NHTSA complaint: 2002 GMC SIERRA 2500 — SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD ON I95 WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AT WHICH POINT THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED PULSING THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO FURTHER BRAKE RESPONSE. THANKFULLY, THE BRAKES SLOWED THE TRUCK ENOUGH PRIOR TO FAILURE TO PREVENT A COLLISION AT 65 MPH. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ~5-10 MPH, CAUSING BUMPER DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TO MY HORROR I HAD NO BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED GMC DEALER WHO HAS MAINTAINED THE TRUCK FOR ME. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES BURST WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THEY INDICATED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DO TO RUST THROUGHOUT. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS TRUCK AROUND WITH A PENDING CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING FROM GM OR THE SERVICING DEALER. IF THE WORD IS NOT PUT OUT TO OWNERS OF AFFECTED GMC TRUCK, LIVES WILL BE LOST. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN PULLING UP TO A PEDESTRIAN FILLED CROSSWALK WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. UPDATED 10/03/12*LJ *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation