2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500: brake failure

Filed Mar 14, 2016 · Brakes, Fuel system · 136,000 miles · NC

2 problems: 1- while driving with no warning the brakes failed. After coasting to a stop I noticed a brake line had ruptured at the frame rail under driver area. I was able to crimp brake line with a pair of vice grip pliers and move truck to a safe location for repair. I believe the brake lines used on these trucks to be of such inferior quality that sudden failure is a common occurrence. 2- my truck has dual tanks for diesel fuel and they have worked sporadically for years. I did not see this as a safety issue as much as an inconvenience. However while my truck was idling on a hot summer day I noticed diesel fuel dripping out of the front tank filler cap. Apparently the pump that pumps the fuel from the rear tank to the front tank was receiving a signal to pump even though the front tank was completely filled. It was continuing to pump and leaking the fuel out the filler neck. This seems like a serious safety hazard to me. I do not know if the root of the problem is the float that sticks in the rear tank, the sending units that fail, a wiring ground issue or some other electronic glitch. I do know issues with dual tank duramax diesel trucks are about as common as the truck itself is. After researching online I realized many other owners of my vehicle model have had both of the exact same problems so I thought I should report them.

Filed May 9, 2015 · Brakes · 103,000 miles · IA · crash

Front brake lines failed causing fluid loss and complete loss of brakes. Happened at slow speed, but still was unable to stop before hitting a fixed object

Filed Sep 18, 2013 · Brakes · 68,914 miles · IN · crash

I was coming home from work this evening and was pulling up to the garage and the brakes failed causing me to hit the garage. I was traveling less than 5 MPH. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor and the vehicle would not stop. After getting out of the vehicle found brake fluid all over the driveway. Brake lines was found to be rusted in two in several places after having a friend who is a mechanic come and look at vehicle. He found a couple lines that had exploded thru right under the drivers side seat on top the frame and another one above the fuel tank. After googling what had happened there thousands of complaints with the federal safety agency on this problem with gm vehicles. Why are we paying you people to try and keep the public safe. This is a very ongoing problem with gm vehicles and needs addressed promptly.

Filed Aug 29, 2013 · Brakes · 74,000 miles · OH

Had just hooked up our 38' - 12,000lb fifth wheel and headed out for the weekend. Came to the first stop sign and the brake pedal went to the floor. Luckily got stopped with trailer brakes. After stopping, pumping brakes caused brake fluid to pour out from just in front of the driver's side rear wheel. Upon research when we arrived home, I find that this is an ongoing issue with chevrolet trucks.

Filed Feb 17, 2013 · Brakes · 67,609 miles · VA

Brakes failed. China made steel brake lines rusted out and disintegrated. Could have been killed. Had to get repair to steel brake lines from ABS pump to master cylinder and front calipers. Also make up and replace steel brake line to rear axle and to rear left and right rear calipers. Also had to replace bleed screws in all calipers.

Filed Nov 15, 2012 · Brakes · 99,000 miles · NJ

While driving my chevy silverado 3500 dually at approximately 50 MPH, I had so make a sudden emergency stop. My brake pedal went to the floor with virtually no stopping power for the vehicle. I swerved out of the way to avoid an accident and was very lucky. The truck went directly to the repair shop which has informed me that the brake lines are rusted through and all need to be changed. I called the chevy support number to report this problem and ask about a recall. The rep took the last eight of my VIN number and said there is no known problem with the brakes on this vehicle. I tow heavy equipment with this truck for work, so it is an alarming safety concern for me for the brakes to suddenly not work without warning. I am lucky that nobody got killed due to this problem.

Filed Oct 19, 2011 · Brakes · 54,000 miles · NJ · crash

Brake lines rusted through casing brake failure and a crash. No warning light.

Filed Oct 12, 2011 · Brakes · 79,400 miles · MD

Slowing down to turn into a shopping center when the brake pedal went to the floor. I was not yet committed to the turn lane so I was able to pass the entrance and stop on the side of the road .this is the second failure the first one occurred less than 1000 miles before on 5/23/11 odi #10402905 .the service tech says the line don't look that bad ,and he could not buy replacement lines from chevrolet. I have been lucky twice!

Filed May 26, 2011 · Brakes · 78,300 miles · MD

I was unloading mulch from the bed of truck onto the flower beds in my yard. When I got back into the truck to move to a new spot everything was fine until I went to stop and the brake pedal went to the floor. The truck was only at an idle but the brake wouldn't even slow it down to a walking speed. The parking brake worked fine and the truck came to a stop. I put the rest of the mulching job on hold until the next day until I could figure out what had just happened and how to deal with it. The next day I checked the brake fluid and added almost a quart. When I went to move the truck the brake still went to the floor but I was ready for that and got the truck off of the grass and back out onto the driveway. That was when I saw just how bad it was leaking brake fluid and the truck is still here at my house. I guess I will have it towed somewhere to have the brake line that runs down the left side of the truck to the rear wheels replaced.