NHTSA Complaint #10836321 — 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. HAD A METAL LINE BLOW OUT NEAR REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE TO USE TRANSMISSION AND HOLDING PARKING BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE WHILE USING E-BRAKE WHILE STEERING WITH ONE HAND. UPON SPLICING IN A SECTION OF REPLACEMENT TUBING, I NOTICED THE FUEL RETURN LINE FROM THE ENGINE TO THE TANK IS CORRODED SEVERELY TOO. I HAD A SECTION OF FUEL LINE FALL APART UPON REPLACING A FUEL FILTER AND SPLICED IN A RUBBER FUEL HOSE WITH CLAMPS TO GET A FUEL FILTER REPLACED. WHEN THE FUEL LINES RUPTURE, THERE IS A CHANCE OF FIRE FROM THE EXHAUST OR HOT BRAKE DRUMS. WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT I NEED TO SELL TRUCK AS IT HAS 18-24 MONTHS LEFT WITHOUT PROPER AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS BEING MADE. RARELY GETS UNDERBODY WASH AS A QUALITY WASH IS FAR AWAY AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RUST IS PROBABLY HOLDING IT TOGETHER AND ADVISED NOT TO KNOCK OFF ANY MORE RUST AS IT WOULD ACCELERATE FURTHER CORROSION. WAS ADVISED A WASTE OF TIME TO USE RUST REFORMER OR UNDERCOATING. I NOTICED THIS STATIONARY AS THE VEVICLE WAS MAKING SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM THE REAR AXLE HUB ON DRIVER SIDE (SAME LINE THAT BLEW) AND FIGURED HANGING CALIPER SO I DID A FULL BRAKE PEDAL PRESS AND FELT THE PEDAL GET SPONGY AND DROP ANOTHER 1" TOWARD FLOOR. I OPENED DOOR, HUNG OUT LOOKING UNDER TRUCK AND PRESSED PEDAL AGAIN TO SEE FLUID POURING FROM REAR AXLE AREA. DROVE IT 30 MILES WITH NO SERVICE BRAKES TO GET TO THE GARAGE USING ONLY E-BRAKE AND 3,2,1 AND NEUTRAL RANGE OF TRANSMISSION TO BE ABLE TO STOP IF NEEDED. ALSO WAS ADVISED ABOUT FUEL TANK STRAP AND THAT I WOULD NEED A FLAME CUTTER TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AS TRUCK BED BOLTS LOOKED HORRIBLE OR WOULD NEED TO CUT TANK STRAPS DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK. THE "ANNUAL UNDERBODY WASH" MOST OWNERS MANUALS RECOMMEND IS INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.