I was leaving my driveway when the brake pedal on my gmc yukon blew out. The line had rusted thorough. This occurred in 2012. Since then as a gm technician I have seen and heard of customers, friends and neighbors with gm trucks have their brake lines blow out from rust. Gm has a real issue which should be investigated. The brakes lines on their truck models tend to rust out. Gm has not issued a recall but offered a new brake line kit. My question to you is why? I have not seen this issue on the same model year gm cars. As far as I know no one has died as a result but there has to have been injuries. Is it not your job to investigate this issue? Once again why?
2003 GMC Yukon brakes problems
59 complaints (29% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 115,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 59
- of this car's complaints
- 29%
- typical mileage
- 115,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip5
- Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
- Foundation components: disc: rotor1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
GMC Yukon brakes problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 GMC Yukon brakes
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
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
Related investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Defect Petition DP10-003 on March 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (MY) 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.DP10-003 was granted and on March 30, 2010, Preliminary Evaluation PE10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors Corporation (GM).On July 2, 2010, ODI received GM's response to an information request, which included GM's assessment of the frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect. GM stated that:(1) the brake system of the subject vehicles is split front/rear and should a brake pipe suddenly fail for any reason, the affected vehicle would be capable of stopping with the pressure supplied by the remaining circuit; (2) the subject vehicles were designed to meet the hydraulic circuit partial failure requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 105 and 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems; and (3) should a brake fluid leak occur for any reason, the brake system malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) would illuminate and warn the driver before the brake fluid level was low enough to cause a loss of line pressure.ODI's and GM's analysis indicates that 85 percent of the complaints occurred on vehicles used primarily in States that use salt on the roads during Winter months (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin).Overall the complaint rates per 100,000 vehicles for Salt Belt States is 43.0 and Non-Salt Belt is 3.0.In approximately 25 percent of the complaints the brake pipe failure occurred suddenly, with no warning (i.e., no MIL, Brake Fluid Loss Warning), and resulted in extended stopping distances.In 30 of these the increase in stopping distance that resulted was a factor in the crash and in 10 others the vehicle was intentionally steered off the road or into another lane of travel in order to avoid a crash.This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-001) for subject vehicles sold or currently registered in Salt Belt States to further assess the scope, frequency and safety risks associated with sudden failures of corroded brake pipes that can result in decreased brake effectiveness. ODI will continue to gather information on subject vehicles outside the Salt Belt as well.
PE10010
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
DP05009
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated april 20, 2005, gm notified the federal safety agency that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to gm, some of these vehicles may have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.gm's action covers an estimated total of 142,585 vehicles.dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with the pbr parking brake system and install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly on vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system. A total of 58 non-duplicative complaints were received by odi and gm concerning the approximately 59,000 my 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series pickup trucks with the pbr parking brake system.these included 22 alleged rollaway incidents, resulting in a rate of 38.5 rollaway incidents per 100,000 vehicles.odi is aware of 24 complaints regarding the my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series manual transmission trucks recalled by gm, including 5 alleging rollaway incidents.though the conditions described in gm's letter are also present in the c/k trucks with automatic transmissions, the rollaway rate in those vehicles was similar to those observed in peer vehicles studied by odi in this investigation.this engineering analysis is closed. For additional information, see the attached closing report.
EA04011
What 2003 GMC Yukon owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The right front drivers side hubs was about to come off and my entire braking system went out while driving on the highway.
My brake lines are rusted out as describe in the article below. Costing me over 650.00 to repair. Less than 115k on my car! Never had to replace brake lines before... I lost my brake un-expectantly during a rain storm in cohasset, ma on 1/10/2017. Luckily I was on a side road coming to a stop sign and no accident occurred nor were my 3 kids in the vehicle. I saw this article below and decided to write you. Https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/consumers-complain-of-corroded-brake-lines-in-older-gm-trucks-013014.html
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc yukon. Without warning, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and brake fluid was leaking. A mechanic replaced the rear brake lines; however, 1,000 miles later, the front brake lines also fractured. The mechanic replaced the front brake lines and indicated that there was extensive rust and corrosion. All of the brake lines needed to be replaced or the failure could recur. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v045000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc yukon. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the brakes failed to work. While attempting to slow down, the brake pedal went to the floor when it was depressed, but failed to stop the vehicle. The ABS indicator illuminated. The contact slowly drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the hydraulic unit needed to be replaced. The technician referred the contact to a local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 142,000.
While approaching an intersection I applied the brakes the pedal went to the floor ABS light came on and the was total brake failure. Guided the vehicle off the road and had it towed to the shop. They found rusted brake lines at the ABS valve along with a rusted backing plate for the valve. In order to improve vehicle safety the lines will all be replaced with stainless steel so this doesn't happen again. This is a very poor design since a single failure should not cause total failure of a supposed dual breaking system.
Total brake failure while stationary and engaging drive mode in driveway. Brake pedal went to floor. Parking brake also soft and ineffective but restored normal condition shortly thereafter.. No brake or ABS system service alerts or fault warnings prior to failure. 'service brake system' alert present after failure. No obds codes present. Suspect brake line corrosion. Approximately 170,000 miles. Recent tire/brake/alignment inspection revealed no issues. This is a very clean, "new to me" used vehicle with an excellent record of service. Had just completed a trouble free 2400 mile interstate road trip.
I was towing a 17' boat and came to a stop sign. I pressed the brake pedal and it went to the floor. The yukon did not slow at all. Fortunately, no one was coming and I rolled through the stop sign, made a right turn, and went down a steeper hill. Pumping the brakes as I went had no effect. The dash showed a 'service brake' message. I applied the parking brake and down-shifted, which slowed it enough that I was able to swing wide into the opposing traffic lane and barely make the turn at the bottom of the hill. I pulled off to the side of the road with the right-wheels on a soft shoulder before the vehicle slowly came to a stop. I refilled the brake reservoir and had my wife press the brake pedal. It went to the floor as brake fluid shot onto the hot exhaust manifold, leaking from a rusted joint where the steel brake line joined a flexible, braided line under the hood. The brake lines were horribly rusted, unlike anything I had ever seen in my 35+ years of driving and owning vehicles (including 20 cars and light trucks). This yukon has spent its entire life registered in virginia and has less than 80k miles on it. I can't imagine what they are like in northern states. Looking online, I discovered that this was a known problem that the federal safety agency had investigated. Why was I not warned? I could have been injured or killed, as could have another motorist or pedestrian! When I called my local gmc dealer (ourisman of alexandria, va), the service advisor claimed to be unaware of the problem, the gm service bulletins that had been issued on it, and the availability of the pre-bent lines as a discounted kit from gm. He estimated a four-figure labor bill to do the work, so I am doing as much of it as I can myself using nickel-copper brake line and a flaring tool. People are going to die from this if the federal safety agency does not force gm to do a recall.
Lost all braking , took truck to repair shop and the brake lines had corroded and had several holes in them. I had to replace all the metal lines on the vehicle. Brakes were fine hooked up utility trailer and pulled out of my driveway. Going down hill, applied brakes and the pedal went all the way to the floor.
Brake line failure - st. Louis mo. Brakes failed while attempting to slow from 60mph speed on christmas day. Narrowly escaped accident/collision. 2 brake lines were found ruptured/split due from rust/corrosion then repaired. Other brake lines are showing corrosion & will need attention soon. Vehicle is 2003 gmc yukon with 101,300 miles.
Questions about the 2003 GMC Yukon brakes
Does the 2003 GMC Yukon have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 59 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 GMC Yukon, 29% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2003 GMC Yukon brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 115,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 GMC Yukon brakes?
Yes, 1 recall: 04V045000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the GMC Yukon have bad brakes?
The GMC Yukon model years with the most brakes complaints are 1999 (113 complaints), 2001 (92 complaints) and 2015 (90 complaints).
Other 2003 GMC Yukon problems
Electrical 53Engine 24Fuel system 15Acceleration 13Steering 11Tires 9Visibility 9Airbags 8Body 8Transmission 8Driver assistance 7Lights 5Suspension 4Seats 3Locks 2Seat belts 1Wheels 1
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