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 2003 GMC Sierra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 83 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 83, in the owner's own words
EXITING OFF FREEWAY RAMP IN INDIANAPOLIS BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT NOTICE AND NO BRAKE FLUID LOSS, NEARLY CRASHED CROSSING 5 LANES OF CROSS TRAFFIC JUST LUCKY I WASN'T BROADSIDED BY CROSS TRAFFIC. I RECEIVED NO NOTICE OF HAZARD FROM GM, NO RECALL AND ONLY LEARNED OF THIS PROBLEM ONCE RESEARCHING ON WEB. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT DRIVING ON A 4 LANE 55 MPH SPEED ZONE. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE STOP LIGHT I STARTING PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL HAD NO RESISTANCE IT KEPT GOING TO THE FLOOR. I STARTED PUMPING THE PEDAL TRYING TO SLOW MY TRUCK DOWN, NO USE. I PUSHED PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THIS SLOWED A LITTLE. BUT NOT ENOUGH. I DOWN SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC LEVER AND STARTING GUIDING THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID THE STOPPED VEHICLES. I MISSED THE VEHICLES. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY 3 MILES FROM HOME. I MANAGED TO LIMP HOME BY DRIVING VERY, VERY SLOW AND USING THE GEAR SHIFTER TO SLOW ME DOWN. WHEN INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE AT HOME I FOUND THE BRAKE LINE ON THE RIGHT FRONT HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THERE WAS A LEAK. ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS TRUCK ARE RUSTED AND IN BAD SHAPE. I CALLED THE DEALER GLENN BUICK GMC WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW IN 2003. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE PERSONAL "COREY" ABOUT REPAIRING THE RUSTED LINES. HE SAID GMC WAS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS "FAILURE" ! I WAS ON MY OWN ! SEEMS GMC KNOWS OF THESE FAILURES AND SO DO YOU AND YOU HAVE AGREED NOT TO MAKE THEM STAND BEHIND IT AND YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO ALLOW MORE ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN ! YOU = NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY WHAT A SHAME ! SHAME ON YOU AND GMC ! HAD I NOT BEEN "LUCKY" THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT! ANY HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE WOULD BE APPRECIATED! THIS ISSUE WILL ONLY GET WORSE ! AS I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER TRUCKS WITH THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT TOOK A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MULTIPLE TIMES WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED ABRUPTLY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A STOP UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
WHILE TRAVELING IN MY 2003 GMC SIERRA TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND THE PEDAL WENT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, THEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT USUALLY DOES ( GLAD I WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER) . UPON CHECKING THE TRUCK IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD A HOLE IN IT DUE TO CORROSION AND THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER . *TR
ON 11/11/2014, TRUCK SUDDENLY VEERED TO LEFT, CROSSED MIDDLE OF ROAD AND WENT HALFWAY INTO DITCH, ROAD DID HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW[1/2 INCH], THIS HAPPENED JUST AS I TOPPED A SMALL HILL. ON 11/16/2014 AGAIN AS I TOPPED A HILL ON A CURVE THE TRUCK SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE LEFT, CROSSED THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND DID GO COMPLETELY IN THE DITCH. ON 11/30/2014 AS I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD A HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS FROZE UP AND SHEARED OFF THE BRAKEPAD AND THIS RUINED THE BRAKE ROTOR, THIS OF COURSE CAUSED THE LOSS OF BRAKES ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE, WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN PULLING ME OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY WE SUFFERED NO SERIOUS INJURIES AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING IN RULE AREA OF MICH. AFTER DARK,A DEER JUMP OUT IN FRONT OF ME! I HIT THE BRAKES,A BRIEF BRAKE SURGE, THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR! NO BRAKES! THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT AREA WERE RUSTED THROUGH! I STOP AT A GAS STATION. I FOUND BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER AND A MAN ASKED ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED,I TOLD HIM WHAT I FOUND , HE AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE THEY WERE SO RUSTED OUT ! MY TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE! EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LINES! IT'S GOT A STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM BUT THEY SCRIMP ON ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL SYSTEMS FOR SAFETY ! UNBELIEVABLE! BY THE GRACE OF GOD I DIDN'T HIT THE DEER! BUT WHAT IF IT HAD HAPPENED IN TOWN OR IF THE DEER WAS A CHILD! THANK GOD IT HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID AND NO ONE GOT HURT! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
AS I STATED PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK. THEN CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO FIND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ALL OVER. THE LINE HAD RUSTED APART. *TR
I WAS PARKED ON A SLOPED DRIVEWAY (ABOUT 10 - 15 DEGREES). I STARTED THE ENGINE, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TOOK THE CAR OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE. BRAKE PEDAL WAS NORMAL. I STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD AND WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR DID NOT SLOW. I SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AT THIS POINT I WENT OFF THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO A 45 DEGREE DOWNWARD SLOPED LAWN; THEN INTO A WOODED AREA AT THE TOP OF A RAVINE. I SLAMMED INTO A TREE. THE CAR WAS JUDGED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I DID NOT GET A BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT A UNION PARK GMC (WILMINGTON, DE) TWO DAYS PRIOR. INCLUDING BRAKE INSPECTION. CAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE FAILED. *TR
I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHERE TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS DECREASING SPEED FROM APPROX 35 MPH. AT APPROX.10-15 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SENSOR DETECTION AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I HELD THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO LOW GEAR AND DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER TO AVOID THE STOPPED TRAFFIC. I SLOWLY MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE. IN A SHORT DISTANCE THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING ACTIVATED BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE LEFT FRAME RAIL HAD FAILED UNDER PRESSURE DUE TO EXTREME RUST. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES, EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AND BRAKE PLATES WERE RUSTED FAR IN ADVANCE OF EXPECTATIONS FOR MY MODEL YEAR AND MILEAGE. ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ANOTHER FAILURE IS CERTAIN IF ONLY THE BLOWN LINE IS REPLACED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD AND HAS SERVICED MY VEHICLE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE OR RECALL FOR RUSTED BRAKE LINES EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE SERVICE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LINES WERE RUPTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, NO BRAKES. BROKEN CORRODED BRAKE LINE, APPEARS THAT ALL LINES LOOK IN THE SAME SHAPE .LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HOLE IN THE LINE IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. *TR
WHILE PARKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND SPRAYED BREAK LINE FLUID ALL ON THE MANIFOLD. THERE WERE ZERO BRAKES AND DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIR TO THE LEAK. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE ALL OF THE LINES ARE CORRODED. I WOULD NOT CONSIDER OUR STATE A "SALT STATE" BEING THAT WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH. DUE TO THESE CHEAP BREAK LINES WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THEM ALL REPLACED. WE ARE VERY, VERY DISSATISFIED AND WILL PROBABLY NEVER BUY A GMC PRODUCT IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED BY GM. *TR
DRIVING APROX. 40 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, BRAKES WERE SOFT. REAPPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LUCKY TO GET OFF THE ROAD PRIOR TO STOPPED TRAFFIC. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT & DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING AND ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE BOTH FRONT & REAR AREA. INSPECTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TO FIND IT EMPTY. INSPECTION BY MY REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED SEVERAL LINES HAD RUSTED THRU AND LEAKED THE FLUID OUT. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT REAR END ANY VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON A FAST MOVING EXPRESS WAY & NEEDED TO STOP. *TR
APPROXIMATELY JULY 12,2013, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 50, WHEN A CAR CUT ME OFF,I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY,AS I DID, I LOST MY BRAKES. AS I EXAMINED WHY, I FOUND OUT THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED THREW. NOW IN 2014, MAY 13 , I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN IT CHANGED TO YELLOW, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND FOUND OUT ONCE AGAIN I HAVE NO BRAKES! THIS TIME THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HAS RUSTED AWAY CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LOSS. *TR
2003 GMC SIERRA 1500, BRAKE LINE FAILURE. PURCHASED TRUCK NEW IN 2003 WHILE STATIONED IN THE SOUTH, TRANSFERRED TO NEW ENGLAND IN 2008. 50/50 NORTH-SOUTH TRUCK, CAN'T BLAME IT ALL ON ROAD SALT. EVENT: WHILE IN PARKING LOT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT, FLUID ON THE GROUND LEFT FRONT SIDE AND UNDER DRIVERS SEAT AREA. DRUMS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWO YEARS PRIOR. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND I'M STILL AWAITING THE ESTIMATE. AFTER QUICKLY READING THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES IN THE PAST 24 HOURS GM NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE ISSUE BEFORE LOSS OF LIFE NUMBERS INCREASE. *TR
ABS ACTIVATES (NOTICED BY PULSING BRAKE PEDDLE) WHEN MOVING SLOWLY TO A STOP ON DRY CLEAN PAVEMENT. OCCURS RANDOMLY WHEN SLOWLY COMING TO A STOP. *TT
I WAS APPROACHING STOP LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES. NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED FORTUNATELY. *TR
BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HIT A STEEL POLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY REAR BUMPER. I WAS PRETTY SURE I KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVERS DOOR. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THE BRAKE LINES WERE VERY RUSTED WHICH I ATTRIBUTE TO THE BRAKE LINE FAILURE. *TR
STATE OF NEW YORK BASED 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500, 4X4, DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROAD DRY ROAD, 30 MPH, TOWING LIGHT UTILITY TRAILER WITH LADDER AND SMALLER ITEMS, APPLIED THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND REAR ENDED AUTOMOBILE AND PARKED CAR AS WELL. TICKETED BY NEW YORK STATE POLICE FOR INADEQUATE BRAKES. 2003 GMC SIERRA HAD CORRODED BRAKE LINES AND HAS SPENT ENTIRE 10 YEARS IN NEW YORK AND LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. SECOND INCIDENT OF CORRODED BRAKE LINES. *TR
THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I NOTICED THE REAR BRAKES MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE. FIGURING THAT IT WAS LIKELY WORN BRAKE PADS, I DECIDED TO CHANGE THEM. DURING THE PROCESS OF CHANGING OUT THE BRAKE PADS, I NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS HAD BEEN EXTREMELY WORN DOWN. THIS LEAD TO ME REPLACING BOTH REAR ROTORS, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT RELEASING AFTER BEING APPLIED. I THEN REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THIS DID FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAKES NOT RELEASING. AFTER BLEEDING THE BRAKES, I TOOK THE TRUCK OUT FOR A TEST RUN. AT THIS POINT THERE WAS A BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND LEAD TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE VERY HEAVILY CORRODED, AND I FEAR THAT THERE WILL BE MANY FUTURE PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM. THE TRUCK HAS MANY OTHER RUSTED PARTS UNDERNEATH AS WELL, AND I DO NOT USE THE VEHICLE FOR ANY ABNORMAL DRIVING USE THAT WOULD LEAD TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. *TR
WHEN EXITING THE TOLL ROAD, I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. IT APPEARED WE WERE GOING TO ROLL THRU THE GATE, I LET OFF THE BRAKE, AND THEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME RE-APPLIED HER BRAKE. AND WHEN I RE-APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS - THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP. I HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. LUCKILY I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AS NOBODY WAS HURT. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I NOTICED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT, AND THEN MY SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND THERE I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRAKE LINES HAD DISINTEGRATED - TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. I'M AT THE CONCLUSION THAT THE BRAKE LINE WALL WAS SO THIN, THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE LAST TIME, THE PRESSURE BLEW OUT THE LINE. NO SECONDARY LINE FUNCTION. YES, ALL LINES APPEAR TO BE TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. TRUCK IS ORIGINALLY FROM OHIO, I LIVE IN TEXAS. I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS. AND I AM FACING AN OUTRAGEOUS REPAIR BILL. AS A SINGLE PARENT OF 3, 2 OF WHICH ARE TEENAGE DRIVERS, I'M NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDS TO REPAIR. I'M SO GLAD MY KIDS WEREN'T DRIVING IT AT THE TIME. I AM TRYING TO GET GM TO HONOR THE BRAKE LINE REPAIR FOR $500 THAT I HAVE SEEN ON A COUPLE OF TV STATION ACTION REPORTS. NO LUCK SO FAR. THANK GOD MY KIDS WEREN'T DRIVING, AND THANK GOD I WASN'T TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS - WHERE SOMEONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT ON ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AVOIDED CAR COULD NOT STOP AND RAN INTO A FIELD WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN VEHICLE. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DIE AS A RESULT OF THESE RUSTED BRAKE LINES. THESE ARE BRAKES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. RECALL NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW!!!! SHAME ON YOU GM, WE KNOW YOUR AWARE OF THIS DEADLY PROBLEM. *JS
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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