A recent bit of news on the internet (Justin Hyde, Rusted brake lines in GM pickups demonstrate the twilight zone of auto safety, Motoramic – Yahoo) pointed out that there could be another serious problem lurking in GM vehicles that could cause serious crashes: rusted brake lines on many GM pickup trucks and SUVs. Like the deadly ignition switch problem on Chevy Cobalts and other GM vehicles, this problem has been known and reported for years.
In fact, the NHTSA currently counts its analysis of the brake line rusting problem as its longest open investigation (and the 2nd longest in the agency’s history), but nothing has been done and no recall has been issued. Our Houston auto defect lawyers point out that GM was aware of the ignition switch defect since at least 2001, and was also aware of numerous crashes, some fatal, but the recall on that problem was only issued in recent weeks.
On the GM vehicles with the brake line defect, which include the Sierra and the Silverado pickup, the steel pipes that send brake fluid between the wheels and the control pumps could rust, leading to brake fluid leaks, brake failures, and crashes. The problem is especially acute up in the northern states where salt on icy roads in winter can speed up the rusting process. GM vehicle owners and even mechanics have been reporting the problem since about 2000. And most complaints are on vehicles made from 1999 to 2006, but even some newer GM vehicles are susceptible,
The NHTSA began its investigation into the problem in March 2010 after 763 complaints, 26 crashes, and 3 injuries. The investigation has indicated that in at least 25% of the cases, the brake system failed without warning while the vehicle was traveling in the road.
GM says that the rusting brake lines are not really a problem because the vehicles have separate circuits that should still bring the vehicle to a halt if one brake line fails, and that dash board warning lights and brake fluid leaks should be enough to warn drivers in advance of impending disaster. (The Houston auto defect lawyers at Denena Points, PC reiterate that the NHTSA investigation indicated that in at least 25% of the cases, the brake system failed without warning while the vehicle was traveling in the road. So apparently there aren’t enough advance warnings and redundant systems to prevent sudden system failures and resulting vehicle wrecks and injuries.)
In January 2011, the NHTSA upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis, generally the last step before a recall. But that was more than 3 years ago, and still no recall has been issued.
Business concerns should not trump safety concerns. Even if GM is one of the largest domestic automakers, the size of its production should not allow it to get a free pass to send inferior and potentially dangerous products out to market. GM has already partially shielded itself from liabilities (at least on wrecks that occurred before July 2009) by declaring bankruptcy. It’s unfortunate that the company can’t create a similarly impregnable shield for its vehicle owners who might face dangerous crashes from hidden defects in their cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Click the link to learn about what you can do if you or your family suffers injury in a crash because of a defective GM vehicle.