2004 GMC Yukon: brake failure

Filed May 29, 2018 · Brakes · 260,000 miles · IL

While traveling at highway speed and rounding a blind curve the traffic ahead had stopped due to a crash. I had to brake harder than normal and the brake pedal just kept depressing further and further until it was all the way to the floor. I wasn't stopping near fast enough and had to veer to the left into the median to avoid making contact with anyone else. It was raining and as I looked under my truck to look for why my brakes were ineffective but couldn't see anything at that time. I chose to try to drive home not sure why I had the problem stopping. The next day was dry and I had my brother pump the brakes while I look underneath and found numerous places where the brake lines were rusting at an alarming rate and one location where the rusted line failed. I repaired the leak I had found and when I tried to bleed the brakes from that repair I would begin an unending run of leaks up and down the metal brake lines for both the front and rear. This yukon has around 260k miles but those brake lines shouldn't be rusting through like they are. I have had more than 15 tahoes, yukons, yukon xls, suburbans, and pickup trucks from gm and never have I had such a run of brake failures as this 2004 model yukon was now going through. Gm says this is normal maintenance but how can one even see if a failure is occurring as many of these lines are concealed by the frame, chassis, and body. I have spoken to other owners of similar vehicles, be it pickups or tahoe's or suburbans of the 2000 to 2006 model years and nearly all have complained of chronic body rust issues but more importantly brake failures from brake lines rusting and then blowing out without warning. Many also cited that of the lines that are visible to inspect they would appear to be ok but just out of view one would have a sudden blow out with no way to see or know there was a problem since the lines are concealed.

Filed Aug 13, 2016 · Brakes · 172,000 miles · MI

While driving down road at approximately 45 MPH, hit the brakes when a couple of deer jumped onto road and the pedal went to floor with no braking action at all. Had enough time to realize what had happened and hit the parking brake in time before reaching intersection to busy highway. Inspection afterward showed brake fluid on the frame near the driver side door where the proportioning valve is located. There was no warning of the failure and had been driving the vehicle around town most of the day. Have experienced brake failures on vehicles before and always had half the system remain operational enough to stop without problem. This appears to have been a single failure mode that caused the loss of braking or a simultaneous failure of multiple systems which should be unlikely but seems to happen with improbable regularity based on complaints posted.

Filed Jul 9, 2014 · Brakes · 134,455 miles · MD

I was heading to ocean city maryland. As I was approaching the toll plaza to go over the bay bridge I slowed down and seem to had stopped when all the sudden my foot was on the brake clear to the floor and I hit the box truck in front of me that was stopped for traffic. I looked at the dash and it was all lit up and blinking. The gentleman told me I had lost my breaks and that when he would move I would begin to move as well. I was not far from the beginning of the bridge but I was six or seven lanes to the left in the easypass lane. I called my brother asking him what to do and he talked me through as I was panicking. I had a full tank of gas and lots of tractor trailers going through the plaza. I was for sure I was going to be hit or hit someone else. I rolled down my windows put my flashers on and began to blow my horn and yelling out the window I have no brakes so that I could get over to the right side of the road right before the bridge. As I did people did stop and let me get over and I had my foot on the brake but they were not stopping the truck. As I was drifting over a toll facility tow truck was on the side and he yelled to me what was wrong. I told him no brakes and he told me to jump out and he jumped in and hit the truck up over a small embankment to get it out of the way of all the traffic. He got it to stop and got out and looked up under the truck and could see that two of the brake lines were snapped. I had the truck towed with over the bay bridge and they had to replace the two brake lines that snapped and they could not bleed the lines fully since they were afraid that the other two lines could snap at any time. I got home and had to have the other two lines done as well. I have to say I was never so scared in my life I could have died for sure if I was going any faster up an over the bridge and down the hill getting off. Worst day of my life.

Filed Jul 8, 2014 · Brakes · 39,393 miles · ME

Upon applying brakes, while driving downhill, the right rear steel brake line burst resulting in significant loss of braking power. Fortunately,y I had significant distance between me and the next car that I could avoid an accident. The vehicle still had some braking power to allow me to drive it to a nearby parking lot where it continued to lose brake fluid. The vehicle was towed to a local gmc dealership where they replaced all the steel lines with copper/nickel lines at a cost of $1,606.00. I was told that the steel lines are rusting out as a result of the de-icing chemicals being used on the roads during the winter. I have had vehicles up to 15 years old in the past and never had such an experience as this. I question the quality of the steel lines. If gm is of the opinion that their steel lines can't withstand the de-icing chemicals then they should have installed copper/nickel lines at the factory. Thank you.

Filed Feb 23, 2014 · Brakes · 98,360 miles · NC

I applied the brakes firmly to avoid hitting a deer. On my next brake application my pedal went to the floor and the service brake system message came on. When I got home I found a ruptured brake line underrate drivers door. All lines are rusted severely as well as most of the undercarriage. I looked online and there are hundreds of complaints on this issue with gm vehicles similar to mine.

Filed Aug 10, 2013 · Brakes · 83,198 miles · FL

I was traveling on the new york state thruway at approximately 4:00pm, in heavy traffic. Traffic began to slow and become backed up, due to congestion in a work zone. I applied my brakes, put the brake pedal went all the way to the floor, and I was unable to stop. I avoided colliding with the vehicle in front of me, by maneuvering onto the shoulder, and had to use the emergency brakes to stop.

Filed Oct 3, 2012 · Brakes · 81,000 miles · FL

I was hooking up a dump trailer to my 2004 yukon xl and when I went to do a turn signal and brake light check on the trailer, my brake pedal went to the floor. No warnings of any kind. I am extremely lucky that I was not moving and had just completed driving in high speed traffic for several hundred miles. The failure was total and immediate. I drove the vehicle to a nearby shop with the parking brake. The shop diagnosed the brake failure as corrosion in brake lines and fittings. I just moved to florida this year, previously the vehicle had been driven in heavily salted and brined roads in the northeast.

Filed Aug 22, 2012 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · NJ

Drove vehicle to my destination for shopping, no signs or warning what to follow. Came out of facility, started vehicle,backed up vehicle,stepped on brake, pedal to floor, said this can't be , pulled a little forward same thing no brakes, got out of vehicle found river of brake fluid. Had vehicle towed to my mechanic where he alerted me that all brake lines were rotted out. All lines now need to be replaced at a cost of $1500.00 with non-corrosive lines. This is a disgrace and I have called gm to complain who says there is no recall. People are going to die if this is not fixed.

Filed Dec 6, 2007 · Brakes · 87,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 gmc yukon. The vehicle did not pass inspection because the parking brake failed. The vehicle would continue to roll when the parking brake was applied. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer, but no repairs were made. The dealer did not mention what repairs were needed. The current and failure mileages were 87,000.

Filed Mar 22, 2007 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · MD · crash · 4 injuries

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 gmc yukon. While driving at 25 MPH the contact engaged the brakes and the vehicle would not stop and caused it to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The failure mileage was 70,000. Between the two vehicles, four people sustained minor injuries. This was the second time the brakes failed. The vehicle was not drivable and will not be repaired. The current and failure mileage were 70,000.