2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, BY AT LEAST DOUBLE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CURVE OR CAR IN FRONT OF HIM THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL IT COULD BE INSPECTED AND FOUND A LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. ALL OF THE MAIN BRAKE PIPES WERE RUSTED AND FRAGILE. TAKING TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALL BRAKE PIPES REPLACED WITH KIT MENTIONED IN (TSB) 13-05-22-001. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS FIGHTING A RECALL BY SIGHTING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BRAKE SYSTEMS AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES FOR BOTH SYSTEMS FAILED. AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEEMS THAT HAVING YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE BY ALMOST DOUBLE WITH OUT WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

BRAKE LINE FAILURE: I HAD A RUPTURED STEEL BREAK LINE FAILURE WHILE APPLYING NORMAL BREAKING PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION OF BREAK LINES, I FOUND ALL BREAK LINES WERE RUSTED AND IN DANGER OF ALSO RUPTURE.

THE OTHER DAY I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I TURN RIGHT (OR LEFT IN REVERSE) AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND MY STEERING IS AFFECTED. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT IT. I DON'T FEEL IT IS FAIR THAT AS THE CONSUMER THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. I ALSO DON'T FEEL ITS FAIR TO HAVE TO SPEND UP $400 WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE EACH TIME THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED, AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE.WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE UPON SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE DOWNHILL ORIENTATION OF THE ROAD SURFACE. LEFT ROADWAY TO AVOID COLLISION WITH TRACTOR-TRAILER. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING BRAKE FAILURE. NO INDICATION THAT ANY PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. IT WAS DISCOVERED UPON INSPECTION THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER BODY AND ENGINE COMPONENTS. METAL COMPOSITION OF BRAKE TUBING SEEMS VERY PRONE TO CORROSION. COMPLETE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS NOW NECESSARY. *TR

THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST CATASTROPHICALLY AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS COMING UP TO STOPPED CARS AT AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE TO AVOID REAR ENDING ANOTHER TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE LANE AT THE TIME. I THEN HAD TO MAKE A SHARP TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT TO AVOID RUNNING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WHICH DID HAVE TRAFFIC). I HAD ZERO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER. I TRIED PUSHING DOWN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT HAD NO EFFECT ( I LATER FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINES WERE FROZEN IN A LARGE CHUNK OF ICE NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AND WOULD NOT MOVE). THE PICKUP BED DRAINS DOWN ONTO THE LOWER FRAME IN THIS AREA AND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE ICE BUILDUP. I CONTINUED THROUGH THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND ALL I COULD TO WAS DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW MYSELF DOWN. LUCKY AGAIN...THE PARKING LOT WAS NEARLY EMPTY AND VERY LONG. AFTER ABOUT 4-500 FT I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO JAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS FAILURE. THE LINES WERE NOT LEAKING. I HAVE NOW READ ONLINE THAT GM HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS OF RUSTED LINES ON THEIR PICKUPS SUDDENLY FAILING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT SUDDENLY FAIL. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. NON-CORROSIVE NICKLE COPPER BRAKE LINES EXIST THAT DO NOT RUST. THESE SHOULD BE MANDATORY ON ALL VEHICLES. *JS

IT STARTED WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, BUT NOBODY WILL OWN UP TO FIXING IT, AS WE MOVED FROM PA TO FL. THEN THE BRAKE LINES WENT, ALL OF THEM, NOW WITH THE AIRBAG ISSUE THE PCM IS SENDING ALL KINDS OF STUPID CODES LIKE THE AIRBAG ISSUE IS AFFECTING THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE TRUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED INDEPENDENTLY, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM ICE FISHING , ON A HILLY AND CURVY ROAD WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. HE HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL , HE AVOID A FEW TREE BEFORE SMASHING INTO A SMALLER TREE JUST MISSING WERE HIS FRIEND WAS SEATED.THE TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER WERE IT HAS ABOUT $5000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. I JUST GLAD MY SON AND HIS DIDN'T GET HURT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE STATIONARY AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT (NO LIGHT ON DASH). UPON INVESTIGATION A BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BRAKE FLUID COVERING UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR

STRAP ON GAS TANK BROKE (RUSTED THROUGH) WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD. TANK FELL AND HIT DRIVESHAFT. I WAS SURPRISED IT DIDN'T RUPTURE THE TANK. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 AVALANCHE AND I'VE NOTICE THAT OTHER CHEVY AVALANCHE HAS THE SAME RUST ON THE SAME PLACE IT SEEM THAT THE BACK QUARTER PANEL IS DEFECTIVE AND THE SPEEDOMETER TOO

THERE IS A GM RECALL #05068C- PRODUCT SAFETY- FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION. THE 2002 AVALANCHE IS LISTED, BUT MY 2003 IS NOT. I LIVE IN INDIANA, ONE OF THE STATES LISTED IN THE RECALL. MY 2003 AVALANCHE HAS THIS FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME AND NOT WORK IF WE WHERE IN A CRASH. I CALLED GM ABOUT THE ISSUE AFTER LOOKING ON LINE AND REALIZING MY TRUCK WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX IT AS THERE IS NO RECALL. THE TRUCK WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LOWER MILEAGE THEN ALLOWED. THIS IS DEFINITELY AND ISSUE. IT IS SUPPOSEDLY A MODULE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT OR WHEREVER IT IS LOCATED, AS SOME TRUCKS IT IS DIFFERENT PLACES. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,053.

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TO BACK BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL BRAKE FLUID CAUSING AN INABILITY TO STOP. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL ALL FLUID WAS GONE AND NORMAL BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOSS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. *TR

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WOULD BE A LOW THUMP THUMP SOUND EMANATING FROM THE AUDIO SPEAKERS. THE LOCK DOOR CHIMES STOPPED SOUNDING. *TR

WHILE LEAVING A FUNERAL IN NEAR SWEETWATER TN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT PRESSURE AND THEN THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE RIDING WITH ME. AFTER PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, I NOTICED I DID HAVE BRAKES BUT NOT POWER BRAKES. I PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM AROUND THE GAS TANK. WITH NO CHOICE, I HAD TO DRIVE THE TRUCK BACK TO KENTUCKY. APPR. 175 MILES IF NOT MORE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-75. I KNOW TRUCKS HAVE PROBLEMS AND I KNOW THERE IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAVE HAD ON THESE TRUCKS. I HAVE OWNED CHEVY TRUCKS MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINES. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, HOW IS CHEVROLET ISSUING A RECALL. *TR

MY BRAKE LINE SPLIT OPEN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THEY ARE VERY RUSTED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHILE PULLING MY BOAT ON A LONG DECLINE AT 55 MPH, A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SIGNALED TO TURN LEFT. I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL EASED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I TOLD MY WIFE THAT THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM ALARM DID SOUND, BUT THAT DOES NOT COMFORT YOU WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP BEFORE PLOWING A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE COLLISION, ONLY DUE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC AND THE FACT THAT I WAS A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE TURNING VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. I DIDN'T MEASURE MY STOPPING DISTANCE, BUT IT WAS WELL OVER 100 YARDS. I GOT OUT OF MY AVALANCHE AND SAW THE FLUID TRAIL. THERE IS A CLUSTER OF 5 BRAKE LINES RUNNING TOGETHER BY THE FRAME, RIGHT AT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ONE OF THOSE LINES BROKE. THEY WERE ALL SEVERELY CORRODED. I HAD THE TRUCK AND BOAT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPAIRED 5 CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST WEEK. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

ON NOVEMBER 11, 2013 I WAS BACKING MY 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN MARYLAND WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. AS I WAS STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY LOST ALL RESISTANCE. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY BRAKING ACTION. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, WHO SAID THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND RUPTURED. I WAS CHARGED $1150 TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. TEN MONTHS (SEPT 5, 2014) AND LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER I AGAIN LOST ALL BRAKING POWER, THIS TIME WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH LEAVING A PARKING LOT NEAR A CARWASH. I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WHO SAID THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED. HIS ESTIMATE IS $2200 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IT WAS FINE BUT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT BUT THEN JUST STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I ACCELERATE UP A HILL. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE DIM. EVERYTHING ON THE MIRROR COMES AND GOES. IT WILL GO MONTHS WITHOUT WORKING AND THEN COMES BACK ON. THE SUSPENSION IS TERRIBLE. FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SHAKE THE WHEELS COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK WHEN I HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'VE ALMOST LOST CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO IT SHAKING SO HARD. LATCH ON THE TAILGATE BROKE OFF AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ROTOR ON BACK COMPLETELY BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2004 IT SOUNDS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. IT MAKES A NOISE LIKE ITS LOOSE. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS STURDY IT'S JUST UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL IT SOUNDS LOOSE. *TR

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IT WAS FINE BUT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT BUT THEN JUST STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I ACCELERATE UP A HILL. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE DIM. EVERYTHING ON THE MIRROR COMES AND GOES. IT WILL GO MONTHS WITHOUT WORKING AND THEN COMES BACK ON. THE SUSPENSION IS TERRIBLE. FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SHAKE THE WHEELS COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK WHEN I HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'VE ALMOST LOST CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO IT SHAKING SO HARD. LATCH ON THE TAILGATE BROKE OFF AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ROTOR ON BACK COMPLETELY BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 03 AVALANCHE LIKE ANY OTHER DAY AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. INSTINCTIVELY I PUT IT INTO 1ST GEAR AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. COME TO FIND OUT, THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. I EXAMINED ALL LINES AND THEY SEEM TO ALL BE RUSTY. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY BREAK TOO. *TR

I'M BEEN HAVING MAJOR BACK PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN HOW THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE. I'M NOT ALONE; A QUICK SEARCH REVEALS THAT MANY OTHERS ARE AS WELL AND GM WILL DO LITTLE TO NOTHING TO HELP RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. HTTP://WWW.CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM/CAFCNA/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=4047.15;WAP2 THE ISSUE IS THE HEAVY PIECE OF METAL THAT'S EXPOSED AS YOU ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT. IT PRESSES AGAINST YOUR LEFT GLUT CAUSING GRADUAL BUT PROLONGED INJURY TO YOUR BACK, HIP, AND GLUT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I'VE SEEN OTHERS ATTEMPT TO RECUSHION THEIR SEATS, WITHOUT SUCCESS. SOME THOUGHT TO SWAP THE SEAT OUT RIGHT, BUT THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER GM SEATS AVAILABLE WITH A SIMILAR WIRING HARNESS THAT WILL WORK. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT THE ISSUE I'VE TRIED SEVERAL ITERATIONS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. IT'S THAT HUGE CHUNK OF METAL THAT I'M FORCED TO SIT ON THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A POORLY CONCEIVED DESIGN AND GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M MARRIED TO THIS VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT 11 YEARS WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT. WITH YOUNG ONES, I CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST BUY A NEW ONE. GM APPARENTLY SWAPS SEAT MANUFACTURES OFTEN AND PAID NO ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE IN THE DESIGN OF THE AVALANCHE. I FEEL IT MUST BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY SATISFY THE DAMAGE AND PAIN THEY'VE INFLICTED ON MYSELF AND OTHERS WITH SUCH A POOR DECISION. *TR

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I WAS LEAVING THE FISH AND GAME CLUB IN LONDONDERRY NH WHEN I WENT TO STOP THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR I PUSHED HARDER IT FINALLY STOPPED. I PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES SOME PRESSURE BUILT UP I CONTINUED TO THE CORNER WHERE A STOP SIGN WAS HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN BUT WOULD NOT STOP I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE TRUCK STARTED TO SLOW BUT I WAS ON A HILL AS I APROACED THE NEXT STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 15 MPH WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE TO STOP FROM TRAVELING IN TO THROUGH TRAFFIC. I TOWED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND 3 BRAKE LINES HAD BURST ONE IN THE FRONT AND TWO IN THE REAR. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND HAS NO RUST EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LINES. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED IN TO. I HOPE THIS WILL BE SENT TO WARN OTHER OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE OVER 2 MILLION MILES DRIVING AND HAVE LOST BRAKES BEFORE BUT NEVER THIS BAD. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD AT LEAST WARN OWNER OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. I JUST HAD MY TRUCK INSPECTED IN MAY AND THIS WAS NOT WARNED TO ME. I LOOKED IN TO THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS GM SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND WARN CUSTOMERS AND COMPENSATE THEM AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THE TRUCK IS 11 YEARS OLD BUT I HAD A 1987 SABB UNTIL 2006 AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. MY FRIENDS FORD FROM 2000 WE TAKE TO NORTHERN MAINE AND HAS 160000 MILES DOES NOT HAVE RUSTED LINES. I THINK GM USED INFERIOR MATERIAL. THANKS ERIC VAUGHAN

AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, A LOSS OF PRESSURE WAS FELT. LETTING OFF AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES LEAD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO THE FLOOR / FRONT OF DRIVER CAB. AT THE POINT THERE WAS NO BRAKING PRESSURE FELT AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO TRAVEL AT IDLE SPEED INTO THE INTERSECTION. TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS AT APPLYING THE BRAKES LEAD TO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GOING OFF, AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE YIELD SIMILAR / FAILED RESULTS. THE TRUCK WAS SAFELY STEERED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT IN PARK TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A REST. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND LET REST A PERIOD OF 5 MINUTES AND THEN TURNED ON AND BRAKES TESTED WHILE IN PARK. NO BREAK PRESSURE WAS FELT AT THE PEDAL. BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT PORTION OF THE TRUCK. NO BYSTANDER INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED. ASIDE FROM THE DRIVER, A FOURTEEN MONTH OLD WAS THE ONLY OTHER OCCUPANT, NEITHER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I95 TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH WHEN I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD STATED SERVICE BRAKES. LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAITED FOR MY VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. EVIDENTLY THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GM TRUCKS AND IS A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS NOT IN THE CAR LIKE THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A PART THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO STOPPING YOUR VEHICLE. GM CLAIMS THAT YOU STILL HAVE BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THAT IS TOTALLY NOT TRUE. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE FIX AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED ON DRIVERS INFORMATION PANEL. THIS WARNING MEANS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. GM IS FULLY AWARE THAT THE 2003 AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAULTY WIRING CONNECTORS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOOT PANEL BUT NEVER RECALLED THIS VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY PUBLISHED A TECH BULLETIN EXPLAINING HOW TO FIX THE FAULTY WIRING. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM WIRING AT THEIR COST. MANY CONSUMERS THAT OWN AVALANCHE 2003 SUV ' S HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM BUT DENIED RECOVERY FROM GM. RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED AVALANCHE 2003 MODELS SHOULD BE MANDATED. *TR

WHILE EXITING HWY 75 THE BREAKS FAILED ON MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE. THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BREAKS THE PEDAL WENT 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THE SECOND TIME THE PEDAL WENT THE THE FLOOR I PUMPED THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE PRESSURE BUILT UP ENOUGH TO FINALLY GRAB. I WAS HALF WAY THRU THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE TRUCK STOPPED, WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING I MADE A LEFT TURN TO CONTINUE UNDER THE OVERPASS AND THE STOPLIGHT WAS RED I COULDN'T STOP AND WENT THRU THAT AS WELL. I USED MY EMERGENCY BREAK TO FINALLY STOP THE TRUCK AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND PARK THE TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING I NEVER HAD ANY INDICATION THAT I WAS HAVING ANY BREAK ISSUES. THIS COULD HAVE GONE SO WRONG. THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP AND SO FAR THEY HAVE FOUND ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES SEVERELY CORRODED.

RUPTURED REAR BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVER SIDE DOOR DUE TO EXTREME RUST OF LINES. INSPECTION REVEALS ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME RUST, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD TRUCK. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NOT DRIVING ON THE ROADS AT ANY SPEED. WHY THE RISK OF USING SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS FOR BRAKE LINES? WHY NOT USE STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES? *TR

FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO MY 2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF THROTTLING DOWN WHEN I HIT ABOUT 60 MPH. THE ERROR WORDS POP UP OF "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER (AFTER NEGOTIATING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC TO GET TO SHOULDER WITH NO POWER) AND TURN ENGINE OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE STARTING IT. SOMETIMES IT DOES IT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE FIRST HOUR OF DRIVING. SEEMS TO DO IT MORE WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLDER THAN WHEN HOT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT ROUGHLY 35 MPH I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM CAME ON AND SET CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKE AND GET SOME PRESSURE BUT I COULD HERE A HISSING SOUND ANYTIME I PRESSED THE PEDAL. I WAS WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THERE WAS A HOLE FROM A RUSTY SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE OVER THE TOP OF THE CHASSIS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AREA. EVERY TIME YOU STEP ON THE PEDAL IT WOULD SPRAY A STEADY STREAM OF BRAKE FLUID. *TR

CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED A HOLE AND LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID. THIS LED TO INABILITY TO BRAKE ADEQUATELY TO STOP. ALL 4 BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE AND SIMILAR GM VEHICLES EXPERIENCING BRAKE LINE FAILURES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,353.

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A RUSTED BRAKE PIPE WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. LUCKILY I WAS ON MY STREET AND TRAVELING JUST UNDER 25 MPH. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE UNDER SIDE OF VEHICLE I DISCOVERED NOT ONE BUT, TWO LEAKS. I DO EXPECT SOME ISSUES WITH A VEHICLE MY AGE AND MILEAGE BUT, NOT A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. I DID CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS JUST TO LEARN THAT THE PARTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUE. *TR

APPROACHING STOP LIGHT, HIT BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THERE WAS NO BRAKE AT ALL. NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT LIGHT , SO I TURNED RIGHT AND COASTED INTO PARKING LOT. HAD TRUCK TOWED HOME, FOUND RUSTED AND SPLIT BRAKE LINE UNDER DRIVERS DOOR, THE OTHER 3 LINES IN THE BUNDLE WERE ALMOST GONE TOO, JUST MOVING ANOTHER ONE CAUSED IT TO BREAK OPEN, SO .AS OF TODAY , I REPLACED THE FRONT4 LINES.AND PLAN ON DOING THE REAR THIS WEEK... THE ENTIRE UNDER- CARRIAGE IS RUSTY, WAY MORE THAN NORMAL, I RESTORE ARS AND HAVE A 1951 CHEVY, THAT'S ORIGINAL FRAME AND LOOKS NEW.. I COMPARE TRUCKS EVERY TIME I GET A CHANCE,,,AND THIS CHEVY IS BADDD. LOVE THE TRUCK, JUST HATE REPLACING, BRAKES, ROTORS, LINES ALL THE TIME...REAR BACKING PLATES HAVE BEEN. RUSTED AWAY, SINCE 2005. *TR

EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER DUE TO A LEAK IN ONE OF THE FRONT METAL BRAKE LINES. TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED ME ALL THE METAL BRAKE LINES WERE HIGHLY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED JIM MCKAY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THESE BRAKE LINES ARE ON BACK ORDER WITH NO INDICATION OF WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. REPAIR SHOP HAS TO CUSTOM MAKE ALL BRAKE LINES WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $1,500 - $1,600. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT CORRODE, THIS IS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. LINES SHOULD BE STAINLESS STEEL, IF NOT, COATED AT A MINIMUM. *TR

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO PREPARE FOR A RIGHT TURN. AT FIRST THE BRAKES WERE BEGINNING TO BE EFFECTIVE, BUT SUDDEN LOSS OF HYDROLOGICAL PRESSURE RESULTED IN BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND LITTLE TO NO BRAKING POWER WAS AVAILABLE. INDICATOR LIGHTS AND BELLS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED SERVICED. VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS PLACED INTO PARK. BRAKE FLUID WAS VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL. *TR