NHTSA Complaint #760724 — 1999 GMC SIERRA

I HAVE A 1999 NEW BODY STYLE GMC SIERRA 3 DOOR TRUCK. I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN 02/2002 AND IT DID NOT PREVENT THE TRUCK FROM ROLLING. I HAVE NEVER USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE TO EITHER STOP THE TRUCK OR HOLD IT IN PLACE AGAINST A LOAD. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR OTHER UNRELATED FACTORY RECALL NOTICES. I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CHECKED. BOTH REAR BRAKE SHOE WHERE WORN COMPLETELY OUT AND THE DRUM ON ONE SIDE WAS BEYOND RECOVERY. I HAD TO BUY NEW SHOES AND REPLACE ONE ROTOR (APPROXIMATELY $450). AGAIN, I HAVE NEVER USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE OR HOLD IT IN PLACE AGAINST A LOAD. IT HAS NOT BEEN USED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I TALKED TO A GMC MECHANIC AND SEVERAL TRUCK OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEMS WITH THE OWNER STATING THE SAME THING I HAVE CONCERNING USAGE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAD LESS THAN 30K MILES ON THEM. MY BROTHER HAS A 2000 CHEV. TRUCK AND THE SAME PROBLEM. A BRAKE SPECIALTY REPAIR CENTER TOLD HIM THE SAME THING THE GMC MECHANIC TOLD ME. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. IT WEARS OUT WITHOUT WARNING TO THE OWNER. I WROTE GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DISMISSED MY CONCERN WITHOUT FIRM EXPLANATION AFTER SEVERAL LETTERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CONCERN. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS AN ISOLATED OCCURANCE.*AK