NHTSA Complaint #10541828 — 2001 GMC SIERRA 2500

I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND UPON EXITING OBSERVED FLUID DRIPS ON THE PAVEMENT. I TOUCHED AND SMELLED THE FLUID AND DETERMINED IT TO BE BRAKE FLUID. I THEN OBSERVED FLUID DRIPPING FROM BENEATH THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RES. AND OBSERVED IT TO BE BELOW THE 1/2 POINT. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM MY HOME AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE BACK ROAD WHICH REQUIRED LESS BRAKING. THE FLUID WAS STILL LEAKING UPON MY ARRIVAL HOME. I SHOULD NOTE THERE WAS NO FLUID LEAKING PRIOR TO DEPARTING MY RESIDENCE. I DID NOTICE THE PEDAL TRAVEL TO HAVE INCREASED AND THE FEEL TO BE SLIGHTLY SPONGY AS I DROVE DOWN A STEEP GRADE REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT BRAKING TO MAINTAIN THE 35 MPH LIMIT INTO HAVRE DE GRACE. THE VEHICLE (2001 GMC 2500HD) IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH AND MOSTLY FOR LOCAL (<15 MILES) TRAVEL. THE FRONT ROTORS AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE LINES BLED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. THERE IS RUST EVIDENT ON THE BRAKE LINES. I MIGHT ARGUE THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE AGE THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED; HOWEVER, THE EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE IS EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY THREE (3) YEARS WORTH OF DRIVING. HAVING OWNED MANY VEHICLES, THIS IS THE FIRST TO HAVE HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE THE UNSCHEDULED EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE BRAKE LINES. I AM LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN FURTHER FROM HOME WHERE I MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.*JB