Complete brake failure while pulling a 10000 pound trailer in camp ground. The brake lines under the drivers side broke appeared to be corrosion. Truck was towed to repair location. All brake lines were replaced, cost $ 950 dollars.
2003 GMC Sierra 2500 brakes complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 73, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Ii put new brake calipers on my truck today and had my wife pumping the brake peddle as I bled the brakes and got to the last caliper rears then the 2 fronts when she told me the brake peddle was not holding like it was , and then smoke came out from under the truck and I looked underneath & seen brake fluid everywhere below drivers door the fluid under pressure blew over against the hot engine components as u have to run engine when bleeding the lines lucky I guess it did not catch fire, but after I got on the internet trying to find a replacement I found that is a common problem , I did see the other lines looked bad also the fuel lines looked the same good thing it happened in the driveway at home . Maybe would have been better off if it burnt down , g.m should fix all of these problems with these trucks on their dime as much as these trucks cost. !!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500 hd. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed. The vehicle eventually came to a stop and was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that both rear brake lines were corroded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 08/12/2014
Driving to work one day, a car in front of me suddenly stopped to turn left. I hit my brakes and felt a "pop" and the brake peddle went straight to the floor, no brakes. I was traveling about 55 MPH so at that point, I am a 55 MPH spear on wheels. I swerved to the right and drove across someone's driveway and through their yard. This weekend was the city wide garage sales, and thankfully, these folks were not having a sale in their driveway or yard, or else this could have been a terrible accident. The only rust issue with this truck is the brake lines and fuel lines. If your lines rust before your body rust, then I feel there is a serious design flaw. If it was something else rusting then it wouldn't be as big of a deal. But when you are talking brake lines, it is just a matter of time before this flaw causes another catastrophic brake failure, leading to an accident involving serious injury or death. A 10 year old truck should not have this problem. I have owned vehicles that were 15, 20 years old and have never had to replace brake lines. Someone's life is worth so much more than a cheaply made brake line.
I was driving my 03 sierra, approaching a stoplight at a busy intersection when I applied the brakes. The truck began to slow at first but then the peddle immediately went completely to the floor. I began to pump it but there was no response. I was heading toward the intersection, the light was red, with busy cross traffic. The street I was on is narrow and steep and I began to pick up speed. I shifted the trans into the lowest gear and stepped on the emergency brake. The truck finally came to a stop in the middle of the intersection, as oncoming cars luckily avoided hitting me. When I went to my mechanic to arrange to have the truck towed, he knew immediately what the problem was. He told me, sight unseen, that the brake line under the driver's side had ruptured. Later, upon inspection, he was correct. He also told me that this was a very common problem with that year. He replaced the line and I thought that had solved the problem; until two days ago. Again, I am driving down a hill and the same thing happened. I was towing a very large trailer this time and the emergency brake had little affect. Luckily, there was little traffic and I was able to ride it out without incident. I have since discovered that this is a problem with not only the 03 year but 4 or 5 years prior also. Another mechanic told me that the entire system of lines should be replaced since gm used a uncoated steel which begins to be compromised within just a few years where salt is heavily used in this area. It is obvious that gm used uncoated steel instead of coated or stainless to save a few dollars. Had my 17 year old son been driving, the outcome could have been disastrous. This is only one of many problems I have had with this truck. Another is erroneous speedometer readings. I will address these in another post.
I was driving down the road when my brake peddle went to the floor, I had to use my emergency brake to stop my vehicle. Luckily I swerved to avoid traffic in front of me and was able to stop safely. Upon having my truck towed, my mechanic showed me that my brake line from my master cylinder had rusted out causing brake failure.
I cross the route 18 on massachusetts when the brake is completely gone almost involved in accident.
I had stopped at a gas station and when I left I was going approximately 35 miles per hour when I put pressure on the brakes and the brake lines ruptured . Was able to get to a repair shop and they said that the lines had rusted through. All lines had to be changed,
Going down a hill approaching a "t" intersection I pressed the brake and went to floor, tried pumping nothing so I put the truck in 3rd gear and then 2nd and shut off my lights to see if any cars where coming into "t" . I need to turn left, luckily no cars made it thru. But I had to cross a hwy before getting home. I did the same thing went from d to 3rd to 2nd, again no cars. Was very lucky.
While driving up to an intersection I applied the brakes and the pedal dropped to the floor, no brakes. The cross traffic was approaching at 50 MPH, and my road stopped so I had to make a left or right. Luckily, by some miracle the oncoming traffic just missed slamming into me. I have never received anything from gm asking for me to have the brake lines checked, even though I see online that I am far from alone with this problem. I see you started investigating this issue in 2010 - why haven't you done anything about this? I was almost killed and no one is warning owners of gm trucks I guess when the government owns part of gm they don"t have to worry about recalls....... The consumer stated the reason the brakes failed, were due to rusted out brake lines.
As I began backing out of my drive way my brake peddle went to the floor and I had a rapid decrease in braking power. Upon investigation I noticed brake fluid leaking from the brake lines right above the frame rail on the driver side. If this happened while driving it could have LED to injuries or fatalities especially when such a large and heavy truck suddenly loses braking power.
Slowing down approaching a stop lite ,applied brakes was a shudder of anti lock and pedal went down to floor. Had to apply emergency brake to avoid a crash.
Was driving down road at speed limit, hit brakes, rear brake line burst (was severely rusted). I was unable to stop vehicle and proceeded through a red light at a busy intersection with my 2 year old on board in his car seat. How we both made it out of that incident unscathed is amazing. I was unable to stop and had to pull off to the shoulder and hit the parking brake. It took my son a good 2 months before he was able to rid himself of fear and anxiety due to what happened.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500 hd. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, he attempted to decelerate and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who inspected the brakes and noticed there was a hole in the brake line that caused a leak. The mechanic stated that he needed to replace the entire brake line. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 99,075. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500 hd. The contact stated that while traveling 20 MPH, he attempted to stop and the brake pedal failed. The brake pedal could not be fully depressed. The contact was able to slow the vehicle to a stop and merge to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was determined that the brake lines were completely rusted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 108,500 and the current mileage was 108,505. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500 hd. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact depressed the brakes and the brake pedal abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The tow truck driver noticed that brake fluid was leaking onto the rear axle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500 hd utility truck. The contact stated that while traveling 30 MPH, the brakes became inoperable. The contact was able to merge off road where the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed that the brake lines and brake pressure control module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were not available. The VIN was not available.
During a tire rotation at costco , they discovered brake fluid leaking from the brake lines. Upon a further investigation ,the brake lines are leaking and found to be rusted out. I have been using the vehicle to tow a 2010 air stream and thank god no accident or injury has occurred.
Applied brakes brake light came on along with brake system service needed lost pressure on pedal and all lost fluid still had small amount of braking (brake lines corroded and leaked out fluid ,lines should have been made from stainless steel not cheap steel.)
Trip from long island new york to freeport maine. Traveling 65-70 MPH during trip on highway 95. Arrived in freeport. Checked into hotel. Went out to truck 2 hours later with the intention of attending an event. Stepped on brake, started truck, brake pedal went to the floor. Pumped the brake pedal but it would not recover from the floor. Checked under truck for leaks and found badly rusted brake lines had burst releasing copious amounts of brake fluid. The truck was towed to sears auto department who had to rebuild the entire brake system from the master cylinder to each wheel. Sears had to replace brake lines and calipers since the calipers were also so rusted that they could not be bled. If these lines had burst on the highway; my wife, my son and me would have possibly been killed or severely injured and others on the road may have suffered the same fate. I have never seen this type of rust on any auto I have ever owned. This truck has never been exposed to salt water. Roads are salted in winter on long island. (as an aside, I had to replace the front bumper prior to starting the trip because it had rusted through from behind. It seems that inferior materials were purchased by gm).
Front brake lines failed on boat ramp on 9/15/2010 rear brake lines failed on 7/20/2011, transmission lines fail on 5/10/2012 I am sure gas lines are next. Truck is a complete rust bucket underneath.
Took truck to dealer for other work and they reported to me the line was leaking and about to rupture. I have 2 jeep products , both in the late 80's with original brake lines and they are fine. You would think that a "younger vehicle would be up to the task of lasting longer than 9 yrs. I've owned older cars and trucks and have never seen anything like this, even my 1964 chevy c-10 didn't have this problem and I sold it in 1991 . A co-worker bought my old chevy and at the 30 year mark for it, the brake lines were fine. I believe that along with the manufacture the government should be held accountable also, they allow this subpar equipment on the roads and highways to carry our kids and families, do you think obama's kids would be subjected to danger in this manner. If the director of the federal safety agency had a failure of this caliber he or she'd be all over this demanding and enforcing a recall .
Driving down driveway brake pedal went to floor ran into snow bank unable to stop.
Total brake failure. Discovered brake lines had rusted in several locations through and all needed and were replaced by dealer.
Brake pedal went to floor at 10 MPH from failed brake line, due to excess corrosion on brake lines.
Brakes failed to engage, I took it to a gm dealer and upon investigation found a corroded brake line that had failed. As they investigated further they found that all the brake lines were corroded and had to be replaced.I have been a mechanic most of my adult life and have never ever heard of corroded brake lines on a 9 year old truck. This is insane I would like to know why there hasn't been a recall on this very important safety issue????? What happens when someone is killed?????? I have no problem taking this to the supreme court. When does money take the place of the most basic safety feature known to the american auto makers???? I want everyone to know that this is known problem with many gm auto's and trucks that everyone is aware of and nothing is being done to correct it!!!!!! How do they sleep at night?
Many components under the truck are severely rusted. Two brake lines failed in august 2011 due to rust. The rest are ready to fail soon. The power steering line rusted out this month (december). Rust at sensors of ABS system causes erratic ABS operation.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500 hd. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and applying the brake they extended to the floor. He also saw smoke underneath the hood. He drove into a parking lot, checked under the hood and notice that the brake line was broken and sprayed fuel on top of the exhaust. The vehicle was driven to his home. The contact notified the dealer who stated there were no recalls related to the failure and the vehicle will be repaired at the owners expense. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Corroded brake lines.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving the service brake light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure within the brake and fuel lines. The brake and fuel lines were corroded which caused the brake fluid and fuel to leak. A complaint was filed with the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 76,000.
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