NHTSA Complaint #10365597 — 2002 GMC YUKON XL 1500

THE BRAKES RECENTLY FAILED ON OUR 2002 GMC YUKON XL 1500 4WD SUV. WHILE DESCENDING A MODERATELY STEEP HILL ON OUR STREET, MY WIFE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE UP THE NEXT HILL AND BRING IT TO A STOP. INSPECTION REVEALED BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM A HIGHLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BELOW THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THREE OTHER ADJACENT BRAKE LINES WERE ALSO SIMILARLY CORRODED. UPON CONTACTING THE NEAREST GM DEALER (TOM GILL CHEVROLET, FLORENCE, KY), THE SERVICE AGENT INFORMED ME "THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON IN A 9-YEAR OLD VEHICLE." FOUR ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES, IN JUST 8 YEARS? THAT RIDICULOUS! I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD TOYOTA IN THE DRIVEWAY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND I SHOULDN'T EXPECT TO HAVE IT WITH MY MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AND FAR NEWER AMERICAN MADE SUV. TOM GILL SERVICE REFUSED TO GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIR, STATING I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED THE 17 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, WITH A "WE'RE COMPETITIVE--WE'LL GIVE YOU A COMPETITIVE PRICE." COMFORTING. A FEW MORE CALLS TO LOCAL SHOPS REVEALED AN ESTIMATE OF BETWEEN $850-1,100 FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR LINES. I ENDED-UP SPENDING 22 HOURS PULLING-OUT THE OLD LINES AND BENDING/FLARING/INSTALLING ENTIRELY NEW FRONT LINES MYSELF. LAST WEEK I LEARNED I'M NOT ALONE--A WCPO NEWS REPORT REVEALED THIS IS PROBLEMATIC WITH GM TRUCKS/SUVS, WITH GM DEFLECTING BLAME TO "SALT BRINE." AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS ARE STILL TAKING SHORTCUTS AND CANNING ETHICS...TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO WIN MARKET SHARE AS LONG AS THIS CRAP CONTINUES. I'M ANGRY BECAUSE IT'S PUTTING OUR FAMILIES AT RISK. NO ONE GOT HURT THIS TIME, AT LEAST NOT IN MY FAMILY, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS CERTAINLY THERE. I THINK GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND I AM HOLDING ONTO THE CORRODED BRAKE LINES AS EVIDENCE IN THE EVENT OF A FUTURE RECALL. I'D ALSO LIKE THOSE 22 HOURS BACK. *TR