NHTSA Complaint #10578128 — 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP AND AVOID INJURING MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON. THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING 50 MPH WITH MY WIFE AND 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR OR I MIGHT NOT BE WRITING THIS TODAY (OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED BY ME DUE TO THIS BRAKE FAILURE). I DISCOVERED THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE WAS BECAUSE MY BRAKE LINE PREMATURELY CORRODED AND THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO NHTSA AND YOU HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. HOW DARE YOU AND GM PUT MY FAMILY AND OTHER INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AT RISK BECAUSE OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE!!! WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL??? A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF CHEVY OWNERS AS WELL AS PREMATURE RUSTING OF THE BODY AND UNDERCARRIAGE WHICH I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR, BUT I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS THAT CARS WITH 3 TIMES AS MANY MILES SHOULDN'T EXPERIENCE. PERHAPS CONGRESS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS DERELICTION OF DUTY BY NHTSA. HOW MANY AMERICANS HAVE TO DIE OR GET INJURED IN ACCIDENTS BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION??? IF TOTAL FAILURE OF A VEHICLE'S BREAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T SPUR A CALL TO ACTION BY NHTSA THEN WHAT WILL? WHAT COULD BE MORE VITAL TO SAFETY THAN BRAKES ON A 1/2 TON TRUCK? REPAIRS FOR THE BRAKE LINE WILL COST ME OVER $1,200 AND THAT JUST ADDS INSULT TO THIS WHOLE DISGRACEFUL SITUATION. I DEMAND TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS WELL KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT I HAVE TO CORRECT. NHTSA HAS FAILED AND IT'S COSTING WAY MORE THAN $1,200; IT'S COSTING AMERICANS THEIR LIVES. *TR