GMC Yukon Denali brake failure problems

Filed Mar 28, 2022 · Brakes · 115,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while his mother was driving approximately 50 MPH, the brake service warning light illuminated and the vehicle started to decelerate as if the brakes were engaged. The contact's mother was able to pull over safely and turned the vehicle off and on and was able to continue driving to her destination. The brake failure persisted. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2017 · Brakes · KY

Brakes lines rusted which LED to catastrophic failure of brake system. Repair cost $1,000. There are multiple thousands of complaints regarding this type of brake failure in this make, model, & year. This should be a mandatory factory recall. Someone is going to die because gm is not being forced to fix their faulty equipment. My vehicle was in motion and when I depressed the brake pedal the pedal went completely to the floorboard. I was driving straight ahead in moderate city traffic & narrowly missed striking the vehicle in front of me on a city street. My master cylinder was completely empty of brake fluid when examined. I was traveling 25 MPH and my vehicle has 110,000 miles. (the next page wouldn't allow me to enter the speed & mileage information where it was requested)

Filed Dec 13, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 12,800 miles · UT

Front brake calipers sticking causing premature wear out of pads and driver side rotor at ~11900 miles. After first repair, ~900 miles and three weeks later, while driving down a snow covered city hill ABS was engaged for a short period of time and then dash displayed a "brake failure" warning. After the message the front brakes locked up completely, causing loss of control of the vehicle and induced a slide of over 1000ft down the hill. Once the vehicle finally came to a stop, a loud sound was coming from the under carriage. Powering down the vehicle did not stop the sound. Restart of the vehicle displayed "service stabilitrack" and "service trailer brake" warnings. The ABS, traction control slippage, and brake lights also all stayed illuminated. Vehicle had to be towed to dealer as it was unsafe to drive. Upon inspection at gmc dealer they reported the electronic brake control module (ebcm) was shorted out internally and second front rotor was also scored. They replaced the ebcm and rotor under warranty. I'm told the caliper sticking issue is common, and this is not the first ebcm they have replaced. In summary, damage to rotors and pads is very dangerous. As the vehicle only has ~12000 miles no one would expect this type of wear. The failure of the ABS system nearly caused an accident that could have been fatal as the vehicle was descending a hill and at the very time the ABS was needed it caused lock up of the font wheels inducing a slide and loss of ability to steer.

Filed Jul 16, 2016 · Brakes · 128,000 miles · VA

For the second time in an approximate 12 month period, I had to replace a brake line failure. Until now, I didn't know that gm has a "replacement rebuild kit". However, the first time my sister was driving and had a brake failure with a car load of family aboard, in jacksonville fl. A nationally known company replaced the portion of the brake line that ruptured, but they did warn me that rust was rampart because of the salt. Yesterday, I was driving to work on i495, d.c. Beltway at 50 MPH, where thousands of people travel daily and I had another catastrophic brake failure at 50 MPH. That scenario, just thinking about it again, scared me half to death and I just fixed the same thing last year for 600.00+ and unexpectedly it happens again. Only by the grace of god, no one was injured or killed or had substantial property damage. What I found out later after investigating this problem, and the same company who replaced the first brake line said it would be 1500.00 to fix a portion of the brake line. This issue is well known by gm and has been investigated for 5 years and gm did not do a recall because most warranties have expired. However, with the snow-belts states salting the roads have damaged many gm and other vehicles. From 1999 to 2007 gm trucks and suvs were using non-pv coated brake lines. By these brake lines not being coated with protectant, corrosion runs rampart on your brake line system, this is probable in all the aforementioned vehicles. I think that every dealer should do this replacement for the gm recommend price. I talked to my service manager at chevy/gm today and he said gm doesn't own this dealership and the recommended time to install (4.5 hours) @ 100.00 per hour is not realistic. I said you sale and service these vehicles, yet no one wants to step up to fix them until some gets killed, that's ridiculous.

Filed Jun 19, 2016 · Brakes · 145,000 miles · AL

Brakes failed while driving on city street with no warning could not stop at red light. Immediately pulled over and noticed brake fluid leaking from left side of vehicle from a broken brake line.

Filed Jul 28, 2015 · Brakes · 190,000 miles · FL

Brakes completely failed. Traveling 35 MPH, I had to brake suddenly and the pedal sunk to the floor. Had minor resistance, then just completely gave way. No brakes! Was able to avoid an incident by veering into the oncoming lane that was luckily vacant. Turned onto a side street to safely roll to a stop. Too scared to drive it the remaining 1.5 miles home, I have it towed to a shop. Advised that all brake lines need to be replaced, this is a common problem with gmc that he has seen a dozen times. The brake lines corrode, and eventually burst. Absurd! To think this could of happened on a family road trip at 65mph... I will buying a vehicle outside of gmc and their umbrella of poorly made vehicles- asap!

Filed Feb 21, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 82,000 miles · OH

Driving vehicle at 30 MPH. Lost all power and engine. No brakes, no power steering, no dash lights, engine quit running, no exterior lights. Parked vehicle in parking lot. No power at all. After about 20 minutes of waiting vehicle started again and had minimal acceleration/power.

Filed Nov 1, 2014 · Brakes · 116,414 miles · VA

Vehicle brakes went to the floor and barely came to a stop before hitting a tree. Vehicle was towed into dealership joyce koons manassas. Dealership called back stating brake lines had rusted out and contaminated rotors, brake pads, fuel pump, backing plates, right and left level sensors to the tune of $3660. After researching the internet we found out this is a known issue that gm refuses to do a recall on. If we had been on I 95 with the vehicle at a high speed, it could have been a horrible accident and people could have been injured. This vehicle is very heavy and would be difficult to stop at high speeds. Gm says rust due to salt belt states. The reason you buy a 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive is to be able to drive in the snow. But this vehicle can't take the salt and sand put down on highways. Brakes is a major safety issue and needs to have attention to this matter and have gm recall these vehicles before someone is killed!

Filed Oct 29, 2014 · Brakes · 168,000 miles · NY

While sitting at a traffic light the brake pedal went to the floor and my truck rolled into the intersection. I was able to stop it after I was halfway in the intersection. I found out that the rear brake line above the fuel tank rotted away. I also had to have both steel lines to the rear wheels and the two steel line to the front replaced.

Filed Oct 3, 2014 · Brakes · MA · crash

My daughter was driving and when slowing down the brakes failed to work. The vehicle was not able to stop and collided with the vehicle in front. Luckily nobody was injured in this collision. After inspection, I noticed fluid on the ground at the rear left (driver's side rear), and looked under the vehicle to see where the fluid may be coming from. I saw that there was fluid coating a large area of the underbody, and also see the brake line attached to the frame as wet and rusted. I have pictures saved as a reference.