2004 GMC Sierra 2500: brake failure

Filed Aug 22, 2017 · Brakes · 48,000 miles · MI

I was traveling south on I-75 highway about 70 MPH, in motion, in northern michigan and had to stop fast when an accident occurred in front of me. I slammed/mashed my foot on the brake pedal only to feel it fall to the floor, the metal hydraulic line failed and I now have no brakes at all!! I began to press on the parking brake and down shift the transmission to assist in the slowing of the vehicle. I also steered around the stopped cars into the side and ditch of the road. I luckily had the right reactions but not all people do or cannot act as fast. This is a dangerous issue with this gmc sierra 2004. Please have it recalled. I had to have the repair shop replace all the metal brake lines as they were corroded. I have never had a vehicle fail its brake lines like this. My vehicle only has 48,000 miles on it and is garage kept super clean.

Filed Mar 18, 2016 · Brakes · 176,395 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 gmc sierra 2500 hd. While driving 10 MPH, the brakes failed without warning. It was diagnosed that all the brake lines needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 176,395.

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Brakes · 102,098 miles · PA

On 2/1/2015, at approximately 11:30 am, I was stopping at my brothers mailbox to get his mail while he was on vacation. When I went to stop at his mailbox, the brake pedal on my truck went to the floor with no resistance on the pedal. I pumped the brakes several times, put the truck in neutral and it came to a gradual stop over an extended braking distance of 20 to 30 feet (which is slightly uphill). There were no lights lit on the dash and the master cylinder was between the maximum and minimum levels on the reservoir, when I examined it after the occurrence. We live on a dirt road without much traffic, so I placed the truck in low range 4wd and drove it the 1/2 mile home. Upon returning home the top brake line which runs along the frame from the anti lock brake block back towards the drivers side rear of the truck had ruptured. The brake fluid in the master never went below the minimum level, so I attempted to refill it to see if I could get any brake pedal pressure back. The pedal went to the floor still after multiple tries with a full master cylinder. The brake line had ruptured where it is attached at a green plastic factory hanger. The brake line was corroded/rusted where it had failed. If I would not have stopped at my brothers mailbox, it is 1 mile down hill on an approximate 12 degree grade to the main road. The intersection at the bottom of the road is a 90 degree, t intersection in a creek bottom, where I am supposed to stop prior to entering the main road. We had just came home on 1/31/2015 from a 8.0 hour round trip to see my son at college through the mountains of maryland and west virginia on I-68 and had driven various major busy highways including I-79, I-68 and I-81. Due to the amount of fuel which we would have used, we decided to take my other son's wrangler on the trip or I may have been sending this email from the hospital if we were lucky.

Filed Jan 9, 2015 · Brakes, Transmission · 140,000 miles · MO

I was leaving a parking lot, and as I hit my brakes, there were no brakes. I limped home, using the e-brake and transmission to keep the truck under control. Upon inspection I found the front brake line rusted and leaking.

Filed Sep 22, 2014 · Brakes · 73,000 miles · NY

This seldom used, well maintained, garaged truck, blew out the brake lines on left side on the frame, under the door, resulting in total brake failure. I had to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. I was on my way to pick up a #9000 boat. If I had that boat behind the truck, it could have killed me, or others on the road. Brake lines are not a normal service part. Replacing all the brake lines is costing me 1300, at a minimum. My neighbor next door has a similar 2004 gmc sierra, with about the same mileage, only his is a 1/2 ton, where mine is 3/4 ton. His truck had the same failure the week before, in the exact same location on the lines. Do a simple search looking for brake failures on these vehicles, and you find that its well documented. This should be a recall before people are killed. There is no way that I should be looking at brake line failure on a 10 year old garaged truck that has a tow capacity of over 10,000 #'s. How should someone detect the integrity of the brake lines to determine when the should be replaced?

Filed Mar 4, 2014 · Brakes · 169,000 miles · KY

Brake pedal went to the floor. Almost impossible to drive like that. Takes over 100x longer to stop a 3/4 ton truck. I found that the brake lines rusted out. I also found several hundred reports of the same things on gm truck online. I also heard you were investigating this issue already. I wanted to make sure I am counted as one of the effected people. I also read where gm does not consider this a safety issue. I disagree. The line from the master cylinder to the ABS unit blew so I had zero brake pressure and pedal. I think this should be recalled as it is a huge safety issue. I have already spent over $1000 and a week trying to fix this and replace all the rusted line. I still do not have the truck back on the road. Thanks

Filed Feb 4, 2014 · Brakes · 98,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 gmc sierra 2500. The contact stated that the brake failed to engage while attempting to apply the brake pedal while driving 35 MPH. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic for inspection that confirmed that the brake lines were corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 98,000.

Filed Sep 17, 2013 · Brakes · 77,610 miles · IN

When attempting to stop, the truck began to stop and then all of a sudden the brake pedal went to the floor. At this point there were no brakes at all. Thankfully no one was in front of me so I was able to coast until the vehicle slowed, and then use the e-brake to slow down enough to turn. Upon further inspection, a brake line had broken.

Filed Sep 5, 2013 · Brakes · 75,000 miles · PA

While traveling on the pa turnpike at approx. 60 MPH, traffic suddenly slowed in front of me. I was pulling our 30 fifth wheel camper at the time. I applied the brake hard had a split second of braking action and then the brake pedal went to the floor. I was able to use the manual trailer brake control to slow the truck some, swerved into the left lane missing the car in front of me by inches and the car to the left of me swerved into the far left lane to avoid hitting me. (three lane highway) I managed to drive the truck to a rest area about a mile down the road using both the trailer brakes and the truck emergency brakes. The cause of the brake failure was that the brake line located under the drivers area had rusted through and ruptured.

Filed Dec 5, 2012 · Brakes · 93,000 miles · PA

Brake lines rusted through. All brake fluid leaked out. No brake system including emergency brake failed. Had to stop vehicle against curb system.

Filed Nov 11, 2012 · Brakes · 126,000 miles · CT

Complete brake failure, when brake line blew out while trying to stop. Prior to hitting car in front, swerved into left turn lane and applied emergency brake.

Filed Sep 18, 2012 · Brakes · 87,000 miles · MD

Leaving work I pulled out from the parking lot and drove about 500 yards. Went to apply brakes and pedal went to the floor. I was able to make it back to my work parking lot and stopped the truck. Noticed that brake fluid was pouring from under the truck in two places. One leak was under the drivers area and the other was in front of the left rear wheel. The place I work has a car lift. Put the truck on the lift and the brake lines were rusted through. The truck has enormous amounts of rust on the frame, suspension, and axles. This truck is not my daily driver. I do not live near the ocean nor do I push snow with it. I have never seen brake lines rust out like this. Gm stated that I had to take it to a dealer for inspection. After reading up on the topic I know gm won't do anything about the lines. I already ordered stainless steel brake lines for the truck and will install them. Hopefully gm will reimburse owner for this expense.