2003 GMC Sierra Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  11
• Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  4
• Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
  3
• Foundation components › Disc › Pads
  2
• Fluid
  1
• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
  1

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

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1115%
• 25k–50k
  1216%
• 50k–75k
  1013%
• 75k–100k
  1723%
• 100k–150k
  1925%
• 150k+
  68%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 GMC Sierra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

When exiting the toll road, I applied brakes to slow down. It appeared we were going to roll thru the gate, I let off the brake, and then the car in front of me re-applied her brake. And when I re-applied my brakes, they went to the floor. No warning, no warning lights - the truck did not stop. I hit the car infront of me. Luckily I wasn't traveling at a high rate of speed, as nobody was hurt. After the incident, I noticed all the brake fluid had leaked out, and then my service lights came on. Had to be towed home and there I discovered that my brake lines had disintegrated - totally rusted out. I'm at the conclusion that the brake line wall was so thin, that when I applied the brakes the last time, the pressure blew out the line. No secondary line function. Yes, all lines appear to be totally rusted out. Truck is originally from ohio, I live in texas. …

I was approaching a stop light driving on a 4 lane 55 MPH speed zone. As I was approaching the stop light I starting pressing on the brake pedal. The pedal had no resistance it kept going to the floor. I started pumping the pedal trying to slow my truck down, no use. I pushed pedal all the way to the floor. This slowed a little. But not enough. I down shifted the automatic lever and starting guiding the truck off the road to avoid the stopped vehicles. I missed the vehicles. Luckily I was only 3 miles from home. I managed to limp home by driving very, very slow and using the gear shifter to slow me down. When investigating the cause at home I found the brake line on the right front had rusted through and there was a leak. All the brake lines on this truck are rusted and in bad shape. I called the dealer glenn Buick GMC where I purchased the truck new in 2003. …

I was parked on a sloped driveway (about 10 - 15 degrees). I started the engine, stepped on the brake pedal and took the car out of park into drive. Brake pedal was normal. I started to roll forward and when I pushed the brake pedal the car did not slow. I slammed the brake pedal and it went all the way to the floor. At this point I went off the end of the driveway onto a 45 degree downward sloped lawn; then into a wooded area at the top of a ravine. I slammed into a tree. The car was judged a total loss by my insurance company. I did not get a brake warning light. The airbags did not deploy. The car was serviced at a union park GMC (wilmington, de) two days prior. Including brake inspection. Cause of brake failure was determined to be ruptured brake line. Both front and rear brakes were failed.

Truck was entering major highway,traffic begins too slow due to rush hour ,seeing this occur I stepped on brakes expecting to slow down ,until I realized pedal had gone all the way to floor,then I let up an pushed to floor again-no brakes no room to go left or right impact was unavoidable,impacted car twice which pushed that car into another this truck was serviced by GM dealer for transmission cooling line and engine cooling lines Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, no mention of brake lines issue, accident occurred on Friday. Also had contacted GM about original work re: possible warranty. Updated 07/25/12 the consumer has since traded the vehicle. Updated 07/31/12

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the brakes were depressed and traveled abruptly to the floor. The vehicle failed to come to a stop until the emergency brake was engaged as the brake pedal was applied. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact discovered that the entire brake lines fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

While traveling in my 2003 GMC Sierra truck at approximately 45 MPH I stepped on the brake pedal to stop at a stop sign and the pedal went 3/4 of the way down to the floor, then the brake light came on and the truck did not stop as quickly as it usually does ( glad I was not going any faster) . Upon checking the truck it was discovered that the front drivers side steel brake line had a hole in it due to corrosion and there was no brake fluid in the master cylinder .

State of new york based 2003 GMC Sierra 1500, 4x4, driving on smooth road dry road, 30 MPH, towing light utility trailer with ladder and smaller items, applied the brakes, pedal went to floor and rear ended automobile and parked car as well. Ticketed by new york state police for inadequate brakes. 2003 GMC Sierra had corroded brake lines and has spent entire 10 years in new york and less than 70,000 miles. Second incident of corroded brake lines.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra. While driving at 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but took a longer distance to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic multiple times who diagnosed that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Backing out of a parking space I applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. I hit a steel pole causing damage to my rear bumper. I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong. I inspected the truck and found brake fluid dripping from under the vehicle in the area of the drivers door. Further inspection showed the brake lines were very rusted which I attribute to the brake line failure.

Exiting off freeway ramp in indianapolis brake pedal went to the floor without notice and no brake fluid loss, nearly crashed crossing 5 lanes of cross traffic just lucky I wasn't broadsided by cross traffic. I received no notice of hazard from GM, no recall and only learned of this problem once researching on web. I am lucky to be alive.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Brake complaints in other Sierra years