NHTSA complaint: 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO — SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS LAUNCHING MY BOAT THIS MORNING AND NEARLY LAUNCHED MY TRUCK WITH IT. PUTTING THE BOAT IN THE WATER MY BRAKES ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY I THOUGHT TO PUT IT IN DRIVE ESPECIALLY SINCE I CAN'T SWIM. AFTER DRIVING TO THE TOP OF THE HILL I HAD TO CRASH IN TO A BANK TO STOP! THEN I NOTICED SOMETHING LEAKING ABOVE THE LEFT REAR TIRE. IT APPEARED TO BE A BRAKE LINE THAT HAD RUSTED THROUGH.?.?.I HAD MY WIFE PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FIND WHERE IT WAS LEAKING AND IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. RUSTED BRAKE LINE! OF ALL THINGS DESIGNED TO SURVIVE RUST, THE BRAKE LINES WERE OBVIOUSLY LEFT OUT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT I FELT MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I LEARNED THIS IS VERY COMMON. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE GM I KNOW TO PUT LIVES IN DANGER. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation