NHTSA Complaint #10596137 — 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FROM NEW. IT IS USED FOR LIMITED HAULING DUTIES AROUND TOWN AND HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. LAST SUMMER I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR PA STATE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DROVE THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE BAY AND UPON DOING SO, THE BRAKE FLUID DUMPED OUT SUDDENLY FROM BENEATH THE TRUCK CHASSIS. THIS WAS 10 MIN AFTER I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERS USING A LOCAL EXPRESSWAY. THE TRUCK WAS THEN PUT UP ON THE LIFT AND I WAS SHOWN THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS DUMPED ONTO THE FLOOR. I PAID $2332 FOR BRAKE REPAIRS. AS A GRADUATE MATERIALS ENGINEER I INQUIRED AS TO THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE BRAKE LINES AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE CARBON STEEL. IT OFFENDS ME GREATLY THAT THIS TRUCK HAD THIS SEVERE FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 10K MILES, AND THAT GM APPARENTLY HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HIDDEN IT FOR MANY YEARS. THEIR FOCUS ON SAVING A BUCK COULD HAVE COST LIVES AS A RESULT. THE DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL IN MAKING ME AWARE OF ANY MITIGATION PROGRAM BY GM. AND I AM STUCK WITH A LARGE BILL FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. I AM APPALLED AND AN UNHAPPY CUSTOMER!!!