Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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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 Silverado 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
DRIVING THROUGH A RURAL TOWN GOING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE VERY SOFT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT NEAR THE FLOOR, EASED IT HOME ON FRONT BRAKES (AS REAR LINE HAD RUPTURED). UPON INSPECTION BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED IN TWO JUST BEHIND THE FUEL TANK (LONG SECTION HAD RUSTED AWAY). REPLACED LINE GOING TO REAR BRAKES.
WAS DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR WHEN TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I HAD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD INTO DITCH. *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ON 9/23/14 AND WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DOWN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION AND NARROWLY MISSING HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM BENEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I PURCHASED A LARGE BOTTLE OF BRAKE FLUID FROM A GAS STATION AND CONTINUED TO FILL THE BRAKE RESERVOIR UNTIL I MADE IT BACK TO MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. DURING THE SHOP'S INVESTIGATION, THEY DISCOVERED THAT A STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD BURST DUE TO RUST. IN FURTHER INVESTIGATION THEY NOTICED THAT ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NEARLY RUSTED THROUGH. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR AT A COST OF NEARLY $1000.00. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES THAT WERE MUCH OLDER THAN THIS TRUCK THAT NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH BRAKE LINE RUST OR FAILURE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE FAILURE. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, BUT IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS LINE OF GM TRUCKS SOMEONE COULD SERIOUSLY GET HURT OR WORSE. *TR
THANK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME AND KNEW WHAT TO DO. I WAS DRIVING. AS WE WERE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WE HEAR A NOISE NOT HAVING A CLUE IN THE WORLD. HE SAID WE NEED TO FIND A PULL OFF AND SEE WHAT THAT COULD BE. AS I WENT TO EXIT OFF I DISCOVERED I HAD NO BRAKES. NONE WHATSOEVER. AS MY HUSBAND GETS IT TO A STOP WE DISCOVER BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT FROM BEHIND THE FUEL TANK AND BETWEEN THE CAB. I WAS PANICKING. MY HUSBAND CRAWLS UP UNDER IT TO DISCOVER ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT AND BUSTED. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE FIRST OF MARCH 2014 FROM JERRY (TODD) HUNT AUTO SALE IN LEXINGTON NC. HOW COULD HE EVEN BE ALLOWED TO SELL SUCH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE? THAT WAS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. HOW CAN CHEVROLET EVEN PUT SUCH BRAKE LINES ON AS THAT? AS I CALLED CHEVROLET THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING. I CALLED TODD HUNTS TO HAVE THE LADY YELLING AT ME! RUDE! THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT...I SEEN DEATH BEFORE MY EYES THAT DAY. I FOUND ON CONSUMER AGENCY WHERE OUT OF 473 COMPLAINTS 101 WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE THE SAME TRUCKS THE YEARS 1999-2003. I ALSO FOUND IN NEW YORK TIMES WHERE GM ISN'T WANTING TO DO A RECALL CAUSE IT WAS GOING TO COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO NOW WHAT? WE ALL JUST GET KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, NOTICED THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,938.
FIRST FAILURE WAS THE DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM I WAS HOOKED UP TO A TRAILER AND STARTED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY (ABOUT 0.4MILE LONG) AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARDS. THERE WAS NO STOPPING EFFORT FROM THE BRAKES. I USED THE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BOTH BRAKE LINES UNDER THE CAB AREA HAD RUSTED OUT AND RUPTURED AT THE SAME TIME. HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD AT SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. THE DEALER WHO PICKED UP THE TRUCK COMMENTED THAT THIS HAPPENS "SOMETIMES". HE REPLECED THE LINES WITH NON-GM ONES SO THEY WOULD LAST LONGER. THIS WINTER I WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING THE TRUCK IN COLD WEATHER AND NOTED THAT I NEEDED TO OPERATE THE MANUAL FUEL PRIMING PUMP TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED. (TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL DIESEL ENGINE. THE DEALER WHEN WORKING ON THIS NOTED THAT THE LINES WERE VERY RUSTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY SAFETY CONCERN THIS TIME WAS THE SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUEL WEEPING OUT OF THE RUSTED AREAS UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE EXHAUST. AND ONTO THE GROUND. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF RUST OCCURRING ON THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. THIS WORRIES ME AS THE TRUCK ONLY HAS ABOUT 36,000 MILES ON IT AND I LIVE IN A STATE (VERMONT) THAT USES SAND AND NOT SALT ON THE ROADS AND TRAVEL ONLY MINIMALLY IN SNOW WITH THE TRUCK. WHEN I WAS HAVING THE FUEL LINES REPLACED AND WHILE THERE THE OTHER TWO CUSTOMERS IN LINE WERE ALSO HAVING RUSTED BRAKE LINES REPLACED. SEEMS LIKE MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE. I HAVE REQUESTED THE RUSTED FUEL LINES FROM THE DEALER AND STILL HAVE THEM IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME WITH CAUTION. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUPTURED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. KJ
WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WENT TO STOP AND PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR,BLOWING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER ROAD.I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES ON THIS PROBLEM,WITH CHEVY PRODUCTS.THANK HEAVENS I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED. ENOUGH SAID SHOULD BE A RECALL,OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS ALL READY FINISHED ON THESE CORRODED LINES. *TR
BRAKE LINES HAD EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CORROSION/RUSTED CAUSING A LEAK(S). LINES GOING FROM THE ABS MODULE TO THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING. LINES GOING FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO THE RESERVOIR WERE ALSO RUSTED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. LINES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN LEAKING A WEEK LATER. *TR
BRAKE LINES ARE ALL RUSTED AS ARE FUEL LINES, BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED LEAK AFTER HARD STOP, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, REPAIR SHOP IS NOW REPLACING BRAKE LINES. *TR
HAD CORRODED FUEL LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATED THAT BRAKE LINES LOOKED IN BAD SHAPE AND SUGGESTED THEY BE REPLACED ALSO. HAD LIMITED USAGE OF MY TRUCK WHILE I LOOKED INTO HAVING THEM REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WITH MY WIFE IN TRUCK, AS I WENT TO STOP, LINE RUPTURED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I CAME CLOSE TO GOING THROUGH STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING CAR. I REPLACE THE LINE SINCE IT WAS EASY, AND NOW ON 7/8/2003 TWO MORE LINES HAVE RUPTURED. *TR
WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT WENT TO STOP AND LOST BRAKES. I GOT IT BACK HOME AND INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THAT IT BLEW A REAR AND FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED SO BAD WE REPLACED THEM ALL. UPON REPLACING BRAKE LINES I NOTICED THAT FUEL LINES WERE ALSO ROTTED SEVERELY AND ONE WAS WET WITH DIESEL. THE TRUCK IS USED EVERYDAY AND DOESN'T SIT. THESE LINES SHOULD NOT ROT THIS BAD THIS FAST. SOME THING GM SHOULD ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY AND HE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT AFTER HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
ON THE ABOVE LISTED DATE THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN HILL NOT FAR FROM MY HOUSE, THIS WAS NOT A COMPLETE FAILURE AS I WAS ABLE TO STOP, GET TURNED AROUND AND GO HOME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND A BRAKE LINE THAT RUSTED THROUGH. WHILE LOOKING ON LINE FOR PARTS AND GUIDANCE I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE WHICH PROMPTED ME TO FURTHER INSPECT THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK. I MUST SAY THAT I TOTALLY AGREE ALL THE COMMENTS MADE REGARDING RUST ON THESE VEHICLES, IT IS QUITE EXCESSIVE. AS I LOOKED CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF RUST ON ALL COMPONENTS OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE, IE CAB MOUNTS, BED MOUNTS ALL BRAKE LINES, SPRINGS, SPRING SHACKLES, THE ENTIRE FRAME AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH HAS BEEN IN UPSTATE NEW YORK SINCE NEW. THE UNDER CARRIAGE LOOKS NEW COMPARED TO THE CHEVY. I FEEL G.M. MUST HAVE USED A VERY POOR GRADE OF UNDER COATING ON THESE VEHICLES AND TO LEAVE SOMETHING LIKE BRAKE LINES UNPROTECTED LIKE THAT IS JUST WRONG. I'M JUST GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE TOWING THE FIFTH WHEEL. I ALSO FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE BRAKE LINES. *TR
2003 CHEVY SILVERADO LAST YEAR BRAKE LINES BROKE WHILE ON ROAD DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION LINES . WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT REPLACED ALL LINES ON VEHICLE. NOW ALL ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THEM . POOR QUALITY OF ROTORS AND CALIBERS ON VEHICLE . WE ONLY HAVE 38,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
FULL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. DURING A PANIC STOP TO AVOID A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ALL THE METAL BRAKE LINES BETWEEN THE ABS MODULE AND THE WHEEL ENDS BURST DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION BUILD UP. ALL THE METAL LINES MUST BE REPLACED WITH NEW. *TR
VEHICLE IS A CHEVY 2003 4X4 3500 DUALLY WITH APPROXIMATELY 87,000 MILES. SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE LEAK I SINCE HAD FIXED. WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE BRAKE PEDAL SLAMS TO THE FLOOR AND IN REVERSE THERE IS ALSO A LOUD CLUNK THAT SHAKES THE TRUCK. *TR
BRAKE LINES RUST THROUGH WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. IN MY CASE IT WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE THE TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH APPROX. 1000 LBS OF MATERIAL. FORTUNATELY IT WAS JUST THE REAR LINES SO I STILL HAD FRONT BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS EVENT I FOUND CASES THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES RUSTED THROUGH AT THE SAME TIME. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THESE TRUCKS CAN HAUL OR TOW I BELIEVE THE CHANCES OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ARE GREAT ENOUGH TO WARRANT NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS FARTHER. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY K3500 SILVERADO TRUCK, WITH ABOUT 60,000 MILES. AS OF DECEMBER 2010, I HAVE SUFFERED TWO BRAKE LINE FAILURES DUE TO CORROSION, WHEREIN A STEEL RIGID BRAKE LINE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, RESULTING IN BRAKE LOSS. I LIVE IN OHIO, AND SALT IS USED ON ROADS, HOWEVER, IN MY 30 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR MILES, WHICH SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. IN BOTH CASES OF FAILURE, I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I WAS NOT IN A HEAVY PRESSURE SITUATION, AND LUCKILY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NOW LARGELY REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE TRUCK, AT CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL TIME AND EXPENSE, HOWEVER, PROBLEMS STILL INCLUDE THE FACT THAT CORROSION CONTINUOUSLY AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS AS THEY INPUT TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THEY CONSTANTLY FAIL TO SENSE WHEEL SPEED AT LOWER SPEEDS WHICH RESULTS IN ERRONEOUS ACTIVATION OF THE ABS ACTION. THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED ONCE AT 30,000 MILES, AND THEY LASTED ABOUT 15,000 MILES BEFORE GOING BAD AGAIN. THIS COMPARES TO A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN WHICH WAS SOLD A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 215,000 MILES WITH ZERO PROBLEMS, BOTH WITH RESPECT TO STEEL BRAKE LINE INTEGRITY AS WELL AS ABS SENSOR INTEGRITY. I CONSIDER THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE 2003 SILVERADO TRUCK TO BE OF VERY QUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY. *TR
SUDDEN COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE LEAK . VEHICLE IS A CHEVY 2003 4X4 3500 DUALLY WITH APPROXIMATELY 82,000 MILES. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT REPAIR SHOP. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
ABS AT LOW SPEED ACTIVATES, BRAKING PEDAL LOW. *TR
THIS CLAIM IS ON A CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 DIESEL TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT NEW. AROUND 30,000 MILES THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR CLUTCH PROBLEMS 3 TIMES, BRAKES GOING TO THE FLOOR, THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE, RADIO PROBLEMS, STEERING PROBLEMS AND TIRE WEAR. GENERAL MOTORS, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS CONTACTED AN ASSURED ME THIS TRUCK WAS NOT A LEMON, I SAID IT WAS. NOW BETWEEN 30,000 AND 90,000 MILES I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I HAD THE DOORS LOCK FOR NO REASON AT ALL, LOCK BY THEMSELVES. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE HUNG AT THE FENDER CAUSING MASSIVE DENTS WHERE I HAD TO FORCE THE DOORS OPEN DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE DOOR AND FENDER. THE INITIAL BRAKE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. I HAD A WATER LEAK IN THE CAB AROUND THE LIGHTS, THAT CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO THE SEATS. I REWIRED THE REAR LIGHTS, BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES. FOUR SETS OF TIRES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THIS TRUCK AT 90,000 MILES (TIRES COST AROUND $1,000 A SET). I HAVE TRIED THREE BRANDS OF TIRES. THEY ARE GENERALS (6 PLY), GEO TRAC (10 PLY), AND TOYO (10 PLY). THE DASH SYSTEM IS GOING OUT (DASH COSTS $1200). THE TRUCK IS LACKING POWER WHEN PULLING AND TODAY 7/28/2010 THE CLUTCH ALMOST CAME OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING AT 90,232 MILES (PROBABLY WILL COST BETWEEN $2,000 AND $3,000 IF NOT MORE). THE ENGINE OIL PLUS FILTER, THE FUEL FILTERS, AND GREASING OF THE TIE ROD ENDS ARE ALL DONE PER MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK, BUT LOOKING AT THE DOOR AND FENDER PROBLEM, ONE WOULD THINK IT HAS. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. IT IS A LEMON AND A SAFETY HAZARD. THE LEMON LAW WAS CHANGED FROM THREE FAILURES TO FOUR FAILURES DURING THE TIME THIS HAPPENED. NOW THE VEHICLE LEMON LAW YEAR IS ANY VEHICLE 2004 OR AFTER. THIS TRUCK IS A 2003 MODEL. IT IS TIME ALL PARTIES INVOLVED COME TO THE TABLE AND DEAL. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND THE ENGINE THAT WAS NEVER FIXED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT FULL RPM. UPDATED IVOQ 10/01/10 *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 15 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 7, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,500. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR
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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