NHTSA Complaint #10621530 — 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE

I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A PERSON THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. I DROVE OFF, DOWN A HILL AND UPON REACHING THE STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD VERY LIMITED BRAKING AND STOPPED 3/4 OF THE WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T ANY CROSS TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE METAL LINES HAD RUPTURED AND THAT ALL THE LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WANTS $2,800.00 TO REPLACE THESE BIO-DEGRADABLE BRAKE LINES. ONE WOULD WONDER WHY THE MUFFLER IS STILL ORIGINAL AND IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED TO THE POINT OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE COST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATION THAT IS ON-GOING NEEDS TO INCLUDE MORE MODEL YEARS THAN WHAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED. IT MAY THEN SHED LIGHT ON HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS PROBLEM REALLY IS. I AM UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT METAL BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THEN A MUFFLER. GM IS TAKING THE STANCE THAT THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN "SALT STATES". IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, DON'T THEY SELL THESE VEHICLES IN "SALT STATES?" THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THIS IS SERIOUS. UPDATED 09/24/14. *JB