Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2005 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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
The vehicle was idle for about 4 months. I took it to a carwash to clean the dust off. Upon returning (abt a 2 mile trip) the brakes failed and steam was coming out from under the hood. I opened the hood and brake fluid was sprayed all over the driver's side of the engine and wheel well. A brake line had rusted through and burst. Fortunately, I made it home carefully because I had noticed the brakes were soft.
ON 4/11/2020, WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON N. MAIN STREET, FAYETTEVILLE, NC AND ACCELERATING FROM THE STOPLIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF CAMDEN ROAD, I WAS REQUIRED TO APPLY THE BRAKES FORCEFULLY AND SUDDENLY DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF ANOTHER MOTORIST. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, I LOST ALL BRAKING POWER AND RESORTED TO UTILIZING THE MANUAL PARKING BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND DRIVE IT CAREFULLY BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE, THE DASHBOARD BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT (AKA, IDIOT LIGHT) ILLUMINATED AND A "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY DURING THE TRIP BACK TO MY RESIDENCE WHEN TESTING THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR RESUMED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER ARRIVING HOME, I PERFORMED A QUICK INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE PORTION OF THE BRAKES LINES LOCATED ON THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME RAIL HAD RUSTED AND PERFORATED NEAR THE ABS MODULE, CAUSING THE FAILURE ALONG WITH MASSIVE FLUID LOSS (SEE ATTACHED PICS). I PERFORMED A CURSORY INTERNET SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE NHTSA HAS ALREADY PERFORMED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS EXACT ISSUE AND THE INVESTIGATION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED WITH NO RECALL ISSUED BY GM. OF NOTE, GM VEHICLES USE A MANUAL PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH LOCATED WITHIN THE BRAKE COMBINATION VALVE THAT ISOLATES THE DAMAGED CIRCUIT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE AND ALSO ILLUMINATES THE DASHBOARD BRAKE LIGHT. THIS SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE IN THIS INSTANCE AS EVIDENCED BY LOSING ALL BRAKING, AS OPPOSED TO REDUCED BRAKING, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHT NOT REMAINING ILLUMINATED. BASED ON THE APPEARANCE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND INDICATION OF RUST IN SEVERAL SPOTS ON THE BODY (E.G, TAILGATE), I BELIEVE THIS TRUCK WAS OPERATED IN ONE OF THE RUST BELT STATES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BY A PRIOR OWNER.
BRAKES GAVE OUT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.CHEVY DEALER SAID LINES ARE RUSTED AND NEED REPLACE AT COST OF $1600.ALSO JUST REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM AND WHEEL BEARING HUB AT A COST OF $2300 BECAUSE YOUR NUTS ON THE STEERING ASSEMBLY HAVE A TENDENCY TO COME OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND VEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY ONSTAR TO DENOOYER CHEVROLET (127 WOLF RD, ALBANY, NY 12205, (518) 458-7700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,795.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I HAD TO APPLY A STRONG FORCE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE SURBURBAN BRAKES BECAME VERY STIFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER APPLYING AN EXTREME EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO FIND THE NEAREST EXIT AND WHILE DOING SO IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A 15 DEGREE TURN AND ALSO EXTREMELY HARD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE. I TOLD A MECHANIC ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID IT SOUND LIKE A BAD HYDRO BOOSTER. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. WHEN I LOOKED IT UP IT SAID 0 OPEN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP!.
THE 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500 WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET AND THE BRAKES BECAME SOFT INSTANTLY, A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED BY STEERING AWAY FROM THE CARS AT THE INTERSECTION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE SUDDEN FAILURE, OTHER THAN A INDICATOR ON THE DASH. A SHORT DRIVE TO THE HOME DRIVEWAY, THE REMAINING BRAKE FLUID HAS ALL LEAKED OUT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCATION.
THE FUEL LINE THAT IS ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK ROTTED THROUGH. THE BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED. THE CHASSIS IS ROTTING IN DIFFERENT PLACES I HAVE LESS THAN 77,000 MILES ON IT SINCE I BOUGHT NEW. I HAVE A 1969 MALIBU THAT I'VE HAD SINCE IT WAS NEW AND I KEEP IT OUTSIDE IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER AND NOT ONE PART OF THE CHASSIS IS ROTTED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF STEEL THEY USE NOW TO BUILD THESE CARS AND TRUCKS, BUT IT SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATES THESE THINGS HAPPENED, BUT I DO HAVE ALL THE REPAIR BILLS FOR THEM. WHEN THE BRAKE LINE ROTTED THROUGH I WAS GOING TO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME TO A YIELD SIGN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHET TO THE FLOOR. IT'S A GOOD THING IT HAPPENED THEN, BECAUSE I LIVE ON A MOUNTAIN AND WE HAVE A ROAD CALLED BREAKNECK AND IT IS A 25% GRADE. IT WAS RAINING THE DAY THAT THIS HAPPENED AND ALL I HAD WAS A LITTLE BIT OF FOOT BRAKE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I SURELY WOULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT IF I MADE IT TO THAT HILL.
REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED. MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE IN THE 2005 SUBURBAN 1500, SHE MANAGED TO PRESS THE EBRAKE THEN TURN THE SUBURBAN INTO SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD WHERE IT EVENTUALLY CAME TO REST ON A HILL. SHE WAS HEADED DOWNHILL ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. TOOK TO HUNDRU CHEV IN MANHEIM PA I WAS TOLD THE REPAIR WILL BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $2300.00
AS I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT A PARKING LOT ONTO A FOUR LANE ROADWAY, THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN FAILED. I LIVED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THIS LOCATION AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME. IT WAS A LITTLE SCAREY WITHOUT ANY STOPPING POWER, EVEN THE EMERGENCY BAKE WOULD NOT HOLD. WHEN I GOT HOME, I USED A FLASHLIGHT TO TRY TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND A PATTERN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE TO GET A BETTER LOOK AND FOUND A BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE ABS AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED OUT. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE LINE CONDITION, THEY NEED TO BE ALL REPLACED. NEVER IN MY 70 YEARS HAVE I SEEN BRAKE LINES ON A TEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE LOOK LIKE THEY DID, REALLY IN BAD SHAPE. LOOKED AT OTHER LINES, FUEL, TRANSMISSION, THEY ALL LOOKED LIKE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED.
WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN I NOTICED MY BRAKES FEELING MUSHY AND THE PEDAL NEEDING TO BE PRESSED FURTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD. MY "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON AND UPON INSPECTION NOTICED THAT I WAS LOW ON BRAKE FLUID. I FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TO THE MAX LINE. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I FURTHER INSPECTED THE BRAKE LINES TO FIND THAT THE LINES FROM THE ABS BOX TO THE REAR HAD RUSTED OUT AND WERE LEAKING BADLY. *TR
WE BOUGHT OUR CHEVY SUBURBAN IN MAY OF 2014, 73,000 MILES, GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE. THE SUBURBAN IS IN BEAUTIFUL SHAPE, ENGINE COMPARTMENT SHOWS VERY LITTLE SIGNS OF RUST OR CORROSION, SAME GOES FOR THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, VERY CLEAN. THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A LARGE HILL, MY WIFE HAD OUR TWO BOYS WITH HER IN THE VEHICLE AGES 5 AND 7 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES GAVE OUT COMPLETELY, NO BRAKING POWER AT ALL. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE WE FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED, THE ONLY PART ON THE VEHICLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS. WE KNOW WHO OWNED THE VEHICLE BEFORE US, ONE OWNER, AND SHE DID NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE VERY OFTEN IN WINTER WEATHER. SHE WORKS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAS OFF WHEN IT SNOWS. SHE ALSO HAD AN OLDER CAR THAT SHE DROVE WHEN THE WEATHER AND ROADS WERE BAD. THESE BRAKE LINES ARE FAULTY. THERE IS NO WAY THESE BRAKE LINES SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS AFTER 9 YEARS ON THE ROAD. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A 2005 YUKON AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. MY FRIEND [XXX] HAS A 2003 GMC PICKUP, SAME PROBLEM, HE ALMOST CRASHED INTO A LAKE WHEN HIS BRAKE LINES FAILED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND FAST AS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET KILLED. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SHARE WITH ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE THEM. YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS RUSTED BRAKES LINES THAT WILL COST ME $2,000 TO REPAIR. INTERESTINGLY I SEE MANY NATIONAL ARTICLES ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED. GM HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL TO COVER THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM; OTHER AUTOMAKERS HAVE DONE SO. THE NHTSA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS FOR WELL OVER 3 YEARS AND DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT TO DATE. I DON'T HAVE $2,000 TO HAVE THE WORK DONE, HOWEVER I ALSO CAN'T RISK THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE OF OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION AND GM SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. PRIOR TO THIS I WOULD CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER SUBURBAN, HOWEVER, NO MORE GM FOR ME! ITS A DISGRACE THE GM DOES NOT VALUE ITS CUSTOMERS AND THEIR SAFETY AND THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO FORCE A RECALL. JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE FOR ACTION TO OCCUR? *TR
WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES SOMETIMES THEY SEEM TO LOCK UP THEN SOME TIMES THE BROKE PEDDLE FAILS TO BE JUMPY SOUND LIKE A AIR BOOSTER FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD THE CAR HAS NEW BRAKE DISC AND ROTORS. *TR
BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED AND YESTERDAY ONE OF THE LINES BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RUPTURED RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. *TR
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO STEEL LINE CORROSION OR RUST. *TR
LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM RUSTED MAIN LINE OFF OF MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ARE CORRODED. I LEARNED YESTERDAY FROM WIN KELLY CHEVROLET IN CLARKSVILLE, MD THAT MY BRAKE LINES ARE SO CORRODED I SHOULD REPLACE THEM IMMEDIATELY. ALSO OBSERVED WERE RUSTY FUEL LINES. I, AND MANY OTHER SUBURBAN/SILVERADO OWNERS APPARENTLY AGREE, THAT THIS IS DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY A MANUFACTURE RECALL. THIS WAS MY FIRST GM PRODUCT; ALL OTHERS WERE DODGE. I NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE 17 OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED OVER THE PAST 34 YEARS. IF THE CORROSION IS THAT BAD I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT WASN'T NOTED IN PREVIOUS "BUMPER TO BUMPER COURTESY INSPECTIONS". *TR
STARTED ENGINE, DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE, BRAKE AND STABILITY WARNING LIGHT GO ON. I BACK UP, THEN GO INTO DRIVE, TRAVEL ABOUT 50 FEET, APPLY PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL AND AGAIN NO PRESSURE ON PEDAL, SUBURBAN SLOWLY STOPS FORWARD MOVEMENT ON LEVEL SURFACE. I RETURN SUBURBAN TO PARKING AREA AND TURN OFF ENGINE, CALL SERVICE SHOP AND MAKE APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR. NEXT WEEK, 4/22 SLOWLY DRIVE SUBURBAN 1 MILE TO REPAIR FACILITY FOR SERVICE. 4/23 REPAIR MANAGER CALLS TO TELL ME THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE EXCESSIVELY RUSTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT A LOW SPEED UNTIL SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. ON A LATER DATE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE DISCS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKES AND THE STABILITRAK WERE OUT OF ORDER UNTIL THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. PART#15234605 HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER THREE WEEKS AND EACH WEEK THE DEALER ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL WEEKS AS THE AVAILABILITY DATE. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS NO QUICK EXIT FROM THE THIRD SEAT AND THE TAILGATE. IT TAKES TOO MUCH FORCE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE IS SO LONG THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT SHOW THE ROAD VERY WELL EVEN AFTER ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE TAKE TOO MUCH FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. LASTLY, THE PICKUP ON THE TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH WHICH IS A CONCERN IN EMERGENCY CONDITIONS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE ALL ISSUES ARE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
GENERAL MOTORS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AN SUV/TRUCK RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE RECALL WENT INTO EFFECT IN 14 COLD-WEATHER STATES AND CANADA...BUT IT EXCLUDED WISCONSIN!!!! IT DID SO BECAUSE GM SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM WISCONSIN. THAT'S LUDICROUS! MANY HERE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS IN IOWA, MICHIGAN, AND ALL THE REST. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, TOOK MY 2001 SUBURBAN TO MY GM DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD I'D BE REIMBURSED SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. THEN THE WISCONSIN EXCLUSION WAS ANNOUNCED. MANY PEOPLE HERE WILL BE OPERATING UNSAFE VEHICLES...AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT! PLEASE HELP. MARK & SHARON LEIDER. *NM
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES COME ON AT LOW SPEED, WHICH IS STARTLING AND INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS DEFECT IS ACKNOWLEGED BY GENERAL MOTORS, THOUGH THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. THEY TELL ME TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS DEFECT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K-1500 4WD; WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED ~10-15 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES HARD WITH SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTE LOSS OF BRAKES RESULTING IN MVA AND DAMAGE TO THREE VEHICLES, INCLUDING MY OWN
MANUFACTURER PROMISED TO PURCHASE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DUE TO THE HYDROBOOST BRAKE RECALL. THEY PROMISED TO MAKE THE FIRST PAYMENT UPON RECEIPT OF THE NEW VEHICLE. OWNER HAD IN HER POSSESSION AN ALERT BULLETIN ABOUT THE HYDROBOOST. NEITHER MANUFACTURER NOR DEALERSHIP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY. NOTICE STATED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY TO STOP DELIVERY AND ANY PURCHASES FOR THE SUBURBANS AND OTHER GM TRUCKS DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2005. HIGHLIGHTED SENTENCE STATED NOT TO ALLOW CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE. *AK
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
Data on this page last refreshed .