2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 Complaints

I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING ABOUT 60 TO 70 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK SWITCHED TO FWD LOW ALL ON ITS OWN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER . I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN 2WD. LATER THE SERVICE 4WD LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO HAVE OCCASIONS WHEN ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND ALL THE GAUGES DROP AND NOW MY ABS LIGHT FLASHES AND THE WARNING BELL RINGS AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO C1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,974. UPDATED 05/10/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED CAUSING BRAKE FLUIDS TO LEAK OUT. UPDATED 05/28/2013 *JS

HAD JUST DRIVEN 30 MILES ON BACKROADS TO MY PARENTS HOUSE TO PICKUP AN ENCLOSED RACE TRAILER (FULLY LOADED) AND WAS BACKING UP TO HOOKUP, HAD GOTTEN OUT TO CHECK LINEUP AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN TO BACKUP FURTHER THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND GOT A "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING ON THE GAUGES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND ONE OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES THAT RUN ON TOP OF THE FRAME RAIL IN THE ENGINE BAY THAT RUNS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NEXT TO THE ENGINE HAD BURST AND THE LINES WERE RUSTED. I WOULD HATE TO WONDER WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PULLING TRAILER ON COUNTRY BACKROADS AS I WAS GETTING READY TO DO......GM REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR, SO BAD THAT THEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE ABS UNIT, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, SO VULNERABLE TO CORROSION FROM SALT. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN STAINLESS LINES, OR ROUTED DIFFERENTLY. SAME WITH THE FUEL LINES. I WAS A DIE HARD CHEVY GUY, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SOOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS, GM NEEDS TO STEP UP. I CAN'T WAIT TO SELL THIS TRUCK AND BUY AN ANTIQUE. *TR

COASTING TO A STOP SIGN. PRESSED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. ENGAGED EMERGENCY BRAKE JUST BEFORE REAR END COLLISION WITH VEHICLE AT STOP. A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID REMAINED AFTER A TOW HOME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 45MPH AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I DID NOT HAVE TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES, HOWEVER, IF THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY BRAKING CONDITION, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND FLUID CAME OUT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ENGINEERING FAILURE. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT BE MADE OUT OF MATERIAL THAT CAN RUST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING AND DESCENDING A HILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO, PURCHASED NEW WITH 92K MILES ON THE CLOCK NOW. WHILE STARTING OUT FROM MY DRIVEWAY, I STOPPED FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE RESISTANCE. I RETURNED TO THE GARAGE AND SAW BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE LEFT FRONT. A QUICK EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT A STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST OBVIOUSLY DUE TO MASSIVE RUST. THIS IS A SERIOUS, UNEXPECTED AND A CRITICAL DESIGN FAILURE. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER SEEN SNOW/SALT AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ALONG THE UNDERBODY ARE LIKE-NEW (EVEN THOUGH THIS WOULD BE THE AREA THAT CORROSION WOULD BE EXPECTED!). I AM NO LONGER YOUNG AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES WITH OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON MOST OF THEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD A STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST. TO SEE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS JUST ON THIS DATABASE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS --- TO DATE --- BEEN IGNORED. IF NOT A RECALL, AT LEAST PROVIDE NOTICE TO OWNERS THAT THERE EXISTS A POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW IN THE MATERIALS USED IN THE BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES. SINCE I'M STILL ON THE ORIGINAL FRONT BRAKE PADS, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY I AM A GENTLE DRIVER AND HAVE NOT ABUSED THE BRAKES. THANKS. *TR

VEHICLE RESIDES IN "SALT BELT" STATE BUT RARELY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER MONTHS; MAINLY TO LEAVE FOR A 2-MONTH TRIP SOUTH. THANKS TO GOD THAT MY WIFE, OTHERS AND I ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY. JUST PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE/CHECK. PREVIOUS BRAKE WORK AT 47K MILES IN 02/2010 PADS ON ONE WHEEL COMPLETELY GONE AND PADS ON OTHER WERE WORN TO 1/16? THICK. FRONT PADS AT 85% AT THAT TIME. TECHNICIAN BLAMED ?ROAD SALT?. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM BUT ONLY GOT A REMINDER THAT VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENT INCIDENT OCCURRED 01/11/13 APPROX. 11 MI FROM NASHVILLE, TN. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, TRAFFIC AHEAD BEGAN SLOWING DOWN FAST. I BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND WHEN I PUSHED DOWN HARDER TO STOP AS TRAFFIC STOPPED, I HEARD A "SOUND" LIKE A LOW THUMP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I MANAGED TO WHIP THE TRUCK AROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ONTO THE SHOULDER AND AVOID COLLISION, AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT I HAD SOME BRAKING POWER REMAINING, AND WE SLOWLY CONTINUED IN TO NASHVILLE. LOCATED A DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND SAID FRONT BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY GONE/BRAKE LINE WAS SHOT. IT WAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SO IN ADDITION TO THE $2100 IN REPAIRS, WE INCURRED MEAL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR 3 DAYS/NIGHTS (APPROX. $600), BEFORE THE REPAIR COULD BE COMPLETED ON MONDAY. AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE DETERIORATION WAS DUE TO ROAD SALT. I DISAGREE WITH THIS FIRST, VEHICLE IS RARELY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND SECOND, I'VE NEVER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE LIVED IN "SALT BELT" STATES. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN DEFICIENCY WITH THE BRAKES IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE THE PARTS IF NEEDED FOR INSPECTION. I CAN BE REACHED BY PHONE AT # LISTED IN COMPLAINT THRU 03/15/13. AFTER THAT AT PERMANENT HOME ADDRESS (LISTED). *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER MORITZ CHEVROLET IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS REPLACED A PASSENGERS DOOR MODULE. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED DURING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. AFTER I RESTARTED THE TRUCK, THE STEERING WHEEL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I ALMOST HIT A CURB AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IF I WERE GOING ANY FASTER. *TR