NHTSA Complaint #10650532 — 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500

COMING TO A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; NO LIGHTS OR INDICATION FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. MANAGED TO TURN ONTO A DIRT SHOULDER AND DOWNSHIFT TO STOP. INSPECTION REVEALED RUSTED THROUGH REAR BRAKE LINE. ALTHOUGH THE DASH BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE STARTING THE TRUCK, IT GOES OFF AND GIVES NO INDICATION THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW. WHILE REPAIRING THE BRAKE LINES IT WAS NOTICED THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS EXTREMELY RUSTY AND FLAKING. AFTER WIRE-BRUSHING BY HAND,THE FRAME IS SHOWING CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES, UNDER THE CAB, NEAR THE REAR, RIGHT ABOUT WHERE A CROSSMEMBER IS ATTACHED. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH GM'S CLAIM THAT THIS WAS A LIGHTER, STRONGER FRAME ON THIS TRUCK. WE HAVE 2 OLDER TRUCKS WITH NOWHERE NEAR THIS MUCH RUST AND NEITHER HAVE CRACKED. THE DESIGN ALLOWS TOO MUCH CRUD TO ACCUMULATE INSIDE THE LIP OF THE FRAME WHERE IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO WASH OUT. *TR