Diagnostic Tip – Additional Brake Pedal Effort – 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC

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NHTSA ID Number: 10145479

Manufacturer Communication Number: PIT5361D

Summary

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have issues were the customer will need increased effort to depress the brake pedal. Technician may find fluid in the brake booster and/or the booster vacuum line. Technician will need to replace Vacuum Pump, Brake Booster, Master Cylinder, Vacuum Pump Belt and the Vacuum Line between the booster and the pump.

 


Condition / Concern

In some rare situations, a hard brake pedal or that increased effort is needed to depress the brake pedal.  Also, in some cases a tick or ticking noise may be heard, which may sound like an exhaust manifold leak.

 

Recommendations / Instructions

When following the SI diagnostics chart for “Brake Pedal Excessive Effort” it may lead to the “Brake System Vacuum Source Test”. While performing this test, if low vacuum is found, inspect the vacuum pump belt. If no belt issues are found, suspect a faulty vacuum pump.

If the vacuum pump is found to be at fault, inspect the vacuum line and brake booster for the presence of engine oil.

IMPORTANT: The vacuum pump is belt-driven and mounted to the side of the engine block and is lubricated by pressurized engine oil.

If NO engine oil is found, then ONLY replace the vacuum pump itself.

If engine oil is found, it is important that the following parts are replaced. If not, the condition will return.

1. Vacuum Pump
2. Vacuum Line between the booster and the pump
3. Brake Booster
4. Master Cylinder

NOTE: If the vacuum pump failed, please review the customer’s maintenance records for proper oil change intervals. Poorly maintained vehicles can contribute to vacuum pump failures.

 

Parts

Description Qty Part Number
PUMP ASM-VAC 1 12669488 Diagnostic Tip - Additional Brake Pedal Effort - 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC | small light
PIPE ASM-P/B BOOS VAC (VYU) 1 23144638 Diagnostic Tip - Additional Brake Pedal Effort - 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC | small light
PIPE ASM-P/B BOOS VAC (w/o VYU) 1 23135228 Diagnostic Tip - Additional Brake Pedal Effort - 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC | small light
BOOSTER ASM-P/B 1 23135220 Diagnostic Tip - Additional Brake Pedal Effort - 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC | small light
CYLINDER-BRK MAS 1 20925765 Diagnostic Tip - Additional Brake Pedal Effort - 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC | small light

 


32 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE MODEL YEAR
CADILLAC ESCALADE 2015-2019
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 2014-2018
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4500HD 2019
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2015-2019
CHEVROLET TAHOE 2015-2019
GMC SIERRA 1500 2014-2019
GMC YUKON 2015-2018
GMC YUKON XL 2019

 


1 Associated Document

Manufacturer Communications

Bulletin No.: PIT5361D
Published date: 09/13/2018

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10145479

MC-10145479-9999.pdf 104.507KB

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NHTSA ID Number: 10081053

Manufacturer Communication Number: PIT5361B

Summary

THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ON THE STEPS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE ISSUES WERE THE CUSTOMER WILL NEED INCREASED EFFORT TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. TECHNICIAN MAY FIND FLUID IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND/OR THE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE. TECHNICIAN WILL NEED TO REPLACE VACUUM PUMP, BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, VACUUM PUMP BELT AND THE VACUUM LINE BETWEEN THE BOOSTER AND THE PUMP.

 

1 Associated Document

Service Bulletin Document

Bulletin No.: PIT5361 B
Date: Jun-2016

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10081053

SB-10081053-2280.pdf 264.896KB

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NHTSA ID Number: 10096208

Manufacturer Communication Number: PIT5361A

Summary

THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ON THE STEPS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE ISSUES WERE THE CUSTOMER WILL NEED INCREASED EFFORT TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. TECHNICIAN MAY FIND FLUID IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND/OR THE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE. TECHNICIAN WILL NEED TO REPLACE VACUUM PUMP, BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, VACUUM PUMP BELT AND THE VACUUM LINE BETWEEN THE BOOSTER AND THE PUMP.

 

2 Associated Documents

Service Bulletin Document

Bulletin No.: PIT5361A
Date: Feb-2016

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10096208

SB-10096208-2280.pdf 96.424KB

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Manufacturer Communications

Bulletin No.: PIT5361A
Date: Feb-2016

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10096208

MC-10096208-2280.pdf 96.424KB

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NHTSA ID Number: 10114402

Manufacturer Communication Number: PIT5361

Summary

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a hard brake pedal or that increased effort is needed to depress the brake pedal. During the inspection the technician may find engine oil in the vacuum pump. If engine oil is found these parts should be placed the vacuum pump, vacuum Line between the booster and the pump, brake booster, and the master cylinder.

 

1 Associated Document

Manufacturer Communications

Bulletin No.: PIT5361
Date: Feb-2015

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10114402

MC-10114402-9999.pdf 82.565KB

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NHTSA ID Number: 10057667

Manufacturer Communication Number: PIT5361

Summary

GENERAL MOTORS 2014-2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE, CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, GMC SIERRA, YUKON MODELS. SOME CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ON HARD BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT. *LJ

 

1 Associated Document

Service Bulletin Document

Bulletin No.: PIT5361
Date: February, 2015

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10057667

SB-10057667-3895.pdf 37.288KB

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“This site contains affiliate links for which OEMDTC may be compensated”
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22 thoughts on “Diagnostic Tip – Additional Brake Pedal Effort – 2014-2019 Cadillac Chevrolet GMC”

  1. I have a 2015 Silverado and having this problem stopping at slow speeds as well. I noticed it long ago but seamed to be backing up and now all the time in traffic or drive through. Down hill slow speeds it takes several feet to stop. is the vacuum pump fixing the job.?

    Reply
  2. I’m the original owner of a 2016 Chevy Suburban & at 49,000 miles this problem happened to me as well. It was very frightening to be in traffic and almost hit the car in front of you due to the brakes being so hard to push. I immediately took it to Les Swaab and they said the vacuum booster was out and that they don’t fix it. The problem seemed to stop so the next day my husband took it into another Les Scawab and they told him my brakes are great & it couldn’t be the vacuum booster as it would be a high and tight pedal all the time. I also called my GM dealer they said it’s not covered and that’s unusual to have happen so it probably isn’t right. Fast forward a couple weeks and it’s doing it again at slow speeds, super scary at any rate I have 3 young children and this car no longer feels safe. I took it into GM yesterday and had to find this website to almost validate that this in fact is a PROBLEM that other owners are having, they replaced the vacuum booster and said it was bad at my expense. I’m pissed off this isn’t a safety recall issue and that they didn’t seem to follow the right protocol of replacing the lines, ect. that is called out for on the safety notice, what’s going to stop the vacuum booster from going out again if it isn’t fixed properly.They need to be held accountable! Is there any place we can all file a formal complaint to get this issue attention?

    Reply
    • Hi, thanks for your posts! While driving my 2015 Silverado 1500 Z71 truck with 25,400 miles, on Monday, March 19, 2018 my brakes failed on the freeway in Minneapolis during heavy rush hour stop and go traffic. I had 3 children in the car, and about to enter a curved one-lane bridge high rise. I could not press my brakes to stop the vehicle, and the brake pedal remained depressed and would not pump. I did not have enough leg strength to press the very hard brakes to stop the vehicle on 4 or 5 occasions, so veered off the freeway to not crash into cars until I could finally exit. Then the brakes started working on the ramp, until once again they failed in downtown traffic. I limped the vehicle in low speed to my husband’s office building. We changed cars to get home. He drove the truck (at speed mph 50+) home with brakes working! The next day the GM dealer towed the truck in for service and they were able to replicate the problem. Our Chevy dealer was excellent and they (Miller, Rogers MN) were able to replicate the issue. They called GM and was directed to replace the brake booster. The Chevy technician kept an extra day to test drive it (30+miles), no issue, at the time of this post. This problem is enough for us to lose confidence in the vehicle, especially while reading all of these posts, and other lawsuits, for the same problem. I feel lucky that we did not enter the high-rise bridge and we safely exited the freeway. Should I worry about feeling safe in a fairly new vehicle????

      Reply
  3. have a class action lawsuit being prepared against these careless car maker, I almost lost my life while having my family in the car with my 3 years old son. This happen to me in the middle go the highway going 70 miles an hour where all of a sudden my brakes stop working got so hard it would not go down and the car would not stop. was stuck on the side of the road with my family until 3 am, paid for a hotel and got stuck with 1500$ repair bill. I feel lucky to got out of this alive and safe but somebody else might not be as lucky and all i keep hearing from the low level supervisor won’t even let me talk to a manager, is i am sorry for your experience but there is nothing we can do.
    Gm needs to find a solution to this problem an recall these pieces of crab before someone actually really loses their life.
    Please email at Sonnysane@gmail.com if you had experience the same problem so my lawyers can add on to the case. This action might actually save a family, friend a neighbor life.
    So Mitch, Charel and all you guys that went through i am waiting for your email

    Reply
  4. i have a 2015 gmc serria 51k8 months ago in traffic brake pedal gets hard to press need two feet to stop im 6’3″ 230. dealer said vacuum booster bad i replaced it problem stopped. unntil yesterday started again cant believe it bad again. here is the thing you wouldnt notice it it only happen in traffic of if you pump the brakes 6 or 7 times. check for oil none check for air leaks none checked vacuum at booster 14 at idle and 40 on rev still looking for problem

    Reply
  5. I am having the same problem with my 2015 Suburban , less than 23k miles. Took it to the dealer, they said they couldn’t get it to replicate the problem so there was nothing they could do and they didn’t know what the issue was. I googled the symptoms and found this service bulletin. Sent it to them they then kept the car for another day and called to tell me the same thing “Can’t get it to replicate the problem and they won’t do anything” Hope I don’t get into an accident or they will hear from my lawyer!

    Reply
  6. This just happened to me last evening. $48k miles, 2015 Suburban. Slow speed, stop and go traffic and I had to stand on the pedal to stop…felt like anti lock braking was engaging. Brought to the dealer this morning and said brake booster needs replacing. Also said there was no oil. From what I am reading here if would seem the vacuum pump and line needs replacing too. Thinking to take it from the dealer and bring it to a regular mechanic because the dealership people are way over priced and nasty. Is this a pretty basic job?? It involves the brakes so I don’t want to mess around.
    Furthermore, I wonder how prevalent this is…it is a very dangerous situation and I question if it should be a recall item.

    Reply
  7. update::::
    i replace my vaccum pump and problem solved.
    Apparently Chevrolet dealer know about it because they carry this part in stock and the only reason why they stock the parts because I know they’re going to fail

    Reply
  8. I have the same issue with my 2015 Suburban. I am VERY disappointed with my experience thus far with this “high end” SUV. I had to replace the AC compressor at 54000 miles ($1000 and not covered under warranty), and now my brakes have failed at 68000 miles. The dealership offered to replace the vacuum system for $1200. I refuse to pay that amount for this problem. I did some research and first I replaced the brake booster. That didn’t fix the problem. I noticed the vacuum pump did not pull much vacuum at an idle, and the only time we experienced brake issues was at low speeds while idling. I bet when I replace the vacuum pump, my brake problems will be resolved. I will post the results when I get the new pump installed. Im with ^ Brandon, $70K vehicles should not have these defects, at least not at the numbers they are happening.

    Reply
  9. We have a 2015 Suburban with 51k miles on it. All of a sudden our brakes wouldn’t work. There was no warning or any signs this would happen. My wife was driving with our kids and almost struck a vehicle. This was deeply concerning so we immediately took it to the dealership. They told us the entire vacuum system would need replaced for the brakes to work again. They stated this wasn’t normal but GM wouldn’t cover it. I called GM because I believe this should be under warranty. GM told me because of the mileage I was out and on my own. I asked for assistance because I’ve ownded several GM’s and they said no. I am very upset a 70k dollar vehicle has these defects. GM doesn’t respect its customers!

    Reply

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