Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD Brake Problems

Brake complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  6
• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  2
• Power assist › Hydraulic › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  67%
• 25k–50k
  89%
• 50k–75k
  1618%
• 75k–100k
  1921%
• 100k–150k
  3033%
• 150k+
  1112%

What owners report

While driving home from the beach at the end of labor day weekend I was coming to a complete stop to turn on to rt 404, my vehicle was then struck in the rear, I saw it coming so I applied pressure to the brake as to not hit the car in front of me. After the accident I noticed brake fluid running out under engine area. And had no brakes, vehicle was towed to shop and I was informed that steel brake line had rusted through. This was not a result of accident just additional pressure on brake, having 2 of my 4 grandkids with me im glad it happeded while stopped and not going 60 MPH across the bay bridge, GM should recall all vehicles with the same type of brakeline issue's or agree to pay for the lines that do rust through

While travling at 3 MPH in a campground and towing a #7000 camping trailer. I hit my brakes and the peddle went to the floor. It took some distance to stop. I got out and found that one of my break lines had a leak. Upon further inspection . All the brakes lines have heavy and severe rust causing the brake line weaken and the brakes to fail. Only by the grace of god I was travilng at 3 MPH and still had not reached the main winding country road where I would of wrecked and possible death of me or others. . The total weight of truck and trailer was #14500 pounds.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD. The contact was driving approximately 25 MPH when the brake pedal was engaged and failed to respond. The vehicle continued through an intersection. The brake warning indicator illuminated at the time of failure. The vehicle began to slow down to a complete stop after applying the brake several times. The contact was able to resume driving at an extremely slow speed. The vehicle was taken to a nearby independent mechanic who advised the contact that the four brake lines were completely rusted. The technician patched the entire brake lines as a temporary repair. The vehicle was also inspected by the dealer. The contact planned to eventually have the four brake lines replaced due to a significant concern of a potential safety hazard. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 65,400. …

We are the second owners of a 2004 Chevy Silverado 1500 4wd truck. We have had brake lines go twice. The last time was at our town dump. My husband was stopped with the truck in park and when he put his foot on the brake to put the truck in gear the pedal went all the way to the floor with no real stopping power. He checked the emergency parking brake and that, too, was not functioning. It doesn't seem right that Chevy has been able to use such dangerous engineering on something as important as brakes. We also have rusted transmission lines and backer plates. It is going to cost $2,000 (two thousand dollars) to fix these problems. We are requesting that a recall be made for this defective manufacturing on such a necessary function. We are lucky that we were in park and putting the truck into gear from park when the brakes failed.

Brake lines rusted through and ruptured resulting in total brake loss and a crash. The lines failed at a point directly under the driver seat. It was in motion on a city street and struck another vehicle also damaging that.

Jan. 2014 in northeast illinois I went to apply brakes for a red light and peddle went to the floor. I was fortunate that there was not another vehicle already stopped at the light in front of me, and was not hit as I coasted through the red light. I was able to use the parking brake for stopping while I maneuvered to my home. Upon inspection the next day, I found the brake line that runs along the truck frame and feeds brake fluid to the front brakes had ruptured. I was astound when I saw the condition of the remaining brake lines under the vehicle and the fact that the lines were not made of stainless steel or some other material that would not rust when exposed to the road salt that used heavily during the winter months in northeast illinois. I'm also concern about the fuel lines because their condition is the same as the brake lines and appear to made out of a ferrous material also.

The brake lines on my 02 Silverado blew out while moving our camper trailer into our back yard for storage. My wife was driving and I was watching her backing up. She yelled out to me the "brakes feel funny", we were almost done and unhooked the trailer. I moved the truck to the street and noticed the pedal went to the floor and would not stop easily. I noticed a big wet spot under the cab, checked the brake master cylinder level, empty. Had it towed (aaa) to my mechanic, paid $1,600.00 to have the steel brake lines and flex hoses replaced. If driving on the highway with the camper when this occurred, could have been a big accident or more. I have over 32 years of fire/ ems experience - this was bad situation ! …

While driving down the interstate last week I went to brake for an exit only to find that I had no brakes. It turns out my brake line had rusted through and my brake fluid had been draining my whole trip down the interstate. I was lucky enough to manage to get off the road and park my vehicle and call aaa to have my vehicle towed. I am now finding out that this is a very common issue with GMC older trucks. This is not acceptable. Lives are at risk.