2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

ALL FACTORY HARD BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. I'VE REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE LINE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND DISTRIBUTION BLOCK WITH STAINLESS STEEL 1.5 YRS AGO. I JUST REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES ALONG THE AXEL. NOW THE FRONT BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED. IN ALL CASES THE LINES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND EMPTIED THE MASTER CYLINDER. I DO NOT LIVE IN THE SALT BELT.

BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED & CORRODED BRAKE LINES RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS. LUCKILY MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 WAS STATIONARY WHEN BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I WAS NOT TOWING A TRAILER OR LOADED WITH CARGO AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE ABS PUMP ALSO FAILED PRIOR TO LINE FAILURE. MY FATHER IN LAW HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR 1500. WHY DOES GM NOT USE STAINLESS BRAKE LINES FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT.

2 PROBLEMS: 1- WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP I NOTICED A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED AT THE FRAME RAIL UNDER DRIVER AREA. I WAS ABLE TO CRIMP BRAKE LINE WITH A PAIR OF VICE GRIP PLIERS AND MOVE TRUCK TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR REPAIR. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE LINES USED ON THESE TRUCKS TO BE OF SUCH INFERIOR QUALITY THAT SUDDEN FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. 2- MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS FOR DIESEL FUEL AND THEY HAVE WORKED SPORADICALLY FOR YEARS. I DID NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MUCH AS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER WHILE MY TRUCK WAS IDLING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY I NOTICED DIESEL FUEL DRIPPING OUT OF THE FRONT TANK FILLER CAP. APPARENTLY THE PUMP THAT PUMPS THE FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK WAS RECEIVING A SIGNAL TO PUMP EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT TANK WAS COMPLETELY FILLED. IT WAS CONTINUING TO PUMP AND LEAKING THE FUEL OUT THE FILLER NECK. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FLOAT THAT STICKS IN THE REAR TANK, THE SENDING UNITS THAT FAIL, A WIRING GROUND ISSUE OR SOME OTHER ELECTRONIC GLITCH. I DO KNOW ISSUES WITH DUAL TANK DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCKS ARE ABOUT AS COMMON AS THE TRUCK ITSELF IS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I REALIZED MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY VEHICLE MODEL HAVE HAD BOTH OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS SO I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THEM.

2 PROBLEMS: 1- WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP I NOTICED A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED AT THE FRAME RAIL UNDER DRIVER AREA. I WAS ABLE TO CRIMP BRAKE LINE WITH A PAIR OF VICE GRIP PLIERS AND MOVE TRUCK TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR REPAIR. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE LINES USED ON THESE TRUCKS TO BE OF SUCH INFERIOR QUALITY THAT SUDDEN FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. 2- MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS FOR DIESEL FUEL AND THEY HAVE WORKED SPORADICALLY FOR YEARS. I DID NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MUCH AS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER WHILE MY TRUCK WAS IDLING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY I NOTICED DIESEL FUEL DRIPPING OUT OF THE FRONT TANK FILLER CAP. APPARENTLY THE PUMP THAT PUMPS THE FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK WAS RECEIVING A SIGNAL TO PUMP EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT TANK WAS COMPLETELY FILLED. IT WAS CONTINUING TO PUMP AND LEAKING THE FUEL OUT THE FILLER NECK. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FLOAT THAT STICKS IN THE REAR TANK, THE SENDING UNITS THAT FAIL, A WIRING GROUND ISSUE OR SOME OTHER ELECTRONIC GLITCH. I DO KNOW ISSUES WITH DUAL TANK DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCKS ARE ABOUT AS COMMON AS THE TRUCK ITSELF IS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I REALIZED MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY VEHICLE MODEL HAVE HAD BOTH OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS SO I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS LOCATED UNDER THE DOORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE STEEL INSIDE THE ROCKER PANEL WAS NOT PAINTED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE RUSTING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILIABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.