I WAS MERGING ONTO TRAFFIC HEADING WEST ON I-10 IN HOUSTON. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD WHEN THERE WAS AT LEAST 10 FEET DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS MERGING AT PEAK TRAFFIC HOUR AND WAS NOT MORE THAN 40-45 MILES/HOUR SPEED. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR REFUSED TO STOP AND I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD SUCH THAT ANY OTHER CAR WOULD HAVE SKIDDED THE TYRES. THIS CAR JUST PLAIN REFUSED TO STOP AND I ENDED UP IN A WRECK WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND NOW AM HAVING TO GO THROUGH INSURANCE. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER SIMILAR CARS AND THEIR BRAKES ARE A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A RENTAL CAR OF SIMILAR SIZE AND THEIR BRAKES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED TO AN EARLY RECALL ABOUT BRAKES ON THE CAR, BUT I HAVE BEEN PROMPT ABOUT GETTING ALL MY RECALLS FIXED IN THE CAR. *TR