Issue ID | 993963 |
Internal NHTSA # | 10524044 |
Manufacurer | General Motors LLC |
Brand | GMC |
Model | SIERRA 1500 |
Model Year | 2002 |
File date | 08/07/13 |
Component | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | While traveling at approx. 20-25mph, pulling away from my home, a small animal ran across in front of me. I hit the brakes, hard, and after a momentary feeling of brake pressure, the pedal went straight to the floor with no brakes whatsoever. I backed up into my driveway, jacked up the truck and placed it on jack stands. The underside of the truck was wet and dripping brake fluid around the abs unit beneath the cab. My wife applied the brake while i examined the underside. An approx. 1/8in hole was found in the incredibly rusty and weak steel line running from the abs to the left front where it joins the rubber line to the l/f caliper. Further examination reveals all steel brake lines are incredibly rusty, structurally weak and in danger of failure. This could lead to a very serious, catastrophic crash with the potential of fatalities. Further, all of the steel parts of the fuel lines are also very, very rusty and weak and with the high internal pressures and highly flammable and explosive gasoline inside are another serious hazard. I am a licensed master auto/truck and motorcycle mechanic. In nearly 50 years of driving i have never seen a brake line failure from such massive rust on a vehicle with such low mileage. This vehicle has only 68,830 miles on it. It is unsafe to drive. Many, many other owners of similar gmc and chevrolet trucks have reported similar brake line rust and failure. Repair/replacement cost estimates can be as high as $1200 to nearly $2000. Brake line failure can kill. If ever there was justification for a safety related recall, this is certainly it. |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 68830 |
Number of Occurences | 1 |
Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
City and State | DEARBORN, MI |
VIN pattern | 1GTEC14W32ZXXXXXX |
Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
Was incedent reported to police? | N |
Was medical attention required? | |
Was part original equipment? | |
No. of injured persons | 0 |
No. of fatalities | 0 |
Date of purchase | 01/07/24 |
Was original owner? | N |
Anti-lock brakes | N |
Cruise control | N |
Number of cylinders | 6 |
Drive train type | |
Transmission type | |
Vehicle speed | 20 |
DoT tire identifier | |
Tire size | |
Location of tire code | |
Type of tire failure code | |
Was defective tire repaired? | |
Date of manufacture | |
Type of child seat code | |
Type of restraint | |
Dealer's name | |
Dealer's telephone number | |
Dealer's city | |
Dealer's state code | |
Dealer's ZIP code |