NHTSA Complaint #10670299 — 2001 GMC YUKON XL

I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A 4 LANE STREET. AS I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, THE LIGHT CHANGED FROM GREEN TO RED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK. I DROVE RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH 2 OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS GOING DOWNHILL AND PICKING UP SPEED AS I APPROACHED THE NEXT INTERSECTION. THE LIGHT CHANGED TO RED AND BY THIS TIME I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. AS 2 CARS WENT ACROSS IN FRONT OF ME FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO DRIVE BETWEEN THEM. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP. MY 15 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE EXTREMELY SHAKEN AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT OF THEM. AFTER A $160 TOWING BILL AND A $1,180 REPAIR BILL, WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 GMC YUKON. THE DEALERSHIP HAD 2 SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THEIR SHOP THAT DAY THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THAT THEY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE WITH THESE BRAKE LINES. THIS COULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND/OR ANOTHER INNOCENT PERSON COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN KILLED. MY SON SAYS HE WILL NEVER RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES, AS A RESULT OF THESE CHEAP STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT CORRODE, ESPECIALLY IN STATES THAT USE SALT ON THEIR ROADS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *TR