Vehicle was regularly maintained and did not show any air bag codes on a reader. Was told by tow truck driver a new ball joint failed after recently being replaced. This caused me to lose steering around a small bend and lead me to go straight into a guardrail at 55mph. Upon impact of guardrail and a 10foot drop off the air bag never went off upon a 55mph head on impact. I had be rushed to hospital and with request for lifeline but was unavailable. I spent day and half in hospital and had to have 15 stiches put in my face from where impacted the windshield 2 or 3 times. Insurance totaled out the vehicle however still in possession of it and just ems ride to e.r. cost $3600. The contact stated the police report indicates brake failure or defective(unit 1).
GMC Sierra brake failure problems
297 of the 3,904 owner complaints about the GMC Sierra describe brake failure, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 297
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,200
- typical mileage
- 78,946
By model year
Often reported together
ABS 61Spongy pedal 6Grinding brakes 5Wipers 4Power steering loss 3Loss of power 3Won't start 2Premature wear 2
Trouble codes mentioned
C1500 1
What owners say
When I'm driving at a slow speed turning the truck looses all power and the steering wheel jerks out of my hand, stabilitrak is on the display and it says roll down driver window and roll back up! It also looses all power just driving down the road no matter the speed! I have also been stopped at a stoplight and it lost all power wouldn't come back on so I had to get out pop the hood and bang I. The battery box and cables and it started again! Very scary going 75 MPH and it shuts off leaving you no steering no brakes no lights no nothing! Sometimes it says power steering failure sometimes and sometimes it says stabilitrack problem at something about towing! The brakes were also affected no brakes
Reference the complaint number 11306627. The vehicle had the brake recall notice n192268490 complied with at the dealer in november 2019. The vehicle then experienced a brake failure in february 2020. Please add this information to my original complaint.
Vehicle frequently exhibits loss of braking power. When this occurs, something sounding like the ABS systems is sometimes engaged by the vehicle and other times not. While gm claims braking performance meets federal standards, the braking power is greatly reduced when the hydraulic system is engaged and almost non-existent when neither vacuum pump nor the hydraulic system functions. Even if the braking performance meets federal standards, it creates a dangerous situation when the driver is not expecting a failure. A gmc dealership has admitted there is an issue and recommends replacing the vacuum pump but has been unable to source the parts in over two weeks and has no eta for when the part will be available. Meanwhile the braking power loss condition occurs every time the vehicle is driven. During the first instance, I was towing a travel trailer in stop and go traffic down a 7% grade. Had it not been for the trailer brakes, this could have been catastrophic. The second occurrence involved backing into my driveway and nearly causing a collision because of poor braking performance. Now that I fully aware of the issue, the vehicle is driven sparingly (only when absolutely needed) and with great care. The characterization of this issue by gm as not being a grave safety concern is inaccurate. Their inability to source parts in a timely manner is inexcusable.
Was driving my 2017 gmc sierra with my wife and young son. I went to stop at a red light and had no brakes. The brake was very hard to push and made a funny clicking noise when I shoved it to the floor. I was barely able to avoid a collision and pull into a parking lot. I noticed then, that the service brake assist light was on. The truck gave no prior warning that anything was wrong. This was a very scary situation that could have resulted in a terrible accident.
While towing our 42 foot camper with the 1 ton gmc dually truck we had a sudden loss of truck braking causing us to run thru a red signal light. The brake lines had rusted and burst leaving very little braking from truck. The brakes were inspected by a gm dealer only 6 months ago and were deemed ok after a 1200 dollar repair bill to replace rear brakes. . This is a real safety issue with such a catastrophic loss of braking . This truck is made for towing and should never have the braking ever be compromised. The truck has 125000 miles and should have had a more durable design integrated into the brake lines.there also was an enhanced chance for fire since brake fluid was sprayed on engine when brakes failed.
Metal brake lines rusted prematurely @ 29,900 miles causing brake line to rupture. This caused brake failure. Truck had to be towed to dealer who diagnosed rusted brake lines. For future safety all metal brake lines on truck required replacement. Failure occurred in work parking lot so no accident occurred due to failure.
Total brake failure while in motion. Corroded brake line ruptured causing immediate loss of all fluid. Had this happened 5 minutes earlier, I would have been on a four lane highway in bumper to bumper christmas traffic. At 70 years old I can only imagine how catastrophic an accident my reflexes would have generated. The fluid sprayed on the hot engine creating a cloud of smoke. I was afraid the truck was on fire. The fluid cooked off the engine as smoke and again luckily there was no fire. Now after extensive repairs, I am very nervous behind the wheel of this vehicle. This very dangerous situation with corrosion should be addressed as blogs on the internet indicate this dangerous issue has been ongoing for quite awhile. I have attached the invoice of the repairs required. I was in the drive through of a mcdonalds and had placed my order and was pulling to the window to pay when the brakes failed. Luckily I was only moving slowly at that time, thus able to avoid injuring anyone or damaging any other vehicles.
Exiting off freeway ramp in indianapolis brake pedal went to the floor without notice and no brake fluid loss, nearly crashed crossing 5 lanes of cross traffic just lucky I wasn't broadsided by cross traffic. I received no notice of hazard from gm, no recall and only learned of this problem once researching on web. I am lucky to be alive.
Brake failure do to rusted out lines.a ongoing problem that gm will not take responsibility for the poor quality of these lines putting people's lives at risk.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas. This recall will be launched in the "salt belt" states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maryland, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia only.
- Risk
- This can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed brake applications, which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel speed sensor, and check the peak-to-peak output voltage to ensure the wheel speed signal is within specifications. The recall began september 22, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 05V379000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings may wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
- Risk
- If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly. The recall began on july 29, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 05V161000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
- Risk
- If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc trucks at 1‑866‑996‑9463 and hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.
Recall number 05V043000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
- Risk
- Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.
- Remedy
- Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463; or hummer at 1‑866‑486‑6376.
Recall number 04V045000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a clearance condition between the front right-hand brake pipe and the body cross sill that could decrease to the point of allowing contact during the life of the vehicle. If contact occurs and the brake pipe becomes damaged, in half of the brake system there can be a loss of brake fluid and pressure. The brake warning lamp will be activated when the brake fluid level reaches the indicator limit.
- Risk
- During braking, the pedal will be lower than normal and stopping distances will be longer. If this occurs when stopping distance is limited, a crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the front right-hand brake pipe for wear. If there are signs of wear, this section of the brake pipe will be replaced with a new designed brake pipe section. If there are not signs of wear on the brake pipe, the dealer will install a spacer clip to ensure sufficient clearance between the brake pipe and the body cross sill.
Recall number 00V345000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes. Some of these vehicles have an antilock brake system (ABS) motor containing an out-of-specification spring clip. This clip could allow the motor bearing to become misaligned. If misalignment occurs, eventually the ABS would be non-functional.
- Risk
- The base brakes would remain fully functional, but the dynamic rear proportioning (drp) system, which optimizes front to rear brake balance, would become inoperative.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake pressure module valve assembly.
Recall number 00V055000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Severe corrosion due to road salt at the joint of the stamped steel center section and the cast outer section can cause the sections to separate.
- Risk
- Separation of the rotor sections can cause loss ofbraking ability in the affected wheel. This could result in increased stoppingdistance and/or loss of vehicle control and an accident.
- Remedy
- Replace the front brake rotors with new rotors with a corrosion protection coating. However, if replacement of brake linings are necessary, it will be done at owner's expense since brake linings are normal maintenance items.
Recall number 93V119000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- The pivot bolt holding the brake pedal to its support bracket may be improperly tightened and may not have engaged the locking material on the bolt. The bolt can disengage from the nut.
- Risk
- If the pivot bolt disengages from the nut while thevehicle is in motion, there will be a loss of brake control and could result ina vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers should inspect the hand started brake pedal bolts and torque them to specification.
Recall number 92V056000 · Recall details
Questions about the GMC Sierra brake failure
Which GMC Sierra years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (63 complaints), 1999 (54 complaints) and 2002 (36 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix brake failure on the GMC Sierra?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,200 (median of 31 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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