NHTSA Complaint #10134578 — 2000 GMC SIERRA

DT:THE OWNER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT STOP SIGNS. THE ABS PROBLEMS BEGAN LAST YEAR. THE OWNER HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL SENSORS AND RINGS REPLACED. THE BRAKES WORKED OKAY FOR A WHILE. THEN ON JULY 28 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT TRIED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. COULD NOT STOP AND HIT THE CURB. THE OWNER ADDED A QUART OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW THE BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES. THEN, AT HOME THE OWNER LET THE VEHICLE SIT AND THE REST OF THE BRAKE FLUID DRAINED OUT. THEN, THE OWNER CALLED GMC, AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKE LINES TO RUST AT 47,000 MILES. GMC ADVISED THE OWNER TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO KEPT THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK. GMC SENT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO COULD NOT FIND A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINES. THE INSPECTOR WAS CONTACTED BY THE OWNER ,AND THE OWNER ASKED IF THE INSPECTOR HAD FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID AND PUSHED THE BRAKE AND HE SAID NO. THE OWNER ASKED HOW CAN THE FLUID LEAK OUT IF BRAKE FLUID WAS NOT PUT IN. THEN, THE OWNER EXAMINED THE BRAKE LINES AND SAW THAT THEY WERE RUSTED/CORRODED. THE OWNER CONTACTED GMC AGAIN ADVISING GMC THAT THE INSPECTOR HAD NOT FILLED THE BRAKE LINES. GMC DENIED THE OWNER'S CLAIM. HOWEVER, THE OWNER DID NOT KNOW WHY THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE OWNER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF RUSTED BRAKE LINES. THE OWNER PAID THE REPAIR COST. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE THE OWNER NOTICED THE BRAKE LINES WERE ONLY PARTIALLY REPLACED. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS $894.78 FOR ABOUT 4 FEET OF BRAKE LINES.*AK