Brake Pedal gets stiff, hard to stop

[Ge0rge]

Recently when at slow speeds, almost stopped, I notice the brake pedal will get really hard to press, and will only go down a small distance. The truck will stop but its not a quick stop by no means. Happened backing up to park the other day. Happened today while at a red light. Drifted front, went to hit the brake and had to REALLY hit the brake to get it to stop. Anyone else experience during their truck ownership? Thanks.

[ksiesel]

Sounds like a vacuum pump failure.  I’d recommend calling your dealer with the symptoms as I believe GM has a program covering these even beyond the warranty period. 

 

I’m sure others will be along to share specifics of that coverage program.

[mikeyk101]

It is a known serious problem and there is a recall for it. The first step usually is a software flash. I'm my case, I wasn't having problems when the software flash was done to prevent the hard braking. About a year later, I had several episodes of the hard braking and they ended up diagnosing a vacuum pump failure and replacing it. The software flash was handled as a recall but not sure how the vacuum pump was handled as I was still under warranty. But if I wasn't, I would have thrown a fit and pushed for it to be covered...

[mikeyk101]

Here is an article describing the problem but I don't think GM is quite being truthful about the number of vacuum pump failures and think it is a bigger problem than they admit.

 

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defects/gm-recalls-suvs-and-pickups-for-braking-issue/

[Ge0rge]

Now that you mention that, they did do a software flash on that when I went in to have an alignment. I doubt the dealer will want to cover any part of it, I have 97k miles on the truck which is a 2016. Anyone know the cost to replace? I will take it to a local trusted mechanic to repair. I also realized today I don't have A/C, guessing the typical condenser failure, but will have him look at that as well. I appreciate you all sharing what you know.