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 2000 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 608 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.
The 25 most recent of 608, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,523.
AS I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO A STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY STIFFENED,PREVENTING ME FROM USING THE PEDAL TO COME TO A CONTROLLED STOP. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW AT THE TIME AND WAS IN A PARKING LOT, SO WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM COLLIDING WITH A PARKED CAR.. FROM ALL THAT I READ ,THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES THE ABS SYSTEM. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, I HAD THE BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY REPLACED WITH A BETTER GRADE THAN CAME WITH THE TRUCK. I DID THIS BECAUSE, WHILE THE TRUCK IS GOING ON 15 YEARS, THE MAIN COMPONENTS APPEAR TO HAVE SEVERAL MORE YEARS. BUT NOT WITH THIS SORT OF FUNDAMENTAL SAFETY ISSUE. I'M ANGRY THAT GM HAS NOT HAD TO RECALL MY TRUCK FOR THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM GOES STIFF AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE TO JAM ON THE BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STOP, THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY WILL STOP AFTER A 3 TO FIVE MORE FEET.THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SERVES NO PURPOSE.THE VEHICLE WORKS BETTER AFTER DISABLING THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM.PLEASE RECALL ALL CHEVY SILVERADOS AND TAHOES DUE TO ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ISSUES.
WHEN RETURNING HOME MY BRAKES FAILED WHEN ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY CAUSING ME TO STRIKE A TREE. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE GRILL OF MY VEHICLE. THE CAUSE WAS A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE LOSS OF BRAKES. *TR
DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 50MPH WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHICH TURNED YELLOW STEPPED ON MY BRAKES FELT LIKE I WASN'T EVEN PUSHING THEM PUMPED A FEW TIMES THE TRUCK STARTS BRAKING THE ONCE AGAIN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON BRAKE PEDAL IT FELT LIKE I WASN'T STEPPING ON THE PEDAL SO PUMPED AGAIN AND I ALMOST ENDED UP RUNNING A RED LIGHT WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!!! *TR
DRIVING ON 4 LANE BUSINESS ROAD COMING TO A RED LIGHT PUSHED ON BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND NO BRAKES HAD TO SWERVE INTO OTHER LANE TO KEEP FROM HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME RAN RED LIGHT DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR AND BEGAN RUBBING TIRES ON CURB UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP.CHECKED BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS EMPTY LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH UNDER DRIVERS DOOR.WALKED 2 BLOCKS TO PARTS STORE AND BROUGHT BRAKE FLUID FILLED MASTER CYLINDER PUMPED BRAKES STILL HAD NO BRAKES,I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ONE BROKEN LINE LEFT ME WITH NO BRAKES, I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TWO SYSTEMS FRONT AND REAR ? I HAVE SEVERAL VINTAGE TRUCKS FROM 67-72 ERA ALL STILL HAVE ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES, I THINK GM SKIMPED ON MATERIALS AND LEFT US WITH A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 PAST RECALL FIX BY GENERAL MOTORS WAS DONE INCORRECTLY. FRONT SENSORS FOR THE ABS SYSTEM BECOME DIRTY BECAUSE OF BAD SEALS IN THE HUB ASSEMBLY.ORIGINAL FIX ONLY PROVIDED MAINTENANCE TO THE PROBLEM NOT A PERMANENT FIX. AT LOW SPEEDS THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
WITHOUT ANY WARNING I WAS BACKING UP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR,THE CURB STOP THE TRUCK.TRUCK WAS IN CHEVY DEALER SERVICE FOR A COMPLETE REAR BRAKE JOB,PAD KIT,ROTOR,AND PARKING BRAKE KIT IN 2013 WHICH INCLUDED A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, ALSO IN 2009,2012. AT NO TIME VERBALLY OR WRITTEN ON MY RECEIPTS WERE BRAKE LINES NEEDED REPLACING. PUT TRUCK IN SHOP TO HAVE BRAKE LINE REPLACE BY DEALER RECOMMENDATION AND WHEN I PICKED TRUCK UP 10/25/2014 FOUND THEY DIDN'T REPLACE RUSTED BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES. *TR
WHILE COMING TO A STOP LIGHT GOING ABOUT 25 MILE AN HOUR I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT FELT MUSHY THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FINALLY STOPPING BEFORE ENTERING A HIGHWAY WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 50 MILES PER HOUR. TURNED AROUND AND WENT HOME NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COMING OUT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR. ALL THE LINES CORRODED JUST A FEW MORE FEET TO STOP AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. *TR
I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND FELT ONE SET BLOW OUT, PRESSED HARDER TO COMPENSATE AND FELT THE REMAINING SET BLOW OUT. THE PEDAL THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON (NO REASON FOR IT TO?). LUCKILY I HAD A TRAILER CONNECTED WHICH HAD WORKING ELECTRIC BRAKES AND I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY ACTIVATE THOSE BRAKES. LATER THAT DAY WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE IN MY YARD, I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH IMMEDIATELY FAILED. INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES REVEALED MASSIVE CORROSION ON ALL OF THE LINES AND WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. INSPECTION OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE REVEALED THE LINE WAS COATED IN PLASTIC EXCEPT IN SOME AREAS. THOSE AREAS WERE TOTALLY CORRODED RESULTING IN THE CABLE BRAKING IN ONE OF THOSE AREAS. SO IN ONE PEDAL ACTION, BOTH FRONT AND BACK BRAKES CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. AND IN THE SAME DAY, ALL 3 SYSTEMS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND THEY REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED IN AND HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN (AT THE VEHICLE OWNERS EXPENSE), HOWEVER CHEVROLET HAD NO PROGRAM IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST... I OPTED TO REPAIR ALL THE BREAK LINES MYSELF TO AVOID THE THE EXTRA COST OF A TOW AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT WOULD HAVE NO OUTCOME OTHER THAN A REPORT TO CHEVROLET AT A LARGE EXPENSE TO ME. APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 MILES.
SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE DID FINALLY STOP. DROVE CAREFULLY HOME ABOUT 2 MILES. I FOUND A STEEL BRAKE LINE THAT HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. BRAKE FLUID WAS ALL OVER THE UNDER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. *TR
THE METAL BRAKE LINE BLEW A HOLE IN IT CAUSING ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING I HIT MY BRAKES AND THE PRESSURE WENT OUT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM DRIVER SIDE JUST BEHIND THE FRONT TIRE.
2000 CHEVROLET 1500 Z71 4X4 - WENT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND BRAKE LINING WAS RUSTED OUT. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 42,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT! GARAGE TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINING REPLACED DO TO VERY RUSTY AND THE REST OF THE LINING COULD BRAKE OR LEAK AT ANYTIME. AFTER READING ALL OF THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE ABOUT THE BRAKE LINING ISSUES, I VERY SURPRISED HOW LUCKY WE ALL WERE ACTUALLY NOT BEING IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED GM BEFORE THE LUCK RUNS OUT FOR SOMEONE ELSE! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
BRAKE LINE BLEW UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADVISED THAT ALL OF MY LINES NEED REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND COULD POSSIBLY BLOW UNEXPECTEDLY. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED ABOUT $500 FOR PARTS AND UP TO $800 FOR LABOR DEPENDING ON THE DIFFICULTY. I DO NOT LIVE IN AN AREA WITH A LOT OF SALT APPLIED TO THE ROADS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR
I APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH LITTLE TO NO STOPPING POWER.I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT.I WAS LUCKY IT WAS 5:45AM AND LIGHT TRAFFIC AS I WOULD HAVE HIT ANY VEHICLE IF THERE WAS ONE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME.THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF BRAKES WAS RUSTED FRONT BRAKE LINE THAT BURST WITHOUT WARNING.THESE TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS MY MECHANIC HAS REPAIRED MANY CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE WITH THE SAME RUSTED BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS. *JS
BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY APPLIED BRAKE AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. HAD TO APPLY PARKING BRAKE TO STOP .GOT OUT OF TRUCK AND LOOKED UNDER AND SAW FLUID DRIPPING ONTO PAVEMENT. FLUID STAINED DRIVEWAY. FOUND RUSTED BRAKE LINE NEAR REAR TIRE. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. *JS
BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. I WAS COMING UP TO A LIGHT AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND NEXT THING I KNEW MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS STILL COASTING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS A BOX TRUCK JUST AHEAD OF ME AND LUCKILY HE WAS IN THE TURNING LANE SO THAT LEFT A LANE OPEN FOR ME. THERE WASN'T ANY CROSS TRAFFIC COMING AND I BLEW THREW THE RED LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AT A NEARBY PARKING LOT. SCARED THE S*** OUT OF ME ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE MY DAUGHTER IN THE TRUCK. *TR
BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH DIRECTLY BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME NEAR THE ABS PUMP/MODULE. STREAM OF FLUID SHOOTING OUT. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ALL LINES CORRODED, COVERED IN RUST...EVEN IN LOCATIONS WHERE EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE AND SALT DOES NOT OCCUR. DOES NOT MAKE SENSE..MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE IS CLOSE TO SAME YEAR, NOT A SPECK OF RUST...MUST BE BAD MATERIAL OR BAD ROUTING...OR BETTER MATERIAL AND PROTECTION FROM ELEMENTS ON ESCAPE...IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? FORD RECALLED OUR ESCAPE RECENTLY TO PROTECT AGAINST RUST OUT OF STEERING COMPONENTS? WILL GM DO THE SAME FOR BRAKES? MY 2003 SUBURBAN HAS SAME ISSUE...EVERY LINE COVERED IN RUST...REGARDLESS OF LOCATION...BUT NO BURST YET...CROSSING FINGERS IT IS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE...HOW MUCH RUST IS OK TO HAVE ON MY LINES? HAS GM SAID ? *TR
A BRAKE LINE BURST DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION, ALMOST RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH. I HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO THE BERM TO AVOID THE CRASH. AFTER INSPECTION ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND RUSTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ALSO RUSTED, CORRODED AND LEAKING. THEY ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TRUCK EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. SERVICE STATION INSPECTED BRAKES AND FOUND ALL METAL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. PLEASE NOTE THE RELATIVELY VERY LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENCE SUGGESTING MAJOR MATERIAL DEFECTS. ACCORDING TO A PUBLISHED REPORT FROM APRIL 5, 2010 (SEE: HTTP://WOT.MOTORTREND.COM/NHTSA-PROBES-19992003-GM-TRUCKS-FOR-POSSIBLE-RUSTED-BRAKE-LINES-8152.HTML) NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. *TR
CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER - PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR - NO BRAKES AT ALL. THE TRAILER ELECTRIC BRAKES WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW THE DOWN. LINES ARE RUSTED OUT. *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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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