NHTSA Complaint #10520537 — 2013 GMC TERRAIN

PURCHASED 2013 GMC TERRAIN DENALI BRAND NEW; VEHICLE HAD APPROX 5000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. WHILE OUT TO MOUNTAINS AND JUST STARTING TO HEADING DOWN A STEEP GRADE ON A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD (JUST STARTED MOVING AND WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH), ABS KICKED IN AND WOULDN'T STOP, PREVENTING THE BREAK FROM BEING PRESSED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN THIS STEEP GRADE ROAD WITH A CLIFF ON ONE SIDE AND A MOUNTAIN FACE ON THE OTHER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PICKING UP SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO GET THE ABS TO RELEASE THE BREAKS SO THAT I COULD USE THEM AGAIN. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BREAKS, SHIFTED FROM M1 TO DRIVE, THEN TO NEUTRAL, THEN TO REVERSE, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO TRIED TO JUST NOT DO ANYTHING, NOT TOUCH THE BREAKS, AND SEE IF THE BREAKS WOULD RELEASE AND I STILL CONTINUED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STOP. AFTER TRAVELING APPROX 1/2 MILE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN I HIT THE EMERGENCY BREAKS WHICH DID STOP THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DID THE BREAKS BECOME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DURING THE RAPID DECENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. MY FAMILY AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO DEATH THAT DAY AND ALL COULD'VE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS DEFECT. BUYERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR