NHTSA Complaint #10567186 — 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT 28MPH AND PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PUMPED THE PEDAL REPEATEDLY AND ONLY SLIGHT BRAKING ACTION COULD BE ACHIEVED. I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION JUST NARROWLY MISSING TWO CROSSING CARS AND TURNED ONTO A NEARBY SIDE STREET. AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP, I GOT OUT AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID FORMING A FEW FEET BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND ALL BREAK LINES SEVERELY RUSTED AND A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED JUST ABOVE THE FRAME RAIL. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY WARNING LIGHT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT VEHICLES HAVE TWO BRAKE SYSTEMS (FOUNT AND REAR) AND IF ONE FAILED YOU STILL HAD THE OTHER TO STOP YOU? I CONTACTED MY CAR DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO RUPTURED BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST OR COMPLETE FAILURE OF A BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS JUST LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED. PEOPLE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND WARNED!!! AFTER READING REPORT AFTER REPORT OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHERS DRIVING THE 1999 SILVERADO, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A WARNING SENT OUT TO OWNERS AND/OR A RECALL!!!!