GVWR: Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Make: GMC
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Manufacturer Id: 984
Model: Sierra
Model Year: 2004
Plant City: Pontiac
Plant Company Name: Gm Truck Group
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Michigan
Trim: 1500 (1/2 ton)
Vehicle Type: TRUCK
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2006
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AT APPROX. 25 MPH. UPON ENGAGING BRAKES TO STOP AT STOP SIGN, PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY SOFT AND TRAVELED NEARLY TO FLOOR. IT TOOK ME A MOMENT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND I HAD TO PRESS WITH FULL FORCE TO STOP. DROVE SLOWLY TO NEAREST GMC DEALER, NOT FAR AWAY. ALMOST ALL OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL PROVIDED NO RESPONSE; THE REMAINDER OF TRAVEL WAS SOFT AND PROVIDED MINIMAL BRAKING PERFORMANCE. DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON ALL SOLID BRAKE LINES AND FITTINGS. BURST/LEAKAGE ON A LINE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS CAUSING THE SOFT, NEARLY UNRESPONSIVE BRAKE PEDAL. RECOMMENDATION BY DEALER WAS TO REPLACE ALL SOLID BRAKE LINES AND FITTINGS, FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS UNIT TO EACH WHEEL END. I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY FIXING THE AREA THAT HAD BURST WOULD BE TOO "RISKY" DUE TO CONDITION OF THE REST OF THE SOLID BRAKE LINES AND THAT FAILURE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE LINES WAS "PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN." THE FLEXIBLE/RUBBER BRAKE LINES AND FITTINGS AT CALIPERS/DRUMS WERE "OK" AND NOT REPLACED. TOTAL CHARGE: $1380.46. THIS IS A 7-YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ABOUT 40K MILEAGE THAT HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED IN PERSONAL USE/COMMUTING. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE BEFORE, ON ANY VEHICLE AT ANY AGE, INCLUDING NUMEROUS VEHICLES 10+ YEARS OLD ALL DRIVEN IN NE OHIO. I AM GRATEFUL THE BRAKES GAVE UP WHEN/WHERE THEY DID: AT LOW SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY OTHER VEHICLE (OR PEDESTRIAN) AROUND. I CONTACTED GM AND REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT; THEY OFFERED NO RELIEF OR EXPLANATION (BEYOND "ENVIRONMENTAL" CAUSE), THOUGH THEY EXPRESSED SERIOUS INTEREST IN MY EXPERIENCE. I THINK THIS FAILURE IS UNACCEPTABLE AT THIS STAGE OF A VEHICLE SERVICE LIFE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS USED IN THE "SALT BELT." PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANSION OF EA11-001 TO LATER MODEL YEARS OF GMT800-SERIES VEHICLES. *TR
2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, AFTER DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY CHEVEROLET FULL SIZE VEHICLES. THIS WAS VERY OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN SITTING AT A STOP SIGN THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 35-40 MPH, AND WAS EITHER STUCK OR READ COMPLETLY INCORRECT.*AK