NHTSA Complaint #11191062 — 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI

AT 44,972 MILES I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS (10-15 MPH) ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS SPONGY FEEL AND FELT HARD AND DEAD. NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. IT WAS A SCARY FEELING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN MY TRUCK THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I HAD TO DEPRESS MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER AND TURNED OFF AND ON THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL REGAINED ITS SPONGY, NORMAL PRESSURE AND FEEL. THE BRAKES FELT NORMAL FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AND I FELT MAYBE IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT UNTIL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN CITY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5-10 MPH TRYING TO COME TO A STOP BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. I BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DEPRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT VERY LOW SPEED, BUT NONETHELESS A COLLISION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AND ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR $656.50, PARTS AND LABOR. I DEFINITELY FEEL THIS IS A VALID SAFETY ISSUE THAT DESERVES INVESTIGATING AND DOING EITHER A SAFETY NOTICE TO VEHICLE OWNERS THAT COULD BE EFFECTED OR A RECALL. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ISSUE I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT. IT REALLY SHOOK ME UP THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE TRUCK EVEN 10 FEET AFTERWARDS.