NHTSA Complaint #10144094 — 2003 CHEVROLET C4500

THE 2003 CHEVROLET KODIAK C-4500 CREW CAB TRUCK COMES STANDARD WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED EXHAUST BRAKE. WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED, NO BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE TRUCK IS COMMONLY USED TO HAUL RV TRAILERS, FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS AND HORSE TRAILERS. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED ON THE TRUCK, NEITHER ARE THEY ACTIVATED ON THE REAR OF THE TRAILER. WHEN ACTIVATING THE EXHAUST BRAKE WHILE GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE AND TRAILER CAN BE SLOWING DOWN, BUT NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION TO A FOLLOWING VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ASKED THE GM ENGINEERS TO SEND ME A WIRING DIAGRAM TO FIX THIS BUT THEY REFUSED, CLAIMING THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE SYSTEM WAS REWIRED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 2003 AND 2004 CLASS A MOTOR HOMES WIRED IN THE MANNER I'M SUGGESTING. ON THESE VEHICLES, WHEN THE EXHAUST BRAKE IS ACTIVATED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO ACTIVATE WARNING ANYONE FOLLOWING THAT THE LEADING VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN. *NM