NHTSA Complaint #11088428 — 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

MY 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD WITH 133,606 MILES EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE APRIL 13,2018 AT 9PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME. INCIDENT HAPPENED IN GREENVILLE, OHIO ON GARDENWOOD DR. HEADING WEST. STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP WITH NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND OF MUSHY BRAKES ETC. TOOK OFF FROM STOP AND ACCELERATED TO 25MPH THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. WENT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET, WHEN A RABBIT DARTED IN FRONT OF TRUCK. HIT THE BRAKES WITH MODERATE FIRM PRESSURE, BUT NOT EXTREME AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD ZERO BRAKING FORCE. DUMB FOUNDED, I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO FIND THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY LEFT BOOT IN THE DARK. AFTER 40 YARDS OF COASTING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BREAK WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK. THANK GOD FOR THE RABBIT, CAUSE THE ROAD DEAD ENDS INTO STATE ROUTE 118. THE BRAKE LINE FAILED UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NEAR FRAME AND RUNS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. AFTER REMOVING LINES, THE LINES THAT LOOKED GOOD WERE BRITTLE IN SPOTS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO VISUALLY INSPECT WITHOUT REMOVING. TWO OTHER LINES THAT DIDN'T FAIL COULD BE EASILY SNAPPED IN TWO WITH ALMOST ZERO FORCE. ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM OTHER THAN THE STEEL LINES HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST 2YRS. POWER WASHED UNDER THE TRUCK AT A MINIMUM OF EVERY 6 MONTHS. SPRAYED WD 40 ON BRAKE LINES EVERY 6 MONTHS PAST 4YRS, DUE TO MECHANIC INFORMING ME THAT THE LINES COULD GO BAD ALONG FRAME AND THAT THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. THOUGHT I HAD DONE A GOOD JOB AT PREVENTING SUCH AN INCIDENT. HAVE EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL SKILLS FROM EXPERIENCE, HENCE I'M REPLACING ALL THE BRAKE LINES MYSELF. WAS A MAC TOOL DISTRIBUTOR IN THE PAST AND RAISED ON A FARM. LUCKY I HAD REPLACED THE REAR DISKS AND PARKING BRAKE SHOES, BECAUSE THEY ARE LESS THAN ADEQUATE TO STOP A FULL SIZED TRUCK IMO. I'M PISSED OFF THIS HAPPENED. THE LINES NEED REPLACED ON ALL THESE VEHICLES, BEFORE THEY FAIL AND HURT OR KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE.