NHTSA Complaint #10141674 — 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, FULL SIZE, 1500 HALF TON, 4X4, LT THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKES DO NOT HOLD EVEN ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE FIRST EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE FAILURE WAS NOTED ON 8/29/2003 AT 25,930 MILES. THE REPAIR TICKET NOTED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES WERE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, AND GM REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE FAILURE WAS NOTED AROUND 11/1/2005 AT APPX 40,050 MILES. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE FIRST FAILURE. THIS TIME THE GM DEALER SAID THAT THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE SHOES WERE WORN OUT AND CHARGED US $273.18 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS FOR THE SECOND FAILURE CONSISTED OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE SHOES. WE HAVE KEPT THE REPLACED FAILED BRAKE SHOES. NOTE: IN NORMAL USAGE OF THIS VEHICLE, THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKES ARE RARELY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE IS NORMALLY PARKED IN A LEVEL, HEATED GARAGE, TRANSMISSION SET IN PARK, EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE NEVER SET/ENGAGED. WITH THE FIRST FAILURE AT 25,930 MILES AND THE SECOND FAILURE JUST APPX 15,000 MILES LATER, WE SUSPECT THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY SOME DESIGN OR COMPONENT FAULT AND A VERY PRE-MATURE FAILURE PROBLEM. ALSO GIVEN THE AVAILABLE FACTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY REPAIR FOR THE FIRST FAILURE WAS POSSIBLY SUBSTANDARD IN THAT THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE SHOES WERE MERELY RE-ADJUSTED, WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IN ADDITION, IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKES EVER NEEDING ADJUSTMENTS.