NHTSA Complaint #10716593 — 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

MY HUSBAND, 3 YEAR OLD, ANY MYSELF WERE DRIVING BACK FROM A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP BECAUSE OF A DRIVER 2 CARS AHEAD OF US THAT QUICKLY APPLIED BRAKES TO MAKE A QUICK RIGHT HAND TURN. THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF US IN TURN HAD TO APPLY HIS BREAKS ON AND WHEN MY HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES ON OUR 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE THERE WERE NO BRAKES!! OUR 3 YEAR OLD WAS ASLEEP IN THE BACKSEAT!! WE HIT HIM OF COURSE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT STOP (GOING DOWNHILL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY) WE ENDED UP HAVING TO COAST UP THE HILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOWHERE SAFE FOR US TO PULL OFF . THERE WERE ALMOST SEVERAL OTHER ACCIDENTS DUE TO IT BEING A BLIND SPOT FOR DRIVERS COMING OVER THE HILL BOTH WAYS AND WE WERE STUCK THERE BECAUSE WE HAD NO WAY TO STOP OURSELVES AGAIN. SO AFTER ALL THAT WE ENDED UP NEEDING OUR TRUCK TOWED AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED AND HAD BUSTED!! SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A TOW BILL NOW WE ARE RESPONSBILE FOR REPLACING THEM! THE ESTIMATE IS $800!!! THANKS GM! WE WILL BE SELLING THIS ONE SOON! GM WON'T DO A RECALL ON THESE AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND ACCIDENTS ABOUT THE BRAKE LINES ON HERE? SERIOUSLY? WE HAD NO CLUE ABOUT ANY OF THIS UNTIL TODAY! THE MECHANIC THAT IS FIXING OURS TODAY TOLD US HE HAS 2 MORE THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON THEIRS TOO! I GUESS IT TAKES PEOPLE DYING OR GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE THE CAR MANUFACTURES HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. AND WHAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE IS THAT THE WHOLE BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT IS AVAILABLE (FOR US TO PURCHASE) AND IT'S ONLY ABOUT $160!! NICE TO KNOW THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OTHER MOTORISTS AREN'T WORTH IT TO THEM. JUST 2 MILES EARLIER WE DROVE THOUGH A SCHOOL ZONE!!!!! AS THE KIDS WERE LEAVING FOR THE DAY! THANK GOD THEY LASTED THAT 2 EXTRA MILES AND NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.