2000 GMC Sierra

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Defect Petition DP10-003 on March 2, 2010, requesting the investigation of model year (MY) 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD pickup trucks for corrosion failures of the vehicle brake lines.DP10-003 was granted and on March 30, 2010, Preliminary Evaluation PE10-010 was opened on more than six million model year 1999 through 2003 light trucks and sport utility vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors Corporation (GM).On July 2, 2010, ODI received GM's response to an information request, which included GM's assessment of the frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect. GM stated that:(1) the brake system of the subject vehicles is split front/rear and should a brake pipe suddenly fail for any reason, the affected vehicle would be capable of stopping with the pressure supplied by the remaining circuit; (2) the subject vehicles were designed to meet the hydraulic circuit partial failure requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 105 and 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems; and (3) should a brake fluid leak occur for any reason, the brake system malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) would illuminate and warn the driver before the brake fluid level was low enough to cause a loss of line pressure.ODI's and GM's analysis indicates that 85 percent of the complaints occurred on vehicles used primarily in States that use salt on the roads during Winter months (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin).Overall the complaint rates per 100,000 vehicles for Salt Belt States is 43.0 and Non-Salt Belt is 3.0.In approximately 25 percent of the complaints the brake pipe failure occurred suddenly, with no warning (i.e., no MIL, Brake Fluid Loss Warning), and resulted in extended stopping distances.In 30 of these the increase in stopping distance that resulted was a factor in the crash and in 10 others the vehicle was intentionally steered off the road or into another lane of travel in order to avoid a crash.This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-001) for subject vehicles sold or currently registered in Salt Belt States to further assess the scope, frequency and safety risks associated with sudden failures of corroded brake pipes that can result in decreased brake effectiveness. ODI will continue to gather information on subject vehicles outside the Salt Belt as well.

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WEST VIRGINIA.THE RECALL PROCEDURE WILL INVOLVE REMOVING THE SENSOR, CLEANING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, APPLYING A RUST INHIBITOR (ZINC-X) TO THE SURFACE, AND REINSTALLING THE SENSOR.IF NECESSARY, THE SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE POPULATION AND FAILURE REPORT DATA GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE FOR THE FULL REGION THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY ODI AS THE SALT-BELT.THAT INCLUDES DELAWARE, IOWA, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ADDITION TO THE 14 STATES INCLUDED IN 05V-379.THE STATES COVERED BY GM'S RECALL HAVE THE HIGHEST INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT CONDITION, ACCOUNTING FOR 91% OF THE INCIDENTS, BUT ONLY 24% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.ODI'S ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 840 OF THE COMPLAINTS, 244 OF THE CRASHES, AND 16 OF THE INJURIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS INVESTIGATION OCCURRED IN THOSE STATES.THE RESULTING INCIDENT AND CRASH RATES ARE 96.2 AND 28.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES RESPECTIVELY (NOTE:RATES ARE BASED ON VEHICLE SALES, NOT REGISTERED VEHICLES). THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IN THE EXCLUDED PORTIONS OF THE SALT-BELT ARE 399,000 VEHICLES, 81 INCIDENTS (20.3 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 3 CRASHES, AND NO INJURIES.THE STATISTICS IN THE REMAINING 30 STATES ARE 2,406,000 VEHICLES, 168 INCIDENTS (7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 31 CRASHES, AND ONE INJURY.GM AND ODI ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE IN STATES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM WILL PROVIDE ODI WITH UPDATED COMPLAINT, FIELD REPORT, AND WARRANTY DATA IN NOVEMBER 2005.ODI AND GM WILL REVIEW THAT DATA AND ASSESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE RECALL AT THAT TIME.

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

The contact owned a 2000 GMC Sierra. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH the driver's side front wheel control arm had fractured and the vehicle went out of control. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled over three times. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled off of the road and stopped on its roof. The contact stated no warning light had illuminated. No air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the police were on scene and wrote a report. The contact was transported to a hospital by ambulance. The contact stated that he was concussed and received multiple lacerations to his head which required stitches. The contact stated he had bruises on both arms and legs and ribs, but no broken bones. The contact stated that he had a passenger who was also transported to the hospital but he was not aware of any injuries. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not repairable. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11649445

Incident

Mar 17, 2025

Mileage

220,000 mi

MY PICKUP TRUCK WAS IN MOTION WHEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HAD TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE-PETAL WENT ALMOST COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHILE TRYING TO STOP. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF STREET I CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR METAL BRAKE LINE ADJACENT TO THE TRUCK FRAME HAD RUSTED AND BURST.

NHTSA ID

10787636

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

Mileage

147,000 mi

WHILE TOWING MY BOAT I EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. WE WERE ON A DIRT ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC AND WERE ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES A LEAK WAS FOUND IN ONE OF THE LINES UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BEFORE THE LINE ENTERS THE BRAKE MODULATOR. ALL THE LINES ARE RUSTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED THE GMC DEALER AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THAT GM HAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY ESTIMATE THE COST TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES TO BE ABOUT $1200.

NHTSA ID

10730229

Incident

Jun 19, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINES HAVE ROTTED OUT AND FAILED IN TRAFFIC MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT NOTICE. ALSO THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS ROTTED AND BROKE. THE REAR BUMPER IS A RUSTED MESS. THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS WASHED ASHORE. HEAVY DUTY ROT. THE BODY AND CAB INSIDE STILL LOOK NEW. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEEL IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714245

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

BRAKES FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY SLOWED DOWN THE TRUCK AT ALL. THIS WAS DUE TO A BRAKE LINE THAT RUSTED THROUGH. THE REPAIR WAS $765. HAD I BEEN IN AN AREA WITH HIGHER TRAFFIC THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680289

Incident

Jan 26, 2015

Mileage

152,630 mi

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THRU CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LOSE BRAKES ENTIRELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OUT OF FLORIDA, AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW. NEVER DRIVEN ON SALTY WINTER ROADS OR SNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672883

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY 2000 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP, WHICH HAS SPENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE IN VIRGINIA, LOST ITS BRAKES WHILE I WAS TOWING A DUAL-AXLE TRAILER AND BOAT. THANKS TO GOD'S PROTECTION, THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AS MY MADE MY FINAL STOP RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, SO I WAS BARELY MOVING. HAD THIS HAPPENED JUST MOMENTS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND 50 MPH ON A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD. I LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINE AND FLUID RUNNING FROM IT. WHILE THERE WAS SURFACE RUST ON THE LINES, I WOULDN'T SAY IT APPEARED THAT A FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. CLEARLY, INFERIOR MATERIALS WERE USED FOR THE BRAKE LINE WHEN LESS CORROSIVE MATERIALS SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED. GM SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS AND PROVIDE, AT THE VERY LEAST, REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINE SETS. THEIR CURRENT "DEEPLY DISCOUNTED" SET COSTS MORE THAN AN AFTERMARKET SET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649031

Incident

Oct 20, 2014

Mileage

173,500 mi

WAS DRIVING WITH 3 OF MY CHILDREN TO A FOOTBALL PRACTICE. WAS ON MO STATE HWY 70 DOING APPROX. 60MPH. AN INCIDENT OCCURRED AHEAD OF ME WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE SLOW DOWN. HIT MY BRAKES HARD(LIKE ALL OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME) AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND TRUCK LOST AT LEAST 90PCT OF BRAKING POWER. ALMOST COMPLETE LACK OF ANY BRAKES. IT WAS AN HONEST MIRACLE THAT ME AND MY CHILDREN ALONG WITH ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT AT THAT SPEED WERE NOT KILLED OR BADLY INJURED. IT WAS A SPLIT SECOND INCIDENT AND ACT OF MIRACULOUS LUCK THAT AVOIDED A CATASTROPHE. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO THINK AND JUST REACTED OUT OF INSTINCT AND SWERVED FROM MIDDLE OF THREE LANES INTO GRASS SHOULDER(WHICH RESULTED IN TERRIFYING ATTEMPT AT KEEPING CONTROL AND NOT FLIPPING TRUCK OVER ETC. GOING FROM 60PLUS MPH ON A TIGHT SHOULDER IN A HIGH TRAFFIC MAJOR HWY IN SUBURBAN ST LOUIS. A MIRACLE WE SURVIVED. WHEN ON SHOULDER ATTEMPTING TO KEEP CONTROL WITH NO BRAKES I DID THINK AND ENGAGED EMERGENCY BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH BASICALLY ZERO AFFECT AT HELPING SLOW DOWN. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS AND TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR MY CHILDREN AND NOT SOON FORGOTTEN! DISCOVERED IT WAS A METAL BRAKELINE RUSTED ON FRAME MOUNT UNDERNEATH DRIVER DOOR THAT BURST CAUSING THIS. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2001 AND PURCHASED WITH 14,000 MILES. LOOKING ONLINE FOR PARTS TO REPLACE(WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE, MONEY TOO TIGHT TO AFFORD THE LOWEST QUOTE FROM REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE ALL STEEL LINES OF $1000 TO $1500)WHAT NOW PAY ALMOST WHAT TRUCK IS WORTH TO FIX? GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE. WHY NOT AT LEAST HAVE MORAL STRENGTH ENOUGH TO PUT OUT A BULLETIN TO INFORM OR SELF INSPECT? I AM AT A LOSS EXPRESSING MYSELF AT GM'S LACK OF CHARACTER. I WILL NEVER OWN AS WILL MY CHILDREN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. WHY BUY AMERICAN? SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH A JAPANESE COMPANY. NEVER WOULD HAVE COME TO THIS WITH TOYOTA OR HONDA. SAD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10631530

Incident

Sep 5, 2014

Mileage

255,413 mi

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