2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE

MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN I START MY TRUCK. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME TO LIFE AFTER DRIVING A BIT OR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN, WHERE OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE,

BRAKE LINES RUSTING. TWICE IN A MONTH THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER A HARD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LUCKY FOR ME & OTHERS THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME OR TRYING TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE HARD TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND THEREFORE THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM

WITHOUT WARNING BRAKE LINE BLEW A HOLE AND NO BRAKES. NO WARNING AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. NO HELP WITH THAT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PASS ON RIGHT SHOULDER THREW THE GRASS. ALMOST A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. NEED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF. PEOPLE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED.

TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER HE SAID IT PASSED ROAD INSPECTION TEST ! I'M VERY CONCERNED IT MORE WRONG IF I JAM OR PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN NOT STOP I'M IMMEDIATELY. IM UNSURE WHAT MY ACTUAL MILEAGE IS . THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I WENT TO UNCLE ED'S OR EVEN OTHER AUTO SHOPS I DO HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY DOWN ...IT'S 7 DAYS INTO MY CAR LEASE AND THERE PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WON'T TRADE ME ANOTHER CAR .

TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER HE SAID IT PASSED ROAD INSPECTION TEST ! I'M VERY CONCERNED IT MORE WRONG IF I JAM OR PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN NOT STOP I'M IMMEDIATELY. IM UNSURE WHAT MY ACTUAL MILEAGE IS . THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I WENT TO UNCLE ED'S OR EVEN OTHER AUTO SHOPS I DO HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY DOWN ...IT'S 7 DAYS INTO MY CAR LEASE AND THERE PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WON'T TRADE ME ANOTHER CAR .

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK AND COMPLETED A 3 POINT TURN TO TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND IN MY DRIVEWAY. AS I STARTED GOING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING SLOW, UNDER 15 MPH, WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE: THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE BARELY SLOWED DOWN. I STARTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES WHICH DID SLOW THE VEHICLE SOME AND I ALSO EMPLOYED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ENABLED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC, AND NOT JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY, I MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED. THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A RUSTED REAR BRAKE LINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE SINGLE BRAKE LINE FEEDING BOTH OF THE REAR BRAKES HAD BURST IN THE VICINITY UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE I WAS GOING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AS EVIDENCED BY THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID SPAYED ONTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO APPLY MY BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND AT EACH POINT WHERE I PUMPED THE BRAKES. I WAS SHOCKED THAT A SINGLE BRAKE LINE BURSTING WOULD LEAVE MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES. WHY IS THERE A FRONT AND REAR RESERVOIR IF THEY DON'T MATTER? THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST A SAFETY ALERT ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL DANGER SO I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO WATCH FOR THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY FLAW ON MY CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AFTER INSPECTING THE REST OF MY BRAKE LINES I HAVE FOUND THAT 100% OF ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOUSE HAS ALREADY QUOTED ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $2,100 OVER THE PHONE, BUT WILL NEED TO SEE THE VEHICLE FIRST TO BE MORE PRECISE IN THEIR ESTIMATE.

DURING COLD MONTHS ONLY VEHICLE HAS POWER SURGES WHENEVER DRIVING. INTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKER CONSISTENTLY TO WHERE IT APPEARS I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS. THE HIGHER THE RPMS, FLICKERING IS MORE FREQUENT. APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTION OR RECALL. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TESTING OUT GOOD.

THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD AND SOMETHING IS NOT SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN CAUSING A PARASITIC BATTERY DRAW KILLING BATTERY I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERY AND AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS OR 4 THE TRUCK DOES NOT START AND 2HEN I TAKE IT TO AUTOZONE THEY SAY ITS DEAD AND GIVE ME A NEW BATTERY AND TRIED LOOKING UP ISSUE AND SEE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES AND WHEN I TOOK TO CHECK ALTERNATOR OR STARTER NOTHING THEY ARE GOOD

NOTICED RECENTLY THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK NEAR THE AIR BAG AND EXTENDING FORWARD TO THE WINDSHIELD.. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, RUPTURED BRAKE LINES. LINES BETWEEN PROPORTIONING VALVE AND ABS PUMP RUPTURED AND FAILED COMPLETELY. LINES RUSTED AND FAILED. NO ACCIDENT AND NO INJURIES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS OPERATED IN REVERSE {BACKING UP}, SHE THEN SHIFTED TO FORWARD, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND ROLLED FROM A PARKING LOT INTO A HIGHWAY, FORTUNATELY NO OTHER TRAFFIC WAS PRESENT.

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE VEHICLE IS SLOW TO STOP AND DOES NOT STAY STOPPED WHEN NEEDED SUCH AS TRAFFIC LIGHTS, HILLS, STOP SIGNS, ETC.

THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT GOING DOWN THE HI WAY SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS SOME OF THE TIMES AND LEFT US STRANDED SOMETIMES. GM ACTS LIKE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG BUT THERE IS AMPLE INFO ON THE INTERNET AND EVEN A FIX BUT IT DISABLE THE ATS, IT TURNS OFF THE FUEL TO THE INJECTORS KILLING THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RESTART.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE KEPT FALLING DEAD ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS

Crash 1 injured

THE RED BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. THE ABS MODULE IS NOT ALLOWING THE TWO REAR BRAKES TO WORK. THE A/C CONTROL BOX IN THE DASH BLOWS HOT AIR THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE ONLY. IN FL THAT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE HEAT ALREADY.

IT'S MAKE A WEIRD SOUND WHEN TURNING THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON THER DASH STATIONARY I CAME OUTSIDE TO START UP THE VEHICLE IS NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH

THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE BROKE. WHILE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY INFORMED ME THE OTHER SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. TWO MONTHS LATER TWO MORE LINES BROKE. THE MAIN REAR LINE AND FRONT SUPPLY LINE FROM THE MASTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Crash

MY '03 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS DEVELOPED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON CONDITION WHERE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECOMES INOPERABLE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW, IN TOWN SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL HAVE READINGS IN THE 60S, 70S' AND 80S. WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL READ 55MPH. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM REALLY SHOCKED THAT THE NHTSA HASN'T FORCED A RECALL. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM, AS THEY EVEN EXTENDED. GENERAL MOTORS EVEN PROVIDED OWNERS WITH A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT EXTENDS THE WARRANTY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FOR THE CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE, AS LONG AS THE VEHICLES AGE AND MILEAGE FALLS WITHIN CERTAIN PARAMETERS. THOSE PARAMETERS ARE THE MAIN REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT. THOSE PARAMETERS ARE 1) 7 YEARS OF THE IN SERVICE DATE, AND 2) 70,000 MILES, WHICH EVER OCCURS FIRST. MY CLAIM TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN MY VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE SPECIAL COVERAGE WAS DENIED ON 9/4/09 BECAUSE THE MILEAGE OF MY VEHICLE WAS 93,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF MY REQUEST. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A LARGE SCALE SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WARRANTS A RECALL BY GENERAL MOTORS RATHER THAN AN EXTENSION OF WARRANTY WITH UNREASONABLE MILEAGE PARAMETERS. EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ALONE IS A CLEAR ADMISSION OF A KNOWN WIDESPREAD ISSUE. IS NHTSA IN BED WITH GM TOO? I GUESS I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED. *TR

10/11/2 BRAKES FAILED PLUS PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND PARKING BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FOUND UPON DEALER INSPECTION. REPLACED DISC BRAKES AND HAD PARKING BRAKE SHOE INSTALLED. 11/09/12 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REVEALED IGNITION PROBLEM. NEW IGNITION WIRE SET INSTALLED. 01/29/13 DASH CLUSTER FAILED, HAD NO HORN, NO HEADLIGHTS, NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, NO SPEED CONTROL , NO STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS FOR CONTROL BUTTONS, NO SPEEDOMETER READING, NO RADIO. REPLACED DASH CLUSTER. 05/05/14 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STRANDED WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MISFIRE MESSAGES ON DEALER EQUIPMENT READING. 06/16/14 STRANDED AGAIN , VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. 07/15/14 STRANDED AGAIN , VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACED STARTER RELAY. 02/16/15 DRIVER HEATED SEAT COMING ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING ON ITS OWN. 4 WD ENGAGED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING AND MADE DRIVING UNCONTROLLED. AWD ENGAGED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING ON DRY SMOOTH ROAD. STRANDED, WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE AT DEALER AGAIN TODAY FOR THIS LIST OF PROBLEMS. *TR

WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN VEHICLE. AS I WAS APPROACHING INTERSECTION, STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. I HAD TO DOWNSHIFT AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID COLLISION. HAD TO HAVE SUBURBAN TOWED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST ALL POWER. IT SAID (REDUCED ENGINE POWER) ON THE DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVEN'T FOUND A MECHANIC WHO CAN FIX IT. I'VE LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME DEADLY CRASHES. *TR

WAS DRIVING BEHIND A SCHOOL BUS WHEN IT STOPPED TO LET KIDS OFF. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES, I AM NOT REALLY SURE HOW I MANAGED TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE BUS. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT. GOT OUT OF MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN WENT INTO THE BANK TO CALL MY HUSBAND TO COME GET ME. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK OUT TO MY TRUCK THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. MY BRAKE LINES WHERE SHOOT. *TR

APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD TO PRESS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. ONCE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO ROLL AGAIN UNLESS I APPLIED FURTHER PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE CAR. *TR

WAS TRAVELING IN CITY DOWN A SLIGHT HILL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNINGS WENT ON AND SOUNDED. IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO A LOW GEAR AND PUMPED BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP OFF THE ROAD. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE HAD BEEN A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ALL ON THE GROUND AND COVERING THE SPARE TIRE. REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED THIS WAS DUE TO RUSTING OF THE BRAKE LINES. *TR

WENT TO STOP WHEN TRAFFIC STOP AND FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER TO STOP. HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS THE CAR IN FRONT. I LIMPED HOME WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER AND WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECK THE OIL RESOLVE, IT HAD ALMOST NO OIL. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND A LEAKING BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR

RE: LOSS OF BRAKES. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES FAILED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUFFERED A LOSS OF LOSS HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED HEAVY CORROSION. CORROSION CAUSED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES TO FAIL. *TR

I CAN UNLOCK TRUCK WITH KEY OR REMOTE PUT KEY IN START AND DASH LIGHTS COME ON BUT NO START. AFTER BEING TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP, THE STARTED, AND KEY I KNOW IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-LOCK. I HAVE REPROGRAMMED IT SEVERAL TIME BUT EACH TIME A DIFFERENT WAY. I HAVE RESEARCH IT ON LINE AND IT IS A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH GM CARS AND TRUCKS. HOWEVER I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS A RECALL. I AM RECENTLY THE SECOND CAR OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND EXPERIENCING THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR ME AT NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY IF AT A SHOPPING CENTER. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME THEN THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED. IF ANY ONE CAN HELP ME PLEASE EMAIL [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ONE OF THE TWO REAR PLASTIC WINDOW HINGES HAS SNAPPED. I FIRST NOTICED ON 10/11 AS I WAS ACCESSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BY UNLATCHING THE WINDOW. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK THE ISSUE AND NOW REALIZE THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD, THAT GM IS AWARE OF IT, AND ACTUALLY RE-DESIGNED THE HINGES STARTING IN 2005. WHAT THEY HAVEN?T DONE (AS I KNOW IT) IS ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'M WRITING TO ASK WHETHER THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND IF IT AND/OR GM HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THIS DOES NOT WARRANT FURTHER ATTENTION. THE CONCERN IS IT?S EASY TO LATCH THE WINDOW IN PLACE, EVEN WITH 1 OF THE 2 HINGES BROKEN, AND THEREFORE DELAY OR SIMPLY IGNORE THE REPAIR NEED (AS THE REPAIR COST IS SIGNIFICANT), ASSUMING IT?S SAFE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T USE THE WINDOW FURTHER FOR ACCESS. BY CONTINUING TO USE THE VEHICLE W/OUT REPAIR, THE ONE WORKING HINGE AND WINDOW LATCH ITSELF ARE FORCED TO KEEP THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. UNDER THE ADDED STRESS, THE SINGLE HINGE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL, AND LIKELY AT SPEED AS THE VEHICLE HITS THE LAST BUMP THE HINGE CAN WITHSTAND, OR AS REPORTED BY OWNERS ONLINE, A WINDOW IS SIMPLY ROLLED DOWN, INCREASING WIND FORCE ON THE REAR WINDOW. IF EITHER HAPPENS THE RESULT IS ALWAYS THE WINDOW IS JETTISONED FROM THE FRAME AND LANDS ON WHATEVER IT LANDS ON BEHIND THE VEHICLE. AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT, AS THE WINDOW IS 4-5 FEET WIDE AND LARGE AND HEAVY ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY CAUSE DISASTER TO TRAFFIC TRAVELING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. I'VE CALLED 2 CHEVY DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA SO FAR AND ASKED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IF THIS ISSUE IS BEING ADDRESSED AND THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE PART FAILING. THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT IN MY OPINION NOT LIKELY. I WORRY THIS IS A TRAINED RESPONSE, SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO MINIMIZE ATTENTION ON THE MATTER. *TR

WHILE TRANSITING THE PARKING LOT AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY LAST THURSDAY, I WAS APPROACHING THE STREET ENTRANCE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW MY VEHICLE. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDDLE, I ENCOUNTERED NORMAL BRAKING RESISTANCE FOR ABOUT A HALF SECOND BEFORE RESISTANCE STOPPED AND THE PEDDLE FLOORED. I PUMPED THE PEDDLE SEVERAL TIMES TO ATTEMPT TO BUILD PRESSURE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I ABANDONED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM AND DEPLOYED THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE ENTERING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE CROSS STREET. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT ENTERED TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM APPEARED TO HAVE SUFFERED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IN FACT, THE "BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE" INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ON SITE INSPECTION SHOWED RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIRS. THERE WERE LARGE PUDDLES OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AT BOTH THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WHEELS AND A TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID LEADING BACK UP THE PARKING LOT. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID BY THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, CONFIRMS THAT ONE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION AND THAT THE OTHERS WERE ALSO CORRODED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE: THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN AND HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY GARAGED IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND HAS NEVER BEEN OPERATED FOR SIGNIFICANT PERIODS OF TIME IN TRADITIONAL "SALT BELT" STATES OR IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS WHICH WOULD ACCELERATE CORROSION. WERE "STAINLESS" OR CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS MANDATED OR USED IN THESE BRAKE LINES? *TR

BRAKE FLEX LINES BETWEEN ABS AND MASTER RUSTED AND FAILED, TWICE, WITHIN 2 YEARS, BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT BETWEEN 90-106 K MILES, GM DOES NOT MAKE THE PARTS ANYMORE, AND AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE SKETCHY QUALITY FROM CHINA! POOR DESIGN, CHEAP STEEL LINES, TOO THIN, AND NO SUPPORT OF THEIR PRODUCTS! CLEARLY GM HAS A MYRIAD OF OTHER RECALLS AND FAILURES, BUT THESE ARE BRAKES, A CRITICAL PART AND SAFETY COMPONENT IN VEHICLES THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER- IF YOUR GOING TO DESIGN SAFETY PARTS TO COMPORT WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, SUPPORT THE PRODUCT FOR REASONABLE USE WHICH IS 25 YEARS, BETTER DESIGNS. 3 BRAKE FAILURES IN 3 YEARS, OVER $1800 NOW AND NO PEACE OF MIND IT WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 221,000.

ON APPROXIMATELY APRIL 7, 2014, WHILE ENGAGING VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL WAY TO FLOOR. HAD VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO CHEVROLET OF GADSDEN, AL FOR EXAMINATION. WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON DRIVERS SIDE HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK, AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS SO CORRODED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE WITH A STANDARD REPAIR. I.E., THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT I CAN COME AND PICK IT UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND PRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST. THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE LOCAL DEALER HAD NOT PROVIDED A REMEDY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR WARNING LIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES RESPONSE. ROLLED TO A STOP GOING UP A HILL. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO TOLD US THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND FAILED. SECOND TIME THE BRAKE LINES FAILED IN TWO YEARS. *TT