GMC Yukon 2000–2006

Fault

YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON I495, D.C. BELTWAY AT 50 MPH (= 80.5 km/h), WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TRAVEL DAILY AND I HAD ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE AT 50 MPH (= 80.5 km/h).

Cause

HOWEVER, WITH THE SNOW-BELTS STATES SALTING THE ROADS HAVE DAMAGED MANY GM AND OTHER VEHICLES. (1 more)

Remedy

A NATIONALLY KNOWN COMPANY REPLACED THE PORTION OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUPTURED, BUT THEY DID WARN ME THAT RUST WAS RAMPART BECAUSE OF THE SALT.

Consequence

ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED OR HAD SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Fault

UPON APPLYING BRAKES, WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE RIGHT REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.

Cause

I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEEL LINES ARE RUSTING OUT AS A RESULT OF THE DE-ICING CHEMICALS BEING USED ON THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER.

Remedy

THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED ALL THE STEEL LINES WITH COPPER/NICKEL LINES AT A COST OF $1,606.00.

Consequence

FORTUNATELY,Y I HAD SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE NEXT CAR THAT I COULD AVOID AN ACCIDENT.

Fault

BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. (3 more)

Cause

I ASSUME THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE ALSO RUSTED THROUGH. (1 more)

Remedy

PAID REPAIR FACILITY TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE LINES.

Inspection

HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SERVICE FACILITY AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING FLUID TO BE PUSHED OUT.

Fault

DRIVING ON SOUTH ON ROUTE 95 THROUGH CONNECTICUT AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH (= 104.6 km/h) ON 17AUG12. (1 more)

Remedy

DEALER REPLACED 40" OF BRAKE LINE.

Inspection

THEY FOUND THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED DUE TO RUST.

Consequence

NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT HIGH SPEED. (1 more)

Fault

STEPPED ON BRAKES TO SLOW-DOWN FOR SLOWER TRAFFIC, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. (1 more)

Remedy

THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE REAR BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK.

Inspection

THE DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE.

Consequence

THE YUKON WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE HITTING THE SLOWER TRAFFIC.

Fault

DURING THE 2011 30 OCTOBER SNOW STORM IN PA, I WENT TO PICK IT UP TO USE IT. (2 more)

Remedy

ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THEY HAD TO FABRICATE A REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINE AND WERE ABLE TO REPLACE IT.

Inspection

THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND LET US KNOW THAT THEY HAD FOUND A BRAKE LINE THAT BURST DUE TO CORROSION. (1 more)

Outcome

I HAVE DRIVEN THE GMC FOR ABOUT TEN MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND THE BRAKES APPEAR TO BE BACK TO NORMAL.

Fault

AFTER NO WARNING (LIGHTS, CHIMES OR ALARMS), APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES. (1 more)

Cause

EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN YOU PLACE DIFFERENT METALS IN CONTACT WHERE THEY CAN GET WET, YOU WILL GET ELECTRO-CHEMICAL CORROSION OF THE WEAKER METAL, IN THIS CASE, ALUMINUM. (1 more)

Inspection

*TR LOCAL DEALER SAYS ALUMINUM BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD RUPTURED.

Consequence

LUCKILY IT WAS VERY EARLY AND NOBODY WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN I BLEW THROUGH A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION.

Fault

SLOW SPEED STOP APPROACHING A LOCKED GATE. (3 more)

Remedy

ALL METAL BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Inspection

MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON ALL METAL BRAKE TUBING.

Consequence

THE ABOVE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHIN 2 FEET (= 0.61 m) OF STRIKING A METAL SECURITY GATE.

Fault

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED, THE BREAKS FELT A LITTLE SOFT UPON BRAKING. (1 more)

Remedy

ALL LINES WERE FABRICATED AND REPLACED.

Inspection

TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP FOR EVALUATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE ABS TO THE REAR BREAKS HAD RUPTURED. (1 more)

Outcome

I HAVE HAD NO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPAIR. *TR

Fault

WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING.

Remedy

THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINES AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION.

Fault

THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH (= 80.5 km/h) AND TOWING A BOAT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD.

Remedy

THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED.

Inspection

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUSTED BRAKE LINES.

Fault

GOING DOWN HILL, APPLIED BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.

Remedy

I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE METAL LINES ON THE VEHICLE.

Fault

BRAKE LINE FAILURE - ST. LOUIS MO. (1 more)

Consequence

NARROWLY ESCAPED ACCIDENT/COLLISION.

Fault

THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABNORMALLY.

Remedy

THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED.

Inspection

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AS WELL AS CORRODED PREMATURELY CAUSING THEM TO FRACTURE.

Fault

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY TRUCK ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION.

Remedy

I ALSO HAD TO HAVE BOTH STEEL LINES TO THE REAR WHEELS AND THE TWO STEEL LINE TO THE FRONT REPLACED. *TR

Remedy

TO REMEDY SITUATION I REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR

Inspection

FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND BRAKE LINE BURST.

Fault

I LOOKED AT THE DASH AND IT WAS ALL LIT UP AND BLINKING.

Remedy

I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED WITH OVER THE BAY BRIDGE AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TWO BRAKE LINES THAT SNAPPED AND THEY COULD NOT BLEED THE LINES FULLY SINCE THEY WERE AFRAID THAT THE OTHER TWO LINES COULD SNAP AT ANY TIME. (1 more)

Inspection

HE GOT IT TO STOP AND GOT OUT AND LOOKED UP UNDER THE TRUCK AND COULD SEE THAT TWO OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SNAPPED.

Fault

REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

Remedy

DEALER ONLY REPLACED ONE FAILED LINE.

Inspection

AFTER INSPECTION ALL HARD BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR

Fault

AS I WAS STOPPING FOR AN UPCOMING STOP SIGN, MY BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE, AGAIN! (2 more)

Remedy

HE REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL TUBING AND FITTINGS.

Inspection

MY MECHANIC NOW TOLD ME THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING A MAJOR BRAKE FLUID LOSS.

Fault

APPROXIMATELY 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM ARRIVING, MY BRAKES FAILED AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. (1 more)

Remedy

HE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL TUBING AND FITTINGS.

Inspection

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING A MAJOR BRAKE FLUID LOSS.

Fault

I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FELT SOMTHING GIVE WAY AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. (1 more)

Remedy

I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS UNIT UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE JUNCTION NEAR THE SPARE WHEEL.

Inspection

I INSPECTED THE BRAKE LINES AND FOUND THEM TO BE VERY CORRODED AND THE ONE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKES WAS SPLIT OPEN. (1 more)

Fault

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AFTER GETTING GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAS SHORTAGE DURING THE MAJOR SNOW STORM IN THE NORTH EASTERN UNITED STATES. (1 more)

Remedy

THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *JS

Inspection

I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND WHEN IT WAS PLACED ON A LIFT THEY NOTICED THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINES.

Remedy

REAR BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE AXLE WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED UPON VISUAL INSPECTION.

Fault

WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET @ 20MPH (= 32.2 km/h), STARTED TO BRAKE ABOUT 150 FEET (= 45.7 m) BEFORE THE STOP SIGN. (1 more)

Remedy

THE TECH RE-CONSTRUCTED THE BRAKE LINES FROM SCRATCH USING A CORROSION-RESISTANT ALLOY TUBING. (2 more)

Inspection

THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED, HE FOUND 2 FAILED LEAKING STEEL BRAKE LINES...THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED.

Fault

THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH (= 32.2 km/h), THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD.

Remedy

THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE AND MASTER CYLINDER.

Inspection

THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID.

Fault

HIT BRAKES TO STOP PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR TRUCK DID STOP BUT TOOK ALT LONGER THAN USUAL WENT TO GARAGE RUSTED BRAKE LINES ONE HAD BROKE THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO HAD ONE LINE REPAIRED SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Fault

BRAKES FAILED AS I TRIED TO STOP.

Inspection

ALL BRAKE LINES WERE DETERMINED IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS FRONT CALIBERS.. *TR

Cause

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CLEARANCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE AND THE BODY CROSS SILL THAT COULD DECREASE TO THE POINT OF ALLOWING CONTACT DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IF CONTACT OCCURS AND THE BRAKE PIPE BECOMES DAMAGED, IN HALF OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM THERE CAN BE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND PRESSURE. THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WILL BE ACTIVATED WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL REACHES THE INDICATOR LIMIT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE FOR WEAR. IF THERE ARE SIGNS OF WEAR, THIS SECTION OF THE BRAKE PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGNED BRAKE PIPE SECTION. IF THERE ARE NOT SIGNS OF WEAR ON THE BRAKE PIPE, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A SPACER CLIP TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PIPE AND THE BODY CROSS SILL.

Consequence

DURING BRAKING, THE PEDAL WILL BE LOWER THAN NORMAL AND STOPPING DISTANCES WILL BE LONGER. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Open the manufacturer’s document (PDF) ↗ The points above were read from this document.

Remedy

This informational bulletin is to inform dealers of an improved service strategy to aid in the replacement of hydraulic brake pipes, Customer Care and Aftersales (CCA) has released pre-formed and pre-flared hydraulic brake pipe kits.