Five problems related to brake hoses, lines/piping, and fittings have been reported for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Brake line failed after med to heavy braking, leaving little to no brake as pedal went to the floor.
My wife was traveling back from a friends house with our two and seven year old kids, and the brakes failed she was able to run the truck off the road as to not hit anybody or anything, and was able to stop it, after adding brake fluid and starting the vehicle again, I realized there was fluid coming out of the back of the truck, I saw the metal brake lines are corroded , while the rubber lines seem to be ok. I do not have the type of money to fix a problem of this magnitude, with five children and my wife not working, I think that a vehicle like this shouldn't have failed us like this.
I purchased on 11/1997 a new 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 3/4 ton 2500 series. The Suburban has 38,528 original miles and has been garage kept since new. The vehicle has been used primarily as a secondary vehicle for recreational purposes. The Suburban has been driven in snow conditions only 12-14 times. I am experiencing excessive brake and fuel line corrosion on the steel brake/fuel lines, flexible brake hoses and connections. I am very concerned over the brake/fuel line corrosion issuea and have since learned that an investigation has been initiated by the NHTSA on 1/5/11, NHTSA investigation file no. Ea11001.
1. Hard stop to avoid hitting wildlife. Going approximately 40 mph. 2. After the brakes holding for a second or two the pedal dropped to the floor. After that only 1/4 brake power. Once home, observed brake fluid coming from corroded brake lines. 3. I will need to review cost of service.
Catastrohic loss of entire breaking system due to bursting of brake lines without prior notice; dealer required complete replacement of entire brake system owing to servely rusted parts throughout; mechanical emergency brake system required several hundred yards to stop vehicle; vehicle had been regularly serviced since new with most recent service just 2 months before brake system failure; had vehicle been traveling at highway speed possible fatal consequences; possible issue of design/component defect.