There is a gm recall #05068c- product safety- front wheel speed sensor corrosion. The 2002 avalanche is listed, but my 2003 is not. I live in indiana, one of the states listed in the recall. My 2003 avalanche has this failure and should be covered by the recall.
2003 Chevrolet Avalanche brakes complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 81, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but the brakes failed to respond. The contact discovered that brake fluid was leaking and the brake lines were corroded and fractured. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,053.
Driver's side front to back brake line corroded and leaked all brake fluid causing an inability to stop. The brake indicator light did not come on until all fluid was gone and normal braking ability was loss. Upon further inspection all brake lines are severely corroded.
While leaving a funeral in near sweetwater tn, I applied the brakes and felt pressure and then the pedal dropped to the floor. My wife and two small children were riding with me. After pushing the brake pedal to the floor, I noticed I did have brakes but not power brakes. I pulled over and examined the problem and found leaking brake fluid coming from around the gas tank. With no choice, I had to drive the truck back to kentucky. Appr. 175 miles if not more in heavy traffic on I-75. I know trucks have problems and I know there is routine maintenance but I have never seen the amount of complaints that the brake lines have had on these trucks. I have owned chevy trucks my whole life and have never had a problem with the brake lines. Due to the seriousness of the issue and number of complaints, how is chevrolet issuing a recall.
My brake line split open while I was trying to stop at a light. They are very rusted and have to be replaced.
While pulling my boat on a long decline at 55 MPH, a car in front of me signaled to turn left. I put on my brakes and the pedal eased to the floor board. I told my wife that the brakes are failing. The check brake system alarm did sound, but that does not comfort you when you realize that you are not going to stop before plowing a car in front of you. I was able to swerve to the right to avoid the collision, only due to light traffic and the fact that I was a good distance behind the turning vehicle when the brakes failed. I didn't measure my stopping distance, but it was well over 100 yards. I got out of my avalanche and saw the fluid trail. There is a cluster of 5 brake lines running together by the frame, right at the driver side door and one of those lines broke. They were all severely corroded. I had the truck and boat towed to a local repair shop and they were not surprised. The mechanic told me that he had repaired 5 chevy trucks with the same issue in the past week. We were very fortunate to avoid a serious accident.
On november 11, 2013 I was backing my 2003 chevrolet avalanche out of my driveway in maryland when the brakes failed. As I was stopping, the brake pedal suddenly lost all resistance. I tried pumping the brakes but could not produce any braking action. I shifted to neutral and used the parking brake to stop. I towed the vehicle to a gm dealer, who said the metal brake lines had corroded and ruptured. I was charged $1150 to repair the brakes. Ten months (sept 5, 2014) and less than 500 miles later I again lost all braking power, this time while traveling at 5 MPH leaving a parking lot near a carwash. I returned to the same dealer who said the steel brake lines have corroded. His estimate is $2200 for repairs.
One day while driving at 55mph the truck just shut down. Everything electrical completely shut off. Luckily I was able to control it. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it. It was fine but did it again when I stopped at a stop sign. It continued to do it but then just stopped. Check engine light goes off and on all the time when I accelerate up a hill. The lights on the dashboard are dim. Everything on the mirror comes and goes. It will go months without working and then comes back on. The suspension is terrible. Feels like it's going to shake the wheels completely off the truck when I hit even a small bump in the road. I've almost lost control several times due to it shaking so hard. Latch on the tailgate broke off and needs to be replaced. Rotor on back completely broke and had to be replaced.
I was driving my 03 avalanche like any other day and as I was pulling into the gas station to fill up, the brakes went to the floor. Instinctively I put it into 1st gear and engaged the emergency brake. Come to find out, the brake lines were rusted out on the passenger side front. I examined all lines and they seem to all be rusty. Only a matter of time before they break too.
I was leaving the fish and game club in londonderry nh when I went to stop the pedal went to the floor I pushed harder it finally stopped. I pumped the pedal a few times some pressure built up I continued to the corner where a stop sign was hit the brake again and this time the pedal went to the floor again but would not stop I put on the emergency brake the truck started to slow but I was on a hill as I aproaced the next stop sign going about 15 MPH with the emergency brake on I had to put the truck in reverse to stop from traveling in to through traffic. I towed the vehicle and found 3 brake lines had burst one in the front and two in the rear. I have taken good care of this truck and has no rust except for the brake lines. I feel this is a major safety issue and should be looked in to. I hope this will be sent to warn other owners of this issue. I have over 2 million miles driving and have lost brakes before but never this bad. I feel that gm should at least warn owner of this potential problem. I just had my truck inspected in may and this was not warned to me. I looked in to this issue online and found many complaints gm should acknowledge this problem and warn customers and compensate them as well. I understand the truck is 11 years old but I had a 1987 sabb until 2006 and never had this issue. My friends ford from 2000 we take to northern maine and has 160000 miles does not have rusted lines. I think gm used inferior material. Thanks eric vaughan
At a stop light, with the brakes applied, a loss of pressure was felt. Letting off and reapplying the brakes lead to the brake pedal traveling to the floor / front of driver cab. At the point there was no braking pressure felt and the truck began to travel at idle speed into the intersection. Two failed attempts at applying the brakes lead to the brake warning light going off, after the initial failure. Applying the parking brake yield similar / failed results. The truck was safely steered into a parking lot and put in park to bring the vehicle to a rest. The engine was turned off and let rest a period of 5 minutes and then turned on and brakes tested while in park. No break pressure was felt at the pedal. Brake fluid was observed under the drivers side front portion of the truck. No bystander injuries or property damage occurred. Aside from the driver, a fourteen month old was the only other occupant, neither sustained any injuries.
I was driving on i95 traveling at a speed of 60 MPH when I tried to apply the brakes and the brake pedal went completely to the floor. I had absolutely no brakes. Lights on the dash board stated service brakes. Luckily there were not any cars directly in front of me. I was able to drift onto the side of the highway and waited for my vehicle to come to a stop. After coming to a stop, I noticed a large puddle of fluid under the driver side door. My brake line had ruptured. Evidently this is known problem with gm trucks and is a great safety hazard. I was very fortunate that my entire family was not in the car like the previous weekend. I took my vehicle to my mechanic and he informed me that all 4 brake lines were corroded. This should never happen on a part that is essential to stopping your vehicle. Gm claims that you still have brakes when this happens. That is totally not true. I had absolutely no brakes. Gm needs to take responsibility for this problem.
While exiting hwy 75 the breaks failed on my 2003 chevy avalanche. The first application of the breaks the pedal went 3/4 of the way to the floor, the second time the pedal went the the floor I pumped the pedal several times until the pressure built up enough to finally grab. I was half way thru the intersection when the truck stopped, with oncoming traffic approaching I made a left turn to continue under the overpass and the stoplight was red I couldn't stop and went thru that as well. I used my emergency break to finally stop the truck and was able to pull into a gas station and park the truck. This happened so fast and without any warning I never had any indication that I was having any break issues. This could have gone so wrong. The truck is in the shop and so far they have found all four brake lines severely corroded.
Ruptured rear brake line under driver side door due to extreme rust of lines. Inspection reveals all the brake lines are showing signs of extreme rust, which should not happen for an 11 year old truck. By the grace of god, I was in my driveway when the brake pedal went to the floor and not driving on the roads at any speed. Why the risk of using substandard materials for brake lines? Why not use stainless steel brake lines?
While driving home at roughly 35 MPH I attempted to stop and when I pressed on the brake pedal the pedal went to the floor and the on board computer system came on and set check brake system. I was able to pump the brake and get some pressure but I could here a hissing sound anytime I pressed the pedal. I was within two miles of the house and was able to get home. My husband looked at the brake system and there was a hole from a rusty section of the brake line over the top of the chassis in the drivers side rear area. Every time you step on the pedal it would spray a steady stream of brake fluid.
Corroded steel brake line developed a hole and leak of brake fluid. This LED to inability to brake adequately to stop. All 4 brake lines need replaced due to severe corrosion. There appears to be a large number of complaints about these and similar gm vehicles experiencing brake line failures.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche 1500. The contact stated that the brake pedal became stuck to the floorboard while attempting to reverse. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic, who found that the brake lines were corroded and leaking brake fluid. The brake lines were replaced. The failure and current mileage was 59,353.
Brakes failed due to a rusted brake pipe while driving home from work. Luckily I was on my street and traveling just under 25 MPH. After inspection of the under side of vehicle I discovered not one but, two leaks. I do expect some issues with a vehicle my age and mileage but, not a total brake failure. I did contact the dealer for replacement parts just to learn that the parts have been discontinue.
Approaching stop light, hit brakes, and pedal went all the way to the floor, there was no brake at all. No one was in front of me at light , so I turned right and coasted into parking lot. Had truck towed home, found rusted and split brake line under drivers door, the other 3 lines in the bundle were almost gone too, just moving another one caused it to break open, so .as of today , I replaced the front4 lines.and plan on doing the rear this week... The entire under- carriage is rusty, way more than normal, I restore ars and have a 1951 chevy, that's original frame and looks new.. I compare trucks every time I get a chance,,,and this chevy is baddd. Love the truck, just hate replacing, brakes, rotors, lines all the time...rear backing plates have been. Rusted away, since 2005.
Experienced loss of braking power due to a leak in one of the front metal brake lines. Took vehicle to a repair shop who informed me all the metal brake lines were highly corroded and needed to be replaced. I contacted jim mckay dealership and was informed these brake lines are on back order with no indication of when parts would be available. Repair shop has to custom make all brake lines with an estimate of $1,500 - $1,600. Brake lines should not corrode, this is defective material. Lines should be stainless steel, if not, coated at a minimum.
Vehicle was moving at approximately 50 miles per hour and brakes were applied to prepare for a right turn. At first the brakes were beginning to be effective, but sudden loss of hydrological pressure resulted in brake pedal traveling all the way to the floor and little to no braking power was available. Indicator lights and bells illuminated indicating that the braking system needed serviced. Vehicle coasted to a stop and was placed into park. Brake fluid was visible on the passenger side front wheel well.
Brakes went out while pulling a trailer. Went through an intersection. Thank god it was early on a sunday morning. Brake line had a completed rusted and burst. When looking to repair, the entire brake line was rusted and blistered. All other lines were about to burst. Had to replace all brake lines on this vehicle. I have owned many vehicles and much older and higher mileage vehicles and never had to replace brake lines. This is ridiculous how bad the lines were. I am the original owner of this vehicle and I know it was well taken care of.
Tl* the contact 2003 chevrolet avalanche 1500. While driving 35 MPH, the brakes failed. The contact stated the vehicle coasted until it eventually stopped. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who confirmed that the brake lines were covered with rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 76000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet avalanche 1500. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the brakes failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed as corrosion of the brake line. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the incident and he was advised to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Lost brakes. Line from front of truck to back brakes ruptured. Had to use emergency brake to stop. All brake lines are in rusted condition and need replacement.
Update to complaint 10538262 after reviewing other complaints with similar issues I forgot to put in key data. I had a brake line failure on the drivers side left front and forgot to list that in my original complaint and also lines up with the current open item: the federal safety agency action number ea11001 all the brakes lines need to replaced since they are rusty, falling apart and very brittle. Lucky this issue to not occur when I using the truck earlier in the day when my daughter was in the truck. While attempting to move an unloaded trailer in my yard, I began to backup to the trailer applying the brakes since I was lined up to the trailer, applied the brakes to stop and the brakes went to the floor and the message flashed stating brake issue and lots of bells going off. Incident occurred 8/23/13, had truck towed to garage since it took 10x the distance to try to stop the truck and was not safe to drive. Since the truck is at the garage waiting on parts I do not have actual mileage but has approximately 91k miles. I did not have any other warnings and had new brake pads and rotors installed in the last two months.
While attempting to move an unloaded trailer in my yard, I began to backup to the trailer applying the brakes since I was lined up to the trailer, applied the brakes to stop and the brakes went to the floor and the message flashed stating brake issue and lots of bells going off. Incident occurred 8/23/13, had truck towed to garage since it took 10x the distance to try to stop the truck and was not safe to drive. Since the truck is at the garage waiting on parts I do not have actual mileage but has approximately 91k miles. I did not have any other warnings and had new brake pads and rotors installed in the last two months.
Applied brakes, pedal went to the floor - truck could not stop - ran into bushes on side of road.
I was driving at a speed of 50 MPH approaching stopped traffic, when I applied the brakes, the brake peddle went to the floor and the vehicle do not slow down. The brake light came and I applied the emergency brake to slow to a stop. I then had the vehicle towed to a repair shop where they told me that all four of the brake linings were rusted through. I hunt and fish with this vehicle and go off road a lot, this is why I purchased this vehicle in the first place. To have a off road vehicle manufactured with brake linings that rust through is criminal.
Driving went to stop didn't have any brakes I replace all the brake lines and replace bumper lights cost about 4, 000.00 the ABS went out which is not fix.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history