE SYSTEM COMPONENT REPLACEMENT (EXCEPT FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER). I THOUGHT THE FAILURE WAS RANDOM UNTIL I RECENTLY SAW AN ARTICLE ON THE TOPIC IN PRINT BY JERRY HIRSCH, STAFF WRITERFOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, BUSINESS SECTION WHERE OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES ON SIMILAR MODELS WERE NOTED. THE REPAIRS COST CLOSE TO $2,000 AND, IF THERE ARE OTHER CAMPAIGNS ON THIS MODEL, I WOULD LIKE TO RESEARCH THEM TO DETERMINE IF POOR DESIGN BY GENERAL MOTORS/CHEVROLET DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS AND HOW TO GO ABOUT ADDING MY VEHICLE TO THAT CAMPAIGN. I HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE REGISTERED IN MY NAME AND CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET, SO MY CONTACT INFORMATION WOULD HAVE BEEN ON-FILE WITH GM SUCH THAT PROPER NOTIFICATIONS COULD HAVE BEEN MADE. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WAS PART OF GMS FAULTY DESIGN HISTORY OR THAT ANY CAMPAIGN WAS UNDERWAY PERTAINING TO BRAKE LINE FAILURES UNTIL I SAW THE ARTICLE PRINTED BY MRJERRY HIRSCH AS NOTE D ABOVE. *TR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE COMING ON FREQUENTLY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKES FAILED, AND A COLLISION OCCURRED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. . UPON HITTING THE BRAKES THEY PULSATED. *AK

THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET, AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE PAD WAS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK (THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR) *SC

AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH I APPLIED BRAKES ON THE APPROACH OF A STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN ABOUT TWO INCHES AND THEN CATAPULTED UP VARY QUICKLY. AT THIS POINT THE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD. WHICH IF THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED IT SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME WITH HYDRAULIC MANUAL BRAKES, AND IT DID NOT. I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AFTER ROLLING THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH. I REPLACED THE VACUUM BOOSTER AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. WAS CALLED AND A CASE WAS OPENED #C06749958. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE LIKE IT FAILED, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF LIFE ISSUE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND AT THIS POINT NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761073

I SENT THE FOLLWING TO GM>>>I OWN A 96' CHEVROLET TAHOE. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN. MY BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PADS, SO I HAD THEM REPLACED, THEN MY ROTORS WARPED... SO I HAD THEM REPLACED ALSO, MY BRAKES STILL FELT SOFT SO I KEPT DRIVING IT LIKE THAT FOR ABOUT 5000 MILES, NEXT I'M DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD AND COME TO A STOP. I TAKE OFF FROM THIS COUNTRY ROAD AND SEE A DEER, I HIT MY BRAKES AND NOTHING!!!! THE BRAKE FADE IS SO BAD THAT I GO BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. HE SUGGESTS A MASTER CYLINDER (OUCH) SO I FOOLISHLY GIVE HIM MY MONEY. NEXT DAY I'M GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND AGAIN MAJOR BRAKE FADE. I AM REALLY UPSET AND HONESTLY FRIGHTENED OF YOUR VEHICLE. IN READING SOME OF THE NEWS GROUPS ON THE INTERNET, I FIND THAT MANY FOLKS HAVE CONTACTED GM AND ALERTED YOU TO THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE FIX OUR BRAKES BEFORE ONE OF US AND/OR AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. PLEASE HELP SAVE LIVES, DON'T BE LIKE FORD AND DENY AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH YOUR 92-99 TAHOE, SUBURBAN, AND PICKUPS.*AK

ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. NO INDIACTIONS OF EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS IE. ABS DASH LIGHT, BRAKES IN GOOD CONDITION, VEHICLE JUST NYS SAFETY INSPECTED.*AK

THE DISCS AND THE CYLINDER HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. IF WE DRIVE IN THE NEARBY SMOKEY MOUNTAINS THE BRAKES BEGIN TO SMOKE SOON AFTER STARTING DOWNHILL WHERE MORE BRAKING THAN USUAL IS REQUIRED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE GMC DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE TAHOE THAT THE BRAKES ON THE 1996 VEHICLE WERE TOO SMALL AND HAVE SINCE BEEN UPGRADED ON LATER VEHICLES. YET THEY CHARGE US TO REPLACE THE BRAKE DISCS OR CYLINDER. WE BASICALLY CAN NOT DRIVE IN ANY MOUNTAIN AREAS WITH JUST PASSENGERS, MUCH LESS PULLING ANYTHING.*AK

ACCIDENT RON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A SUDDEN STOP IN TRAFFIC. WE WERE A LEAST AT AN EIGHT SECOND FOLLOWING DISTANCE. WHEN WE TRY TO STOP THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE LOCKED UP. OUR TRUCK SLAMMED INTO A FULL SIZED TRUCK WHICH THEN IN TURN CRASHED INTO A MINIVAN. DAMAGES TOTALED OVER $15,000 THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE.

RIGHT FRONT ROTOR BROKE, REPAIRS WERE MADE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, AND CONSUMER REAR ENDED OTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM BRAKING SINCE 1998. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN AUGUST OF19 99, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER SAID THAT VEHICLE KIND OF SLUGGUSHLY STOPPED. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT FOOT TO THE FLOOR TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL BECOMES FIRM, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. DISTANCE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS / BRAKE SYSTEM; WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. SOMETIMES PEDAL WOULD HAVE TO BE PRESSED DOWN HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED.*AK

BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAIL SINCE OWNERSHIP. MJS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL STIFENS, THEN RELEASES TO THE FLOOR. ALSO CAUSING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. DLR REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTERS.

FRONT DISK BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT IN AS LITTLE AS 12,000 MILES. MY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE GOTTEN 50-70,000 MILES ON A SET OF PADS.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKS IN, CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK-UP. THE BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SPONGY SINCE PURCHASE. *YC *ML

MASTER CYLINDER AND POWER BOOSTER FAILED. NLM

CALIPERS OPERATE IMPROPERLY, CAUSING UNEVEN PAD WEAR/PREMATURE WEAROUT. ONE PAD (ON THE SAME CALIPER) WOULD BE COMPLETELY GONE (DOWN TO RIVETS)AND THE OTHER HAVING MORE THAN HALF ITS LIFE LEFT. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH FRONT CALIPERS. THIS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO REAR SHOES BECAUSE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE NOT FULLY OPETATIONAL AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE PRIMARILY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED PADS FIRST, LATER DID A CALIPER REBUILD KIT, LATER AFTER VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, REFUSED TO REPLACE CALIPERS, OR FIX PROBLEM. I HAD CALIPERS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE (BENDIX CALIPERS). I AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO SEE IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM. HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY NOW REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY(EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW). *AK

THE ABS SEEMS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ERRATICALLY,MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND STOP. YH

BRAKE PEDAL SOFT AND SPONGY, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED (WARRANTY REPAIR). SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN WITH COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE THIS TIME. PEDAL GOES RIGHT TO THE FLOOR.

POWER VACUUM ASSIST BRAKES DEVELOPED A LEAK, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES/AIR ESCAPING,AND BRAKE PEDAL HARDENING. *AK