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2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE — SERVICE BRAKES

crash · 1217504 · 2015-09-09

Vehicle

Make
CHEVROLET
Model
TAHOE
Year
2004
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
SERVICE BRAKES
Miles at failure
136,000
Speed
45 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

I WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS HOME AROUND 45 MPH IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ATTEMPTED A NON-SIGNALED RIGHT HAND TURN AND THEN CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD. I APPLIED MY BRAKES IN A MANNER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AS SHE DECIDED WHAT SHE WAS GOING DO. THE PEDAL WAS FIRM AT FIRST, THEN COMPLETELY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. THIS RESULTED IN ME TAKING AN OFF ROAD ADVENTURE THROUGH SOMEONES YARD AND BACK ONTO THE ROAD TO AVOID SLAMMING THE CAR IN FRONT ME AS SHE REGAINED HER SENSE AGAIN. I SLOWLY CREPT HOME AND SPIT A TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID ALONG THE WAY. THE HARD BRAKE LINES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE SO CORRODED WITH RUST AND I FOUND THE FRONT FEED LINE INTO THE ABS MODULE HAD BURST FROM THE CORROSION AND USE OF CHEAP FACTORY LINES. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE BECAUSE 11 YEARS AGO GM DECIDED CHEAPER BRAKE LINE MATERIAL IN 2004 IS BETTER THAN MY LIFE IN 2015. NOW I FIND THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED AND THEY ARE BLAMING "MAINTENANCE" AS THE CAUSE. IN ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED, NOT A SINGLE ONE HAD TO HAVE A HARD BRAKE LINE REPLACED. IT'S JUST NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS A MATERIAL AND PRODUCER FLAW THAT IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. IT ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10762718
Machine
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