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 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 127 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 127, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR COMING DOWN AN OVERPASS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH. I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I AM NOT GETTING THIS FIXED AS IT IS AN OLDER TRUCK BUT I DO THINK THAT SOMEONE COULD DIE FROM THIS DEFECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *BF BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED TWICE SAME LOCATION ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKE LIGHTING ON DASH ( WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ON FRONT TONE RINGS).*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOWSER AUTOMOTIVE (132-168 NORTH LEWIS RUN ROAD, WEST MIFFLIN, PA 15236, (412) 469-2100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOST AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESNT WORK...MY HEAD LIGHTS ALWAYS BURN OUT...MY BED LINER IS WHARPED...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 3-8 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED, INCREASING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS RUST BETWEEN AN ABS SENSOR AND THE HUB IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS. THE HUB AND SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE GMC DEALER (JEFF WYLER FLORENCE BUICK GMC, 1154 BURLINGTON PIKE, FLORENCE, KY 41042 (859) 279-4590) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE BOWSER DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT A DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ZINC ALUMINUM ALLOY ON THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WHEN APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ *CN
ABS SYSTEM IS KICKING IN AT SLOW SPEEDS, AS IN A CRAWL LIKE YOU WERE DRIVING NEXT TO A WALKING PERSON. LIKE I AM PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT IS PUSHING BACK AND NOT ALLOWING ME TO STOP TRUCK. VERY SCARY
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH PREMATURELY AND WITHOUT WARNING PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING POWER
THANKFULLY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, I WAS BACKING UP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. THE BRAKE LINE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BURST. I HAVE MY TRUCK AT A LOCAL SHOP AND ITS GOING TO COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. THE COST IS MOSTLY LABOR. IF LOOSE THE FRONT BRAKES, I WOULD EXPECT THE REAR BRAKES TO WORK BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR PULLING A TRAILER. I COULD OF GOT HURT OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE. GM NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THE QUALITY OF PARTS USED IN THEIR VEHICLE ESPECIALLY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS BRAKES.
WHILE ON STATE HIGHWAY AND DRIVING THE LEGAL LIMIT, I WAS APPROACHING A GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AN AMBULANCE WITH EMERGENCY LIGHTS WAS APPROACHING FROM THE CROSS DIRECTION. I APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES PRESSURE COMPLETELY FAILED. I HAD ABSOLUTE MINIMAL BRAKES AND I WENT COMPLETELY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT APPEARS TO BE RUSTED BRAKE LINES. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTS OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE WHERE IT CROSSES OVER FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE HAD ALL MY WORK DONE AT GM DEALERS AND THEY NEVER HAVE MENTIONED THIS ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THAT GM STATES THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I AM OVER 60 AND HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT MY LANE WAS CLEAR OR THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS BEYOND RATIONAL THOUGHT AS TO HOW GM CAN SAY THIS MATERIALS DEFECT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD REEVALUATE THIS ISSUE AND FORCE GM TO RECALL THEIR PRODUCT BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST.
ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE ROTTED OUT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,988. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ *CN
I RECENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK OFF THE ROAD TO REPLACE THE SHOCK ABSORBERS. WHILE REPLACING THE REAR SHOCKS, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN TO LESS THAN ONE EIGHTH INCH THICK. I THEN LOOKED AT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND NOTED THAT THEY HAD HARDLY ANY WEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRONT BRAKES DO 70% OF THE BRAKING AND THE REAR BRAKES DO 30%. THAT MADE MY FINDING ABNORMAL. ALL THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. WHEN I PREPARED TO CHANGE THE FRONT SHOCKS, I NOTED THAT THE ABS DASHBOARD LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE AROUND AT THE TIME AND WHEN I APPROACHED THE GARAGE I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I FELT THE BRAKES MODULATING AND THE PEDAL WAS FORCEFULLY PUSHED BACK UP TO THE AT REST POSITION. THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT A DUAL (FRONT/REAR) BRAKING SYSTEM WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. I WAS INCREDULOUS THAT THIS WAS EVEN POSSIBLE. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ONLY NAVIGATING IN MY YARD. I PULL A 27 FOOT FIFTH WHEEL WITH THIS TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE OUTCOME IF THIS EVENT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE RV ATTACHED. I FOUND MANY ANECDOTAL STORIES THAT WERE SIMILAR TO MINE ON SEVERAL WEBSITES. AS OF NOW, THIS TRUCK IS GROUNDED UNTIL I FIND A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION FOR THIS. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY FULL OF BRAKE FLUID AND AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES REVEALED NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE. I HAVE NOT YET DELVED INTO THE TRUCKS ABS SYSTEM, BUT I HAVE STRONG REASON TO BELIEVE IT IS DEFECTIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN. DID GET THE PICKUP STOPPED AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING BY THE DRIVER REAL WHEEL. HAD ALMOST NO BRAKES GETTING THE PICKUP HOME. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN KICKING FOR NO REASON BEFORE THIS. TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CORROSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 1999 TO 2003 GM PICKUPS.
ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2015, MY WIFE WENT TO MOVE MY 2002 GMC SIERRA. SHE PULLED OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDED UP-HILL ABOUT 300-400 FEET, AND THEN TURNED AROUND IN A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, WHEN COMING BACK DOWN THE HILL SHE TRIED TO BRAKE TO STOP IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE, BUT THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SHE THEN WENT UP A SLIGHT HILL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR HOUSE, BUT STILL COULDN'T STOP, AND DIDN'T THINK TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AS SHE SLOWED. SHE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL AND WAS ABLE TO STEER INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD WHERE THE TRUCK CAME TO REST ON A BERM. AT THE TIME SHE SAID THERE WERE CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND HAD A CAR BEEN COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SHE WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO IT. HAD THERE BEEN PEDESTRIANS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN HIT AS WELL. WHEN I CAME HOME THAT AFTERNOON, I ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR, AND THEN PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I SAW A HUGE STREAM OF FLUID POUR FROM BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINES SURPRISINGLY CORRODED. IF SUDDEN, IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING IS NOT CAUSE FOR A RECALL I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS.
PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY TRUCK STARTED TO SLOW THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT STOP UNTILL I HIT TWO GARBAGE CANS AND PUSHED THEM INTO MY GARAGE DOOR. I NOW HAVE A TRUCK I CANT DRIVE AND A GARAGE DOOR THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING I AM JUST FORTINATE THAT NO ONE WAS INFRONT OF THIS TRUCK. ONE OF THE LINES TO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK BLEW OUT AND LOST ITS FLUID ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY. I THOUGHT IF YOU LOST 1 LINE THE TRUCK COULD STILL STOP WITH THE FRONT BRAKES BUT I HAD NOTHING. PLEASE WARN PEOPLE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM KILLS PEOPLE.
I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO PARK TO UNLOAD SOME RECYCLING AND I PRESSED ON MY BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME (OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE) AND THEIR VEHICLE. I PUMPED THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL DID NOT RESIST AT ALL. MY BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERABLE WITHOUT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I GOT OUT AND HAD BRAKE FLUID STREAMING OUT OF THE LINES RIGHT BELOW THE DRIVERS SEAT.
GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE PARKING BRAKES IN SOME MODEL YEARS OF THEIR VEHICLES AND HAVE EVEN ISSUED A RECALL FOR THEM TO BE FIXED. THEY ONLY RECALLED VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS EVEN THOUGH VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAVE THE SAME BRAKE PARTS AND SUFFER FROM THE SAME ISSUE. THE PARKING BRAKES ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE PADS AND DRUMS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CEASE TO WORK. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING A VEHICLE AND HAVING TO PARK ON AN INCLINE. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM AND THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THAT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME BRAKES AS THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. IF YOU LOOK ON THE RECALL WEBSITE YOU WILL SEE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL YEAR RECALLED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT THE ISSUE, ITS THE BRAKES.
DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING, I NOTICED AS I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THAT I HAD TO PUSH MY BRAKE PEDAL FURTHER THAN I HAD EARLIER IN MY TRIP. INSTEAD OF CONTINUING ONTO THE FREEWAY I PULLED INTO A STATION AND TESTED THE BRAKES ONLY TO FIND THAT I COULD PUSH THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND COME TO A GRADUAL, ROLLING STOP. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. ALL 6 LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE RUSTING. ONCE THE LINES WERE REPLACED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A SECOND LINE HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT HE DID NOT THINK IT WOULD HAVE HELD PRESSURE IF I HAD ONLY REPLACED THE FIRST FAILED LINE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINES IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF TRUCK WERE KNOWN TO RUST AND FAIL EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN STATES.
ON MONDAY AFTERNOON 5/11/15 I HAD JUST HOOKED UP A SMALL TRAILER IN PREPARATION TO GO PICK UP MY GRANDDAUGHTER FROM CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THE FOLLOWING DAY. THIS WAS GOING TO REQUIRE A ROUND TRIP DISTANCE OF ROUGHLY 400 MILES. WHILE TURNING MY TRUCK AROUND TO PARK IT FOR THE NIGHT I DISCOVERED TO MY HORROR THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY TRUCK WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING POWER AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AT ALL. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED DURING THE ROAD TRIP TO PICK UP MY GRANDDAUGHTER. I CALLED MY SON IN LAW WHO HELPED ME REPLACE A MAIN TRUNK LINE FOR THE BRAKES GOING TO THE REAR AXLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER AND BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, DID NOT OCCUR DURING THE TRIP THE NEXT DAY.
PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A STORE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR,HIT BUILDING. BRAKE LINES BLEW OUT RELATED TO POOR QUALITY BRAKE LINES FROM MANUFACTURER. *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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