NHTSA Complaint #10560552 — 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500

THE AVALANCHE IS OUR TOW VEHICLE (ONLY) WHICH IS WHY IT HAS SO FEW MILES FOR A 2002 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. NORMALLY IT IS TOWING A 9000 POUND 28 FOOT TOY HAULER, BUT JUST BY PURE LUCK IT WAS TOWING A SINGLE AXLE FLAT BED TRAILER WITH THE CAB FOR A 1935 CHEVROLET PICKUP ON IT BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TRIED TO STOP AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. TRIED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES AND THE CABLE SNAPPED. STOPPED BY DRIVING UP A HILL INTO THE GRASS. TOOK THE AVALANCHE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKE LINES ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THEY WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. IN THE COURSE OF GETTING THE BRAKE LINES OUT THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ALSO LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL FOR REPAIR WAS $2900.00, PLUS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 6 WEEKS. GRANTED THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD, BUT I HAVE A 1963 STUDEBAKER THAT STILL HAS SOLID BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT THE AVALANCHE WASN'T TOWING A 9000 POUND 28 FOOT LONG TRAILER AT 70 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT THERE WAS A PENDING PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED, AND I NEED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR