NHTSA Closes Investigation into Corrosive GM Brake Lines

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed an investigation into older GM pickups and SUVs without a recall.

The investigation, which lasted four years, has concluded that corrosion-based brake failures are not unique to these GM vehicles and therefore a recall is not warranted. Similar vehicles that use comparable brake lines also experienced the same issues, especially in areas where salt is used on the roads to combat snow and ice.

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“While NHTSA can’t order a recall in this case, there is a safety issue that vehicle owners should address,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. “Older-model vehicles, often driven in harsh conditions, are subject to corrosion over long periods of time, and we need owners to be vigilant about ensuring they, their passengers, and others on the roads are safe.”

NHTSA is recommending that owners of vehicles more than seven years old should wash their undercarriage thoroughly throughout the winter, monitor the brake system and address severe corrosion right aware once it’s noticed.

The investigation stemmed from an owner’s petition submitted in 2010 and covered 6 million vehicles.

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