2003 Chevrolet Suburban: brake failure

Filed Mar 4, 2020 · Brakes · 180,000 miles · IL

I purchased this vehicle used in october 2019. It has 180,000 miles but is in good overall condition. The problem is not exclusive to this vehicle or even this type of vehicle. The issue is rusty hydraulic brake lines. This problem has plagued older vehicle owners, especially in the rust belt midwest, since hydraulic brakes were invented. Some conscientious manufacturers such as volvo, have switched to a brake line material called cunifer or nicopp, a copper nickel alloy c70600. This material performs like conventional steel lines but without the corrosion problem. I am a ase certified technician,and have been repairing vehicles as well as restoring cars as a hobby for well over 50 years. Over this time period I have blown many brake lines. I have been lucky in that it never happened to me in an emergency stop where damage and or serious injury could have occurred. This latest incident occurred early in the morning at a stop sign in my residential area. There were no other cars or people around. I applied the brakes the vehicle continued moving as the brake pedal went to the floor. Luckily I was able to slow down turn around and slowly move back into my driveway. Since modern vehicles are lasting longer and do to new vehicle costs motorists are keeping their cars longer. The basic american vehicles brake lines have not changed much in the last 50 years,other than some cheap attempts at external coatings. Why not mandate all manufacturers use the vastly better copper nickel lines. It would definitely save lives and injuries not to mention costly vehicle damage.

Filed Dec 11, 2018 · Brakes · 167,500 miles · NH

Re: "g.m. Resists recalling trucks over brake lines", ny times, july 7, 2014 in spite of my 2003 chevy suburban passing new hampshire's mandatory safety inspection in may of 2018, in august of 2018 a brake line burst, resulting in loss of brake function. The line burst at a point below the driver's door and just forward of the ABS modulator, where the lines cross over the top of the frame and are exposed to wheel spray. At the point of failure, the lines are overlaid and obscured by a large bundle of electric wires. The attached photo shows the failure point, with the sheathed wire bundle moved up out of the way. The mileage at the time was approximately 167500. With regard to the federal safety agency determination not to recall "almost 1.8 million full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles from the 1999 to 2003 model years for corrosion-related brake failures", as summarized in the 7/7/14 ny times article, does the federal safety agency's decision to absolve gm of responsibility on this issue also absolve the federal safety agency and/or gm of responsibility to notify owners that they are in grave danger if they are still operating their vehicles with the original brake lines? The federal safety agency should know from their own records that a large number of these vehicles are still on the road. I know because I see them every day. As for gm's excuses: '"g.m. Has resisted recalling the pickups and sport utility vehicles, telling regulators that rusted brake lines are a routine maintenance issue." obrake lines are not a moving part. How are they "maintained"? I have more to say, but you are limiting me.

Filed Mar 7, 2016 · Brakes · 200,000 miles · IL

While driving with my two daughters and husband, we attempted to come to a stop and brake pedal went all the way to the floor, truck would not stop. Luckily we were not going that fast just 20 MPH. Husband diagnosed the problem, no brake fluid. Drove very slowly to local auto store, filled up brake fluid. No change in brakes. Was able to drive slowly home with hazards on. Took to local mechanic, upon inspection, brakes lines completely rusted out! Entire brake line to be replaced, over 2000.00 job!

Filed Jan 4, 2016 · Brakes · 112,000 miles · NJ · crash

While applying my brakes on highway rout 87, near albany ny, the pedal went to the floor and we crashed into the car in front of us. After being towed to a aaa repair facility they told us that the brakes were fine but the steel brake line had blown out and the fluid had leaked causing loss of stoping power without any warning... We spent $890.00 plus a hotel room for one night as we waited for them to make a repair to one brake line. I recently found out all the brake lines are rotted out and need to be replaced. This makes no sense.....there is a clear safety issue here. Please reopen the case and advise a recall before a big SUV like ours hurts someone in a small car because there brake lines failed. They won't know until its to late!!!

Filed Aug 11, 2015 · Brakes · 107,000 miles · MD

While attempting to stop the brake pedal went to the floor I had drive to the shoulder of the road to keep from hitting the car ahead of me. The right front steel hydraulic brake line failed due to rust.

Filed Aug 4, 2015 · Brakes · 125,000 miles · PA

While towing a bass boat and slowing to turn into a driveway, the brake pedal suddenly went to the floor causing me to drive into an open field while attempting to pump brakes to stop. Once stopped I checked to find a large leak in a brake line running along drivers side rear frame. Fortunately I had just driven down a steep curved hill. Additionally, a second failure occurred on 8/3/2015 when driving toward an intersection stop sign. Again the pedal went to the floor. Causing a near miss as the stop sign was driven through when I couldn't stop. This time the drivers front line ruptured. On exam half the lines are clear of rust and half are all rusted obviously from different suppliers. This time all will be replaced.

Filed Jun 25, 2015 · Brakes · 31,000 miles · OH

My brakes failed on an interstate highway in sw ohio in traffic. I avoided an accident by changing lanes abruptly and coasting to a stop on the side of the road. The repair facility indicated that it was the result of a rusted brake line that failed. The repairs cost me $1300 plus the cost of a rental car while the car was repaired. I understood from the feedback of the repair facility that gm is aware or this defect but has not elevated it to a "recall". It is considered to be a "campaign". I was not informed by anyone, including a dealership/ the car is low mileage, but I do live in the ne where the car has been exposed to chemicals on the road. I had the car at a dealership not more than 2 weeks ago for an air conditioning repair. This issue was not reported to me at that time.

Filed Dec 5, 2014 · Brakes · 169,000 miles · VA

Catastrophic brake failure; brake pedal went to the floor with very little stopping power left to the vehicle. Mechanic has advised that all of the brake lines require replacement.

Filed Oct 1, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 85,051 miles · MI · crash

Vehicle was coming to a stop from a speed of approximately 30mph and brakes failed suddenly to bring vehicle to a stop a normal rate. Driver needed to swerve off road to avoid collision. Vehicle crashed into side curve. Not warning sign or light was lit before incident. Clear yellowish fluid drained from underneath vehicle near driver's door.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Brakes · 184,000 miles · FL

Loss of braking power and stopping ability. A certified mechanic told me that this year vehicle had the incorrect braking system installed at manufacture. It is a 5780 pound vehicle (3/4 ton) with 1/2 ton braking system factory installed. On way home from ny state to florida I had less and less stopping power. Brake fluid up to full level. Excessive heat from front wheels. I drove at slower speeds in order to keep a safe distance in front of me in case I needed to stop quickly, which I felt the vehicle could not stop in time to avoid an accident. I have contacted gm to report and ask what can be done. In the interim I have had new rotors and brake pads installed as a stop gap measure. I have been told it is not a permanent fix as the weight of the vehicle requires the 3/4 ton braking system rather than the 1/2 ton system that is on the vehicle. There will be excessive pad and rotor wear as a consequence.

Filed Sep 21, 2014 · Brakes · 72,103 miles · VA

The brakes on my 2003 suburban failed suddenly with no warning as I was taking the exit ramp off the interstate near my house. I brake sharply when a vehicle cut in front of me from the right travel lane into the exit lane, and the brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor. At the moment that happened, the instrument panel chimed continuously and displayed "service brake system". The truck seemed to have no braking power whatsoever, and I had to slow the truck using the emergency brake. I had just driven around 55 miles in heavy traffic on I-95 and the beltway, with traffic often slowing, speeding up, then slowing again, then speeding up again. If this brake failure had occurred then, instead of on the slightly uphill exit ramp off I-66 1/2 mile from my house, it likely would have resulted in a serious crash. After I got the truck home, I saw fluid leaking from the brake line running under the driver's side door. A few days later, I spoke with a service rep at the dealer, who gave me a verbal estimate that replacing just that one brake line would cost around $500, and to replace all of them (which he recommended) would cost around $2000. I had the truck towed in a week or so later and had all of the lines replaced.

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Airbags, Brakes · 50,000 miles · VA · crash · 3 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet suburban. While driving 10 MPH, the brakes failed to respond. Another vehicle, traveling approximately 50 MPH, crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries. The contact stated that two passengers in the other vehicle sustained major injuries. A police report was filed and medical attention was received. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.