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 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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
ALL FACTORY HARD BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. I'VE REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE LINE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND DISTRIBUTION BLOCK WITH STAINLESS STEEL 1.5 YRS AGO. I JUST REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES ALONG THE AXEL. NOW THE FRONT BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED. IN ALL CASES THE LINES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND EMPTIED THE MASTER CYLINDER. I DO NOT LIVE IN THE SALT BELT.
BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED & CORRODED BRAKE LINES RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS. LUCKILY MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 WAS STATIONARY WHEN BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I WAS NOT TOWING A TRAILER OR LOADED WITH CARGO AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE ABS PUMP ALSO FAILED PRIOR TO LINE FAILURE. MY FATHER IN LAW HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR 1500. WHY DOES GM NOT USE STAINLESS BRAKE LINES FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT.
2 PROBLEMS: 1- WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP I NOTICED A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED AT THE FRAME RAIL UNDER DRIVER AREA. I WAS ABLE TO CRIMP BRAKE LINE WITH A PAIR OF VICE GRIP PLIERS AND MOVE TRUCK TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR REPAIR. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE LINES USED ON THESE TRUCKS TO BE OF SUCH INFERIOR QUALITY THAT SUDDEN FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. 2- MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS FOR DIESEL FUEL AND THEY HAVE WORKED SPORADICALLY FOR YEARS. I DID NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MUCH AS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER WHILE MY TRUCK WAS IDLING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY I NOTICED DIESEL FUEL DRIPPING OUT OF THE FRONT TANK FILLER CAP. APPARENTLY THE PUMP THAT PUMPS THE FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK WAS RECEIVING A SIGNAL TO PUMP EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT TANK WAS COMPLETELY FILLED. IT WAS CONTINUING TO PUMP AND LEAKING THE FUEL OUT THE FILLER NECK. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FLOAT THAT STICKS IN THE REAR TANK, THE SENDING UNITS THAT FAIL, A WIRING GROUND ISSUE OR SOME OTHER ELECTRONIC GLITCH. I DO KNOW ISSUES WITH DUAL TANK DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCKS ARE ABOUT AS COMMON AS THE TRUCK ITSELF IS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I REALIZED MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY VEHICLE MODEL HAVE HAD BOTH OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS SO I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THEM.
FRONT BRAKE LINES FAILED CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEED, BUT STILL WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A FIXED OBJECT
IN MARCH WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVY 3500 DIESEL TRUCK THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAB LIT UP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FEELING SPONGY. I TOOK IT INTO CLASSIC AUTO GROUP MENTOR FOR SERVICE. A WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER ITEMS AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOOD TO GO. I PICKED IT UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL SPONGY AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. ON APRIL 22, I RETURNED TO THE CLASSIC AUTO GROUP CHEVY SERVICE TO AGAIN HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED. THEY BILLED ME $1400.00 TO CHANGE A VALVE, A MODULE AND SOME SCREWS. THE BRAKES NOW GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. THERE IS NO EFFECTIVE BRAKING ABILITY. WITH NO EFFECTIVE BRAKING THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT LIT UP. CLASSIC AUTO GROUP CHEVY IN MENTOR SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT HOW THE BRAKES WORKED BEFORE THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THEY WORKED LIKE BRAKES ON ANY VEHICLE. CLASSIC AUTO GROUP MENTOR SAYS THAT I SHOULD JUST GET USED TO IT. I HAVE A COMPLAINT NUMBER FROM CHEVY # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK THIS EVENING AND WAS PULLING UP TO THE GARAGE AND THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ME TO HIT THE GARAGE. I WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOUND BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. BRAKE LINES WAS FOUND TO BE RUSTED IN TWO IN SEVERAL PLACES AFTER HAVING A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC COME AND LOOK AT VEHICLE. HE FOUND A COUPLE LINES THAT HAD EXPLODED THRU RIGHT UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ON TOP THE FRAME AND ANOTHER ONE ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. AFTER GOOGLING WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH NHTSA ON THIS PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES. WHY ARE WE PAYING YOU PEOPLE TO TRY AND KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE. THIS IS A VERY ONGOING PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES AND NEEDS ADDRESSED PROMPTLY. *JB
HAD JUST HOOKED UP OUR 38' - 12,000LB FIFTH WHEEL AND HEADED OUT FOR THE WEEKEND. CAME TO THE FIRST STOP SIGN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY GOT STOPPED WITH TRAILER BRAKES. AFTER STOPPING, PUMPING BRAKES CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO POUR OUT FROM JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. UPON RESEARCH WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME, I FIND THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET TRUCKS.
BRAKES FAILED. CHINA MADE STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND DISINTEGRATED. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HAD TO GET REPAIR TO STEEL BRAKE LINES FROM ABS PUMP TO MASTER CYLINDER AND FRONT CALIPERS. ALSO MAKE UP AND REPLACE STEEL BRAKE LINE TO REAR AXLE AND TO REAR LEFT AND RIGHT REAR CALIPERS. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BLEED SCREWS IN ALL CALIPERS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 DUALLY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, I HAD SO MAKE A SUDDEN EMERGENCY STOP. MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH VIRTUALLY NO STOPPING POWER FOR THE VEHICLE. I SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND WAS VERY LUCKY. THE TRUCK WENT DIRECTLY TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHICH HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ALL NEED TO BE CHANGED. I CALLED THE CHEVY SUPPORT NUMBER TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AND ASK ABOUT A RECALL. THE REP TOOK THE LAST EIGHT OF MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. I TOW HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH THIS TRUCK FOR WORK, SO IT IS AN ALARMING SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME FOR THE BRAKES TO SUDDENLY NOT WORK WITHOUT WARNING. I AM LUCKY THAT NOBODY GOT KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
COUNTY ROAD (THANK GOODNESS). DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN A LADY TURNED OFF A SIDE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. THE BRAKE PEDAL HELD MOMENTARILY BUT THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. I SWERVED RIGHT INTO THE DITCH AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP FROM STRIKING HER CAR IN THE REAR. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME (APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES), I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. COULD NOT AFFORD TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP (APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES AWAY IN HEAVY SUBURBAN TRAFFIC) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. SAVED UP AND TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (09/2012). MECHANIC ASK IF THE TRUCK HAD EVER BEEN UNDER WATER. REASON FOR QUESTION WAS THE BRAKE LINES, FRONT CALIPERS, AND TOP FORWARD FRAME WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING A BREAK FAILURE. THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 21,000 MILES, NEVER BEEN SUBMERGED IN WATER, OCCASIONALLY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER, WASHED FREQUENTLY (ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER) AND WAXED, AND HAS ZERO BODY OR BED RUST. AFTER REPAIR, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. I READ SOMEWHERE ON THIS SITE A BULLETIN REGARDING PREMATURE ABS SENSOR FAILURE AND DEALERS FIXING THE SENSORS BUT I CAN NOT FIND THE ABS BULLETIN NOW. *TR
BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING. HEAVY RUST ON SEVERAL BRAKE LINES, FRAME, AND CROSS MEMBERS. *TR
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CASING BRAKE FAILURE AND A CRASH. NO WARNING LIGHT. *TR
SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO THE TURN LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE ENTRANCE AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD .THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE ON 5/23/11 ODI #10402905 .THE SERVICE TECH SAYS THE LINE DON'T LOOK THAT BAD ,AND HE COULD NOT BUY REPLACEMENT LINES FROM CHEVROLET. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TWICE! *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,620.
I WAS UNLOADING MULCH FROM THE BED OF TRUCK ONTO THE FLOWER BEDS IN MY YARD. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK TO MOVE TO A NEW SPOT EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I WENT TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS ONLY AT AN IDLE BUT THE BRAKE WOULDN'T EVEN SLOW IT DOWN TO A WALKING SPEED. THE PARKING BRAKE WORKED FINE AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP. I PUT THE REST OF THE MULCHING JOB ON HOLD UNTIL THE NEXT DAY UNTIL I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. THE NEXT DAY I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND ADDED ALMOST A QUART. WHEN I WENT TO MOVE THE TRUCK THE BRAKE STILL WENT TO THE FLOOR BUT I WAS READY FOR THAT AND GOT THE TRUCK OFF OF THE GRASS AND BACK OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THAT WAS WHEN I SAW JUST HOW BAD IT WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE TRUCK IS STILL HERE AT MY HOUSE. I GUESS I WILL HAVE IT TOWED SOMEWHERE TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK TO THE REAR WHEELS REPLACED. *TR
BRAKE LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ENGINE COOLANT LINES ALL FAILING ON 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 HD AS WELL AS ON 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIME TO REPAIR AND REPLAFE, AND TODAY THERE WAS A BRAKE FAILUER ON THE 2004 HD GMC THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT. THESE LINES SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED AND WE HAVE ISSUES WITH BOTH VEHICLES ON THE SAME LINES. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCTED WITH INADEQUATE PARTS FOR ALL LINES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD NOT BE 1,000 PLUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS REGARDING THE RUSTING OF THESE COMPONENTS, OF WHICH HAVE CUASED SEVERAL MAJOR ANMD LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. THE BRAKE LINES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF ANY VEHICLE AND TO HAVE THEM RUST THRU TO THE DEGREE OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPENENTS THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. BETWEEN OUR 2004 CHEVY AND 2003 GMC TRUCKS WE HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE TRANMISSION COLLANT LINES, OIL ENGINE LINES AND READY TO CHANGE BRAKE LINES IN 1 TRUCK WITH THE OTHER TRUCK HAVING TO ALSO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE COMPENENTS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. HE HAD TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING HE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE HYDRO-BOOSTER PUMP LEAKED BRAKE AND STEERING FLUID. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES). A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER WITH GM PARTS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED, AS WELL AS BOTH HYDRAULIC LINES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. GM RECOMMENDED THAT THE POWER STEERING BOX BE REPLACED, IN WHICH THE CONTACT COMPLIED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER (REFERENCE NUMBER 71-742385439). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 9/23/09 *CN THE HOSES, PUMP AND HYDRO BOOST WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/28/09. *JB
2004 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH 37K. ROTORS ARE SHOT ALL AROUND. CHIPPING PEELING SURFACE. UNSAFE CONDITION EXISTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHEN THERE IS HALF OF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,750.
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL GAVE NO RESISTANCE WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID STOP. THIS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT GM TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS STARTED HAPPENING THE WEEK OF 12/18/06. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 1/29/2007 - THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT OPERATED THIS WAY FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *NM
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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