2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Aug 12, 2018 · Brakes · 179,500 miles · OH

The brake lines on my 2003 silverado 1500 are rusting completely out. Two years ago I had to replace a portion of the passengers front brake line because of corrosion. Last year I had to replace the line that goes from the ABS to the rear flexible hose fitting. Today I discovered that a line from the master cylinder is leaking, I haven't gotten underneath to see if it is the front or rear supply line. This is outrageous and is a safety issue. I had a 1968 camaro for 19 years, sold it in 2004 and it's brake lines were in perfect condition never a problem. That's 36 year old and never a problem. I also have a 2006 colbalt ss, it's lines are okay because they have a coating on them that protects the metal. Why doesn't the truck have the same coating? Is someone going to have to die or be seriously injured before a recall is issued. By the way all the failures happen when I was driving down the street, applying the brakes, not when I was standing still.

Filed Jul 21, 2018 · Brakes · 180,000 miles · DE

While driving my wife's 2003 chevy silverado 1500 through the state inspection lanes total failure of the brakes. Upon inspection of the area where fluid was dripping all the brake lines to the ABS were severely corroded. At least one of these lines failed while doing the brake check dumping the whole system on the floor. Thank god it was in the inspection lane and not while my wife was driving with my grandson in the vehicle or my pregnant daughter in law! The vehicle inspector said this is not the first chevy truck that has happened in his lane and I should check for any recalls. This is going to be a very expensive repair as all the lines front to back will need to be replaced and system flushed and filled.

Filed Dec 11, 2015 · Brakes · 190,000 miles · MI

When driving on a city street, brake pedal went to floor - had no brakes, had to rely on parking brake. One brake line, from proportioning valve to ABS unit had blown. All brakes failed. Upon looking, the brake lines running on top of the frame rail near the driver's side front tire were deteriorating from rust.

Filed Jun 11, 2015 · Brakes · 77,038 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado 1500. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal traveled to the floor when it was depressed and failed to stop the vehicle. The brake and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was stopped with the emergency brake and the contact was able to coast over to an emergency lane. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the brake lines were corroded and the vehicle had only front brakes. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for a diagnosed and the stated that all the brake lines and possibly the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,038.

Filed Mar 20, 2015 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · MN

My chevy truck is a 2003 with 52000 miles on it, one owner,the ABS sensors in the front wheels have failed 3 times now, what's scary is unlike other vehicles, the brakes fail when this happens, other vehicles the ABS just shut off, still have brakes, also I am about to put on my 3rd set of back brakes in 52000 miles, still on the first set of front brakes, shortly after putting disc brakes like this on the rear they went back to drums, I also noticed that all the brake lines look pretty bad with corrosion, and the fuel lines, they mounted them right up against the frame so there is no where for water and road crud to drain, being an engineer myself, I can't believe what they have done, the truck looks vary nice until you look under it, all looks like 200000mi 20 yr old junker. The attempts they made to protect the back discs are a joke, the inferior material used for something as important as brake lines and fuel lines is criminal, and then mounting them to something they knew was going to rot prematurely like the frame is unconscionable.......and no recalls on none of these issues is a sure sign nobody cares. One more note my friend had a 2002, and he had his brake lines recalled, 2003 are identical, no recall ?? One more thing, in the first 1000mi my brake booster unit had to be replaced.. I will keep this silverado until it turns to dust , which probably won't be long , I will not buy another. I have always been a gm fan, and have three other gm vehicles, my trust in them and the system to protect consumers has failed miserably. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 13, 2015 · Brakes · 17,700 miles · MN

At less than 18000 odometer miles, the dtc co265-ebcm motor relay circuit had a fault. The three: ABS, brake and service brake now lights came on. On 1/12/2015 the rusted ebcm ground had been removed and cleaned as per the 2003 chevrolet k silverado - 4wd service manual document id:2245394. This procedure didn't solve the brake light problem. The system is apparently the same in 1999 to 2007 silverado yet gm only recalled and replaced components through the 2002 model. It appears to me to be another gm manufacturing cover up and the federal safety agency should be pressing gm to cover this situation. Brakes are good to have in minnesota ABS brakes even better, I paid for them, but they were not provided by gm!

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Brakes · 106,500 miles · MI

Brake line rupture and loss of brakes. Severely rusted brake lines, driver side along frame and leading to ABS module are severely rusted to the point of delamination causing abrupt loss of hydraulic fluid and any ability to stop. Fortunately this rupture happened while maneuvering the truck in my driveway and not while on the road as there would have been no way to stop the vehicle.

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Brakes · 92,000 miles · NC

While driving into work this morning the vehicle in front of me hit there brakes suddenly and I hit my brakes and the truck brakes acted like there was an ABS event and then the brake pedal went to the floor. Luckily I had enough space between us and swerved to the right to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me and barely got stopped. Tried the brakes again and pedal went to the floor and brake warning light came on then a pop-up in the instrument cluster read "service brake system". Completely pulled off the road and began looking under the truck and you can see brake fluid is dripping under the drivers floor panel.

Filed Sep 12, 2014 · Brakes · 90,116 miles · OH

The ABS brakes on my 4wd 1500 failed, without any warning, the brake pedal went to the floor. Fortunately, I was on a 4 lane undivided road with light traffic and was able to get to the shoulder, play contortionist and apply the emergency brake to stop.upon inspection I found brake fluid leaking below the driver door. The recovery vehicle operator told me I was his 3rd truck towed this year for the same problem. I wonder how many brakes lines have failed and have not been reported. With all the news about gm recalls this year, I wonder if this an item I should bring to media attention? Having no brakes is definitely not safe.

Filed Aug 24, 2014 · Brakes · 71,415 miles · MA

I applied the brakes to stop at a stop sign in a parking lot. The brake pedal went to the floor. I went through the stop sign. Another vehicle had to slam on its brakes to avoid hitting me. The emergency brake is useless for stopping the vehicle in this type of situation because its foot pedal is positioned so high you cannot step on it in time. The problem was caused by failure of a rusted through steel brake line that ran from the ABS module to the rear of the vehicle. It provided the hydraulic pressure for both rear brakes.the point where it rusted through is above the gas tank cover and not visible for inspection. I realize that the truck is 11 years old and has been used in the northeast but it does not have any serious body rust and has received reasonable care. It also has relatively low mileage. The "dual diagonal brake system" did not function to provide adequate braking action. It provided no noticeable braking action. This is about as serious a safety defect as I can imagine. I am lucky it happened at low speed and I was not involved in a collision.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Brakes · 300,000 miles · AL

I was approaching the intersection and the light turned yellow I tried to slow down and my brakes went directly to the floor not able to a stop, I speed up little to make it thru the light and pulled over in to a vacant lot to I came to a stop. Then the ABS light came on and service brakes system popped up. I got out my truck was leaking brake fluid from driver side under the driver seat. Brake lines busted.

Filed Aug 18, 2014 · Brakes · 169,000 miles · MD

I was approaching md highway 97 on nicodemus road when I depressed the brake pedal, which went to the floor with no braking effect. Fortunately no vehicle was coming as I could not stop. The parking brake was insufficent for stopping the truck. I finally had to put the transmission in reverse to stop. One of the brake lines near the ABS unit had burst due to rust. All of the lines at that location were rusty. I replaced all lines with stainless steel lines from an after-market supplier. I see that the fuel lines near that location are also rusty and will need to be replaced.