RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
53
Latest Apr 2, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
29%
of 182 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 53, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 2019

BRAKES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING, TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. ON A HIGHWAY STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11193455
Incident
Jul 6, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 27, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11030157
Incident
Sep 22, 2017
Mileage
95,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 27, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11019935
Incident
Aug 20, 2017
Mileage
176,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10994090
Incident
Jun 8, 2017
Mileage
79,200 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 21, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10979808
Incident
Apr 13, 2017
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 17, 2016

LOST TOTAL BRAKING AT RED LIGHT AT BUSY INTERSECTION,45 MPH WITH THE GRACE OF GOD AVOIDED A BROADSIDE HIT, JUST MISSED A CHILD ON A BIKE, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. WHAT HAPPEN TO THE SAFETY BACK-UP IN THIS DESIGN ? THIS IS WRONG. IN SO MANY WAYS. IN THE USA WE NEED TO HOLD OUR SAFETY TO ITS HIGHEST. HOW MANY WILL DIE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED .

NHTSA ID
10896640
Incident
Aug 17, 2016
Mileage
125,623 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 2, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10882290
Incident
Jun 27, 2016
Mileage
179,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 22, 2015

DRIVING 50MPH COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT WITH CROSS TRAFFIC ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND PEDDLE WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NARROWLY MISSED A POSSIBLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. VERY SURPRISED SINCE THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS TRUCK. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10795307
Incident
Nov 21, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 21, 2015

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE TO WORK DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ANOTHER DRIVER HIT THEIR BRAKES ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING IN COLUMBUS, OH. I HIT MY BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR! AFTER I PUMPED THEM A FEW QUICK TIME, I RAN THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD WHILE LOOKING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL SAFE EXIT STRATEGIES. I DOWN SHIFTED, AND HAD A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE APPROXIMATELY 1/2" OF USABLE PEDAL JUST ABOVE THE FLOOR BOARD. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS, AND HAVE BEEN FIXING THINGS ON THE TRUCK SINCE I GOT IT. MY WIFE'S TOYOTA RAV4 IS 1 YEAR NEWER (2004) AND THE UNDERSIDE OF HER CAR GLISTENS COMPARED TO OUR CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE KICKER: SHE DRIVES HER RAV4 EVERY WEEKDAY EVEN DURING SNOWY WEATHER, AND I DRIVE THE AVALANCHE ONLY ONCE A WEEK! I OWN ANOTHER VEHICLE (1997 BUICK) I USUALLY DRIVE. THE UNDER SIDE OF THE AVALANCHE IS THE EPITOME OF RUST - NOT JUST THE BRAKE LINES BUT EVERYWHERE! WHEN DID BRAKE LINES BECOME A WEAR PART? I AM PLEADING TO YOUR HUMANE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OVER PROFIT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS; GM TOOK EXTREME SHORTCUTS, ALL PARTS UNDER THE TRUCK ARE RUSTING BADLY MORE THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE. THIS ISN'T A NORTHEAST OR SNOW BELT PROBLEM, THIS IS A GM PROBLEM. WILL YOU PLEASE PREVENT THIS TRAVESTY FROM CONTINUING BEFORE MORE PEOPLE DIE UNNECESSARILY? SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEMS WERE MADE A REQUIREMENT, AND GM IS HIDING BEHIND THAT REQUIREMENT. WAS THAT THE NHTSA INTENT TO PERMIT HIGHER PROFITS WITH THE SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEMS? THAT IS WHAT GM IS USING IT FOR AND AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLES LIVES. WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT PROFIT OR LIVES? HAVE A NICE DAY!

NHTSA ID
10766296
Incident
Sep 17, 2015
Mileage
144,937 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2015

PRIMARY MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINE BURST LOST BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
10762088
Incident
Aug 29, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 17, 2015

TOWING A SMALL LANDSCAPE TRAILER, PUSHED BRAKES, PEDAL GOES LOW. GOT HOME, ENTIRE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE SOAKED WITH BRAKE FLUID. HAD MY 2 GIRLS IN THE CAR. NOT HAPPY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HAVE THE BRAKE LINE RUST OUT BEFORE.

NHTSA ID
10716977
Incident
May 17, 2015
Mileage
186,034 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 2015

TL*THE 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 ID
10679190
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2015

DRIVING HOME THE BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WHEN STOPPING. BREAK FLUID WAS EVERYWHERE. FRONT BRAKE LINE BROKE. ALL BRAKE LINES EXTREMELY RUSTY AND NEED REPLACED. LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA VERY LITTLE SALT ON ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10670103
Incident
Dec 31, 2014
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 15, 2014

WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC MY SON BRAKE THE VEHICLE AND THE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE PULLED IT HOME AND INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE DRIVE. TURNS OUT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BURST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664248
Incident
Dec 12, 2014
Mileage
223,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 2014
Crash reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641705
Incident
Oct 3, 2014
Mileage
167,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 28, 2014

LOSS OF BRAKES OCCURRED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDDLE. INSPECTION BY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOWED BOTH FRONT BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. FURTHER MECHANIC INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE REMAINING REAR LINES WERE ALSO CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THAT THERE WERE NO OEM PRE-SHAPED LINES PRODUCED BY ANY MANUFACTURER FOR SUCH REPAIRS. HENCE, THIS WOULD REQUIRE CUSTOM BRAKE LINE BENDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED REPAIR COSTS. SECOND OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOST OF ALL BRAKING ABILITY. THIS VEHICLE IS OFTEN USED TO HAUL HORSES WITH A HORSE TRAILER. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY WE WERE NOT HAULING HORSES AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AND FAILED. RESEARCH ON VARIOUS CHEVY AND AVALANCHE INTERNET SITES / BOARDS AS OF THIS DATE SHOWS THIS HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVY TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE. THE TRUE INCIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS LIKELY HIDDEN BY FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO SEEK REPAIR ALTERNATIVES OTHER THAN AT CHEVY DEALERS AS THE DEALER QUOTED REPAIR COSTS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT WITH ALL THE PRESS ABOUT RECENT RECALLS ON LARGE NUMBERS OF CHEVY VEHICLES, AND THE GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WENT INTO BAILING OUT CHEVY, THAT SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS INCREASINGLY FREQUENT CHEVY TRUCK BRAKE FAILURES, WHICH COULD PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK, HAVE BEEN IGNORED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639624
Incident
Jun 28, 2014
Mileage
62,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2014

I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON OLD US 23 IN BRIGHTON, MI AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY GOT THE TRUCK STOPPED. ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. POLARCHIOS AUTO REPAIR (BRIGHTON, MI) IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE DUE TO CORROSION. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BRAKE LINES CORRODING AND WHILE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE APPROX. $350 REPAIR DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH OF THE INCIDENT THINKING THIS WAS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM. POLARCHIOS TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL OTHER TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I SAW THAT THIS AGENCY WAS INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM AND WAS ENCOURAGING GM TO RECALL AND REPAIR THESE VEHICLES AND WANTED TO PROVIDE MY EXPERIENCE. I WOULD THINK A RECALL IS IN ORDER AS I ONLY HAD ONE LINE FAIL, THERE ARE 3 MORE......WHEN WILL THOSE FAIL? AS SERIOUS AS THE GM IGNITION KEY ISSUES ARE, I WOULD THINK THE ABILITY TO STOP WOULD BE AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT. PLEASE CALL ME AT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS - THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO! *TR

NHTSA ID
10609276
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 2014

SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKE FLUID GUSHED FROM BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. ALSO LEAKED ON DRIVER'S REAR PASSENGER SIDE. TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. *JS

NHTSA ID
10608792
Incident
Jul 7, 2014
Mileage
171,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 6, 2014

BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WAS GETTING NO BRAKING AT ALL UNLESS EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED...LUCKILY WAS AT A STOP IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NOT TRYING TO STOP ON AT AM INTERSECTION OR ON THE HIGHWAY...WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME USING EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP...AREN'T THESE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SPLIT SYSTEM SO YOU CANNOT LOSE ALL BRAKES AT ONCE...PADS ARE NOT WORN LOW...AND FLUID IS SPRAYING FROM BRAKE LINE DIRECTLY UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR... *JS

NHTSA ID
10608466
Incident
Jul 6, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 16, 2014

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IN A CURVE I NOTICE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I REGAINED CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE I PLACE THE VEHICLE IN THE N DRIVE ATTEMPTING TO LET THE VEHICLE COAST TO A STOP. I DID A MAINTENANCE CHECK FOR LOW BRAKE FLUID, I FOUND THAT THE LEVEL WAS GOOD. THAT'S WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT MY BRAKE LINE HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BRAKE FLUID WAS SHOOTING OUT FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME THAT MY LIFE AND OTHERS HAS BEEN ENDANGERED. THE FIRST INCIDENCE WAS A FEW YEARS AGO I WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, THE SECOND TIME WAS NOVEMBER 2013 AND NOW THIS TIME. ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 2006 WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON IT FOR THIS TO OCCUR THREE TIMES IS TO OFTEN. I NOW HAVE 150000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR OR NEW CAR PAYMENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO TO SO THAT I AND OTHER LIVES WILL NOT BE FURTHER ENDANGERED. RECALL AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE BRAKE LINES BREAKING SO THAT WE ARE SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588823
Incident
May 14, 2014
Mileage
159,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN ALL THE BRAKES ,I MEAN ALL THE BRAKES WENT, AND A SERVICE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME.I MANAGED TO DRIFT TO A STOP, OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE HURT SOMEONE OR BEEN KILLED. NO WARNING. I HAD TO PAY 1900 FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD SINCE I AM ON DISABILITY. IT STILL SCARES US. *TR

NHTSA ID
10556405
Incident
Dec 9, 2013
Mileage
94,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524322
Incident
Jul 10, 2013
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2013

2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALER, WHERE AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BREAK IN ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES, AND ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SO DETERIORATED AND RUST ENCRUSTED, THAT ALL OF THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10521329
Incident
May 19, 2013
Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO CORROSION, THE BRAKE LINES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, AS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALER WHERE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MACHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,392.

NHTSA ID
10505375
Incident
Jul 12, 2012
Mileage
62,392 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 20, 2013
Crash reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503759
Incident
Sep 26, 2012
Mileage
114,916 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .