NHTSA Complaint #10789227 — 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

MY SON HAD BORROWED THE TRUCK AND WAS RETURNING IT WITH HIS 4 AND 5 YEAR OLD SONS IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS IN A TRAFFIC CIRCLE AND HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING CAME ON AND THE TRUCK HAD NO BRAKES. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO PARK IT ON THE SHOULDER AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIR TO THE TUNE OF $1,952. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A RUSTED BRAKE LINE THAT RUPTURED AND DAMAGED THE LEFT CALIPER. WE GOT NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. IN 2012 I ALSO HAD A SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE LEAVING A PARKING GARAGE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED. NO ONE MENTIONED ANYTHING AT THAT TIME ABOUT RUSTING BRAKE LINES. ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK IS 11 YEARS OLD IT ONLY HAS 67,871 MILES.