Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 18% | 3,000 miles |
| 2019 | 8 | 31% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 24% | 15,000 miles |
| 2017 | 20 | 26% | 51,000 miles |
| 2016 | 8 | 22% | 51,000 miles |
| 2015 | 10 | 13% | 49,000 miles |
| 2014 | 4 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 9% | 35,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 15% | 43,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 6% | 10,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 9% | 41,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 5% | 31,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 3% | 128,000 miles |
| 2007 | 14 | 23% | 63,000 miles |
| 2006 | 29 | 50% | 50,000 miles |
| 2005 | 40 | 33% | 67,000 miles |
| 2004 | 79 | 40% | 78,000 miles |
| 2003 | 83 | 40% | 78,000 miles |
| 2002 | 155 | 59% | 47,000 miles |
| 2001 | 150 | 57% | 65,000 miles |
| 2000 | 228 | 51% | 67,000 miles |
| 1999 | 338 | 56% | 60,000 miles |
| 1998 | 62 | 33% | 70,000 miles |
| 1997 | 67 | 28% | 76,000 miles |
| 1996 | 47 | 19% | 114,000 miles |
| 1995 | 42 | 16% | 84,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The vehicle was in for replacement back up camera module and the dealer stated that the fix for the active brake system failure recall was completed. After starting the vehicle in a parking lot, several messages displayed in the driver information center: brake system failure 62 MPH top speed, service ESC, service trailer brake system, service brake assist. Additionally, several warning lights for the ABS, parking brake, TCS, check engine light, etc were illuminated. After acknowledging the messages, I placed the vehicle in reverse and noticed that the brakes needed to be pressed with full weight on them to get the vehicle to stop. I placed the vehicle in drive to park back in space and the same issue with the brakes persisted. …
The first issue is a Bluetooth issue. The phone volume goes silent when I get in my vehicle. If I connect to car play, it works. I have missed important calls due to this issue. This started in July of 2019 and its not fixed yet. GM says it Apple. Apple says its GM I do not care just fix it. Second see below images. You know the issue. This happened to me 3 times. It started 12-05-2019. Then again 12-26-19 . Serviced . 1-4-2020 again. 1-18 20 again and to shop until 1-23-2020. This took a lot of my time talking with my dealer. I understand I am one of many, but I didn't spend over $66,000 to buy, lease this vehicle to have to waste my time. This cost me time, money and honestly every time I start the truck I wonder if it will reappear. I received 2 calls fro representatives, gianna and michelle. I called back 3 times, left voicemail and have heard nothing. …
On the morning of oct 26, 2020 @ 845 am... I was heading south on 287 in mansfield tx. It was raining hard so I was only going 60 MPH. The car in front of me was going 55 or so. When the rain and wind picked up, the car in front of me abruptly hit its brakes. That's when my truck brakes locked and I began sliding or being pulled to the right. I was in the left lane on the 2 lane highway. Had it not been for god and me, not panicking... I would have crashed! My truck fish tailed twice while I was trying to apply the brakes but... I couldn't stop. I almost put the truck gear in neutral but it was raining so somehow the truck managed to slow down going up a small hill, giving me control back. There were 2 other cars that seen this. I was a nervous wreck! I immediately got off the highway and went to the first gas station I saw and thanked god nothing happened. …
I nearly died when my brakes failed on my 2018 GMC denali this morning. I was only going 60 MPH when another driver cut in front of me, and hit their brakes but when I tried to stop, I could not! I then began swerving from lane to lane because it was raining. Thank god I didn't die and that the person on the right slowed down and moved out the way. The truck seemed to be pulling me to the right. Why I have no idea. But why is GM putting people lives at risk like this? Why are we having to suffer or put our families in jeopardy. This makes no sense. My chest started hurting really bad afterwards, because I was so scared. I was on a 2 lane highway going straight but even that doesn't cause a vehicle not to respond like it did.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra LD. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the front passenger side wheel locked inadvertently. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the attached trailer which caused the trailer to jackknife. The driver alert warning light illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. No medical attention was required. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact then stated that on a separate occasion while driving at normal speed, the front passenger side wheel inadvertently locked without warning. As a result, the strut detached from the control arm which caused the attached trailer to detach and crashed into the vehicle that caused the vehicle to crash into a ditch. …
My 2017 GMC Sierra denali had already been the subject of the recall relating to the brake issue. Shortly after they performed this recall work the brakes began failing at low speed. When driving below 5 MPH, the pedal which suddenly fall and the ABS would trigger. During this time, the car would continue moving with the ABS fully vibrating. Thankfully, my trailer hitch absorb the rear impact against a wall. The problem continued. I then took the truck in for service and they reported that there has been a significant failure rate of the vacuum assist. The dealer replace the vacuum pump and vacuum lines. I'm extremely concerned that this would happen to someone else near an intersection, not just slowly backing into parking spaces. I have contacted GMC by email but still have received no response or acknowledgment of my communications.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra denali. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being reversed at under 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to operate as intended. The contact crashed into a tree which caused damage to the passenger's side door, fender and side mirror. There was no injuries. The vehicle was taken to van buren Buick GMC located at 2257 jericho turnpike, garden city park, ny 11040, [phone], to be diagnosed which was still pending. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
Brake failure issue at low speed. This happened in two separate occurrences in parking lots. The brake pedal became very still and required grabbing the steering wheel and using it to pull myself down harder on the brake pedal to get the vehicle to stop. This resulted in greatly increased stopping distance. Fortunately no vehicles or people were in my path during these occurrences. GM has since repaired my vehicle. I have since received a notice that they are repairing this issue only after the owner has a brake failure problem. This is extremely unsafe and is unacceptable. Owners need a solution and do not need to worry that this issue will arise again. If I hit a person or a vehicle, will GM pay for medical bills, vehicle repairs, legal fees? This truck as well as my last 2009 Chevrolet silverado had issues with the drive train that GM classified as normal. …
Related recalls (6)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles May experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas.
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
Parking brake
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings May wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable…
Service brakes, hydraulic
Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with Bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator May crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge.
Service brakes, hydraulic
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a clearance condition between the front right-hand brake pipe and the body cross sill that could decrease to the point of allowing contact during the life of the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front right-hand brake pipe for wear. If there are signs of wear, this section of the brake pipe will be replaced with a new designed brake pipe section.
Show 1 more recall
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes. Some of these vehicles have an antilock brake system (ABS) motor containing an out-of-specification spring clip. This clip could allow the motor bearing to become misaligned. If misalignment occurs, eventually the ABS would be non-functional.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake pressure module valve assembly.
NHTSA 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…
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
In a letter dated August 29, 2005, GM notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that May result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).GM's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently…
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake…
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated April 20, 2005, GM notified NHTSA 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…
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (338), 2000 (228), 2002 (155), 2001 (150) and 2003 (83) model years. Brake complaints make up 56% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for GMC Sierra brake problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 05V-379 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Aug 29, 2005); 05V-161 (parking brake, Apr 22, 2005); 05V-043 (service brakes, hydraulic, Feb 8, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Sierra brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (590 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (58).
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.