NHTSA Complaint #10519982 — 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

I LIVE IN CONNECTICUT AND I HAVE A 2000 CHEVY SILVERADO K1500 EXT CAB 5.3L TRUCK WITH 198000+ MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGED JUST ABOUT ITS WHOLE LIFE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. LAST WEEK MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK TO THE STORE. WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN JUST DOWN THE STREET THE BRAKES FAILED. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS COMING TO A STOP AND WASN'T GOING FAST WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF HER. SHE WALKED BACK TO THE HOUSE AND I WENT DOWN TO FIND THAT A BRAKE LINE HAD BUSTED BEHIND THE DRIVERS WHEEL ON THE FRAME RAIL BEFORE IT GOES OVER THE FRAME TO THE ABS MODULE. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE AND PUT IN THE GARAGE TO INSPECT IT. I AM AMAZED ON HOW MUCH THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED. SOME AREAS OF THE LINE WHEN I TOUCHED IT JUST FELL APART IN MY HANDS. I HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS 1999-2003 CHEVY TRUCKS ARE HAVING BRAKE LINE FAILING DUE TO CHEAP STEEL RUSTED LINES. WHILE I WAS UNDER THE TRUCK I ALSO NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE CROSS MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK PLUS THE GAS TANK IS SUPPORTED OFF OF IS RUSTED WITH ONLY HALF A TUBE LEFT. PLUS JUST ABOUT ALL OF MY GAS LINES HAVE SERIOUS RUST ON THEM. MY OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THE ROCKER PANELS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAB ARE RUSTED THREW TO A POINT THAT YOU CAN STICK YOUR HAND IN THEM. WHEN IS CHEVY GOING TO GET OFF THEIR BUTT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THE BRAKE LINES, FUEL LINES & CROSS MEMBER CORROSION ARE SAFETY ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORST KILLED. *TR