2005 Chevrolet Tahoe: brake failure

Filed Sep 15, 2014 · Brakes · 96,000 miles · MN

When I was getting ready to back out of my driveway and pressed the brake to put the car into gear the brake felt loose. As I got the to bottom of my short driveway I pushed my foot on the brake and the pedal went to the floor luckily I was able to stop. I brought the truck into the be looked at and they advised me that my break line had been rusted through. I bought this vehicle 1 month and 10 days ago. I then did a search online and found that this is a pretty common problem and that there is even a repair kit; however, there hasn't been a recall so now the cost is on me to fix. 365.00 per month car payment and now near 1500 dollar car repair.

Filed Sep 8, 2014 · Brakes · 110,000 miles · MN

Brake line blew while driving my 2005 z71 chevy tahoe. Had no clue until I tried to stop and my pedal went all the way to the floor not stopping my truck and I ran a red light. Thank-god I hit no other car or person! There was no warning - no lights - nothing indicating this was going to happen, not even a little drip of brake fluid before the burst line. I take my truck in for it's free oil changes every 5000 miles. Dealership tells me every time all the things that need repair or will need attention soon. After getting under my truck and looking at my brake lines, I was so scared! Holly crap they are nothing but rust. This didn't happen over night. Why does the dealership tell me I need new windshield wipers or belts - (3 years later I still have the same belts and they are still fine) but neglect to tell me my brake lines are severely rusted and could blow at anytime resulting in brake loss! That should be discussed with me before my windshield wipers!!!!! The mechanic at the dealership had to know my brakes lines were this bad - why was nothing said??? Now looking online I see I am not the first person this has happened to nor will I be the last. I cannot believe that gm considers this to be normal wear and tear. It's dangerous and could kill someone. Gm is not concerned about our safety - it's about the money for gm. Settlements are cheaper than a total recall - that's until deaths do occur and I bet my life on it a death will happen because of these bad brakes lines.

Filed Feb 25, 2014 · Brakes, Transmission · 115,200 miles · MA

After attending my nephew's high school basket ball game, my daughter and I returned to the tahoe in the school parking lot. I started the vehicle and put the transmission into drive and started to roll when the brake pedal went to the floor. I engaged the emergency brake to stop and thankfully stopped the tahoe before hitting anyone or any other vehicle in the lot. Looking at the owners manual and the dash lights, I realized the vehicle needed to be towed. The mechanic informed me the brake line running along the frame rail to the rear was corroded and needed replacing. After completing this task and while bleeding the system a front line went for the same reason, corrosion. I had all lines (front & back) replaced at a cost of over $800. Talking with the mechanic, it appears to be a common occurrence in the tahoe, silverado and similar gm vehicles.

Filed Aug 5, 2013 · Brakes · 53,120 miles · NY

My wife was driving our 2005 chevy tahoe when she lost the brakes. She said the pedal went to the floor. She was not in any traffic but the car did not stop very quickly. I then drove the car very carefully to our local service station about 2 miles away. The mechanic found that one of our rear bake lines had rusted through causing all hydraulic fluid to be lost. The rear brakes had completely failed. After looking under the vehicle with the mechanic, he showed me all the rust under this car. He also pointed out that the other brake line were also very rusted and could fail. I replaced both rear brake lines with material that will not rust. It was a very labor intensive job and also very costly. Please let other people that own this type of vehicle to check their brake lines. This could have been a very serious situation if my wife had been traveling fast on a highway. The car only has 53k miles and has been garaged for many years. It amazing at how much rust is on this vehicle. I hope gm will use material that does not rust in future automobiles like this!!!

Filed Mar 30, 2012 · Airbags, Brakes · 80,000 miles · NY

The "service stability" warning message displayed, ABS warning light, tc tire deflation, and brake failure light. The first failure occurred on or about february 13, 2012. I took the vehicle to the chevrolet dealership immediately and the repair was completed by march 27, 2012 after 3 attempts. The computer tester was alleged to show that the ebcm had failed and was replaced. This did not clear the defect and the same warnings continued when ever the car was washed or became wet from rain. The defect was said to be in the wire that powered the ebcm in the proximity of the firewall. The wire was stated to be frayed. When the wire was replaced the problem was corrected. I am concerned that the wire may have been damaged from abrasion near the firewall combined with corrosion from road salt. This could have lead to failure of the ABS, airbags, and stability control at a time when it is most needed.

Filed Jan 4, 2012 · Brakes · 105,000 miles · DE

Brakes failed due to rust in the brake lines causing them to rupture without any warning while vehicle was in motion. Luckily accident was avoided due to low speed on a residential road. Young children were traveling in the vehicle. All brake fluids were immediately lost and brake pedal dropped all the way to the floor and did not slow vehicle at all. Dash warning lights did not give any forewarning! Vehicle is only 7 years old.

Filed Apr 4, 2010 · Brakes · 480,000 miles · NH

Total brake failure in a 2005 chevy tahoe due to rusted brake lines only 48,000 miles.