Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle was stopped at a 2-way stop. Upon turning right, my foot went from the brake to the gas pedal and got hooked on a piece of metal extending from the arm of the accelerator. This caused my foot to be trapped below the brake pedal but attached to the gas pedal. The vehicle spun back and forth while trying to get my foot off the accelerator. I hit a truck coming from the opposite direction from which I was turning pinning it to the guard rail. Although both trucks had stopped, the tires on my truck were still spinning because my foot was still hooked on the accelerator and wedge below the brake pedal. Only after I turned the key off could I put the truck in park. In order to get out of my truck I had to unlace my shoe and pull my foot out, then pry it off the side of the accelerator, leaving a hole in the side of my shoe.
I was coming down the hill and saw 2 vehiles stopped one was going to turn once traffic was clear. And I started slowing down almost to a stop on a hill and I got about 2 car lenghts away still stepping on my brakes and all the sudden my brake light came on. A warning came up and said service brake system when I slambed into the rear end of the car in front of me who intern hit the car infront of them. I had just replaced my breaks and roters 45 days before this. I blew the brakeline on the front. July 2012 I blew a brakeline. Noone was injured that time and also blew a brake line August 2013. So for the 3 time blowing a brakeline there is something wrong. I lived in the north carolina until moving to west virginia in 2012 and this has happen every year since I moved north.
I lost the complete hydraulic braking system due to a line(s) burst due to rust. Thankfully I was just coming out of a parking lot so I was not going fast. My foot immediately went to the floor, the warning sound and indicator came on, but I had absolutely no brakes other than the emergency brake, which I used to pull over. It goes to the shop on Tuesday so I will know then the extent of the damage. Had I been going 30 or 40 and coming to a crowed intersection, someone surely would have been hurt, there would have been absolutely no way for me to stop in time. I had no pre-warning of an issue, no low fluid indications, no brake warning lights, just my foot going to the floor. Pretty scary.
While braking for a red stop light the truck was stopping normally and was almost stopped when the brake pedal went nearly to the floor and braking action was severely affected causing a much delayed completion to the stop. When the brake pedal collapsed a chime came on and a brake failure light appeared on the dash panel. Luckily I was able to avoid hitting the car in front of me. I was able to drive the car slowly out of traffic going very slow and using the emergency brake. Upon initial inspection, brake fluid was observed leaking from somewhere under the truck. The truck was towed to a service garage where the initial diagnosis was a rusted out brake line.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. While driving 25 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and noticed that there was no brake functionality. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the nearest fuel station. The brake warning indicator illuminated when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front brake line failed due to corrosion and the rear brake line also experienced severe corrosion and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Was driving home and brakes failed. Massive holes in the lines, pedal down to the floor no brake warning light until it was too late. Thank god my wife and kids were not with me this time. Lucky I'm alive. I was not on a main highway. So far the cost is up to $2000.00 to replace all the lines. Also now the master cylinder seems to be faulty. Another $400.00. I have read way tooo many complaints about GM brake lines rusting out way too soon many with low mileage. Something has to be done about this in the form of compensation. Lives could be lost and some probably have.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The contact stated that when braking, the rear brake would seize and began to smoke. The brake pads were replced by a local mechanic and the brake booster and master cylinder was replaced three times. The repair did not correct the failure and the rear brake continued to seize and smoke. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufactured was contacted and advised that the VIN was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 133,000.
I have read NHTSA # 05v37900 and see that addresses the brake problems with brake line that I am having problems where the brake goes to the floor with no warning that is the same as the 2002 that is included in your recall. It appears that the same brake lines were used on the 2003 model. So why was the 2003 model not included in the recall as losing the brakes not a safety hazard. I was driving down the road when the brakes went out and was lucky there was no other traffic in the area.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 GMC 1500 Avalanche. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH and the brakes failed to respond upon engagement. The vehicle crashed into six different vehicles. There were no personal injuries. A police report was filed for the incident. The vehicle sustained minor damage and was towed to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that the brake lines fractured due to corrosion. The brake line tubing was replaced. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH attempting to applied the brakes, the front drivers side brake line fractured. The contact repaired the brake line independently. However, the failure recurred on the rear drivers side brake line. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
NHTSA investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states for investigations of corrosion related issues:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,…
Brake complaints in other Avalanche 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500, 29% of the model year's 182 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.