NHTSA Complaint #10443395 — 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500

I OWN A 2004 GMC K1500 WITH ABOUT 70000 MILES ON IT NOW. ON 10/17/11 AT 67410 MILES I WAS DOING A NORMAL OIL CHANGE WITH THE VEHICLE ELEVATED ON A RACK. I NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING ON ME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS FLOOR AREA. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND ALMOST ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES LEADING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ABS UNIT RUSTED BADLY AND LEAKING. AS I WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE RACK THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WITH VERY CAREFUL OPERATION AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK BACK ON LEVEL GROUND. I REPLACED ALL THE LINES LEADING FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK REROUTING THEM ALONG THE FRAME. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE PULLING MY TRAILER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT MAY HAVE RESULTED. THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT IN MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. YOU SHOULD NOT LOSE ALL OF YOUR BRAKES WHEN A LINE RUPTURES. THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO HAVE BRAKES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, GM SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS OR ANOTHER ENGINEERING FIX. *TR