Component

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

86 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings issues across 24 makes and 60 models.

The service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 86 filings from 24 manufacturers and 60 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the PETERBILT 357 with 6 filings, followed by CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 and CHEVROLET SILVERADO. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

86
Complaints
60
Models Affected
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 PETERBILT 357 6
2 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 6
3 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4
4 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 3
5 FORD WINDSTAR 3
6 PETERBILT 330 2
7 JEEP CHEROKEE 2
8 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL 2
9 FORD TAURUS 2
10 FORD F-150 2
11 FORD EXPLORER 2
12 DODGE RAM 1500 2
13 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2
14 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2
15 WESTERN STAR 4964 1
16 SUZUKI ESTEEM 1
17 SUBARU IMPREZA 1
18 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 1
19 PONTIAC G8 1
20 PETERBILT PETERBILT 1
21 PETERBILT 387 1
22 PETERBILT 337 1
23 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1
24 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1
25 NISSAN MAXIMA 1
26 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 1
27 MERCURY SABLE 1
28 MAZDA MAZDA6 1
29 LINCOLN MKZ 1
30 LINCOLN LINCOLN 1

Recent Complaints

2017 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake line fractured, and the brakes failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was towed to the

2007 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 10 MPH, the brakes failed with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminat

2014 LINCOLN MKZ

The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that as she attempted to come to a complete stop at the top of a hill, the brakes failed to operate as needed and were depressed to the floorboa

2017 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while his wife was driving the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard with the brake warning light illuminated on the instrume

2004 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, she noticed that her brakes were failing. The contact stated that she drove her vehicle to an independent mec

2016 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a f

2007 CADILLAC CTS

The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact works for an independent mechanic and place the vehicle on a lift and noticed that both the driver’s and passenger’s side rear brake cable had cra

2009 PONTIAC G8

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOSE AROUND THE BRAKE LINE WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHE

2014 PETERBILT 337

SUBJECT: DISCREPANT TRACTOR TO TRAILER AIR HOSES MANUFACTURE BY PHILLIP INDUSTRIES. DISCREPANCY: PHILLIP INDUSTRIES AIR HOSES ASSEMBLED WITH NON-PERMANENTLY END FITTINGS FOR EMERGENCY AND SERVICE D

2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT MY BRAKES WERE FAILING. ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE OF ROAD, (OLD ROUTE 23S) IN CEDAR GROVE, AS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT WITH VEHICLES AT A STOP. MY BRAKES WERE GIVING WAY A

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

2004 CHEVY SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD UPON LEAVING A SERVICE STATION AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DUE TO BEING CLOSE TO HOME, T

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKES LINES WERE COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WH

2004 GMC YUKON DENALI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE W

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE

2004 GMC SIERRA 2500

SECOND BRAKE PROBLEM, SECOND OF THREE BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS FROM RUSTY BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHILE STOPPING AND LOSE OF BRAKES, NEEDING TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. ALL REMAINING BRAKE

1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

WE HAVE NOTICED THAT AREAS ON THE TRUCK WHERE RUSTING OUT. BUT WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO THE LINES BEING RUSTED THROUGH I WAS VERY UPSET. I DO REALIZE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THIS FROM NORMAL WEAR BUT

2003 GMC DENALI

WITHIN ABOUT 10 MILES OF A MODERATE BRAKING SITUATION AND REACHING HOME, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME PROGRESSIVELY SOFTER AT EACH SUCCESSIVE STOP UNTIL COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED NEAR HOME. THE EMERGEN

2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

SUPPLY LINE TO REAR BRAKE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND SEVERELY REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. *JS

1999 CHEVROLET C/K SERIES Crash

TRIED TO STOP FOR CAR STOPPED TO TURN LEFT. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TOWARD FLOOR MORE THAN USUAL. IMPACTED SAID CAR BEFORE GETTING TRUCK STOPPED. FOUND RUPTURED, CORRODED BRAKE LINE TO BE LEAKING BRAKE FLLU

2004 SUBARU IMPREZA

METAL CONNECTOR (THAT IS UNDER THE CAR CHASSIS) JOINING THE BRAKE PIPES (LINES) FOR THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED THROUGH. WITH THE RUSTED CONNECTOR, BRAKE FLUID LEAKED THROUGH THE HOLES RESULTING TO BRAKES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings issues?
The NHTSA has received 86 complaints about service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings problems across 60 vehicle models from 24 manufacturers.
How dangerous are service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings defects?
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS issues have been linked to 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings issues is the PETERBILT 357 with 6 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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