# 1997 GMC SAFARI — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
> NHTSA complaint `1103571` · 2014-08-19 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** GMC
- **Model:** SAFARI
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- **Miles at failure:** 70,000
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
THIS VAN BELONGS TO MY MOTHER.  MY SISTER WAS DRIVING THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.  SHE IS 60 YRS OF AGE AND A VERY GOOD DRIVER.  HER DESCRIPTION: "JUST PULLING AWAY FROM ONE LIGHT & COMING UP TO ANOTHER.  WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 20 MPH.  STEP ON THE BRAKES & THEY WEREN'T THERE."  THE ACCIDENT CAUSED ABOUT $500 IN DAMAGE TO THE HONDA AUTO THAT WAS STRUCK, AND SIMILAR LIGHT DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF THE SAFARI.  I INSPECTED SYSTEM AND FOUND NO LEAKS, AND CONCLUDED THAT MASTER CYLINDER MAY BE FAILING, SO I REPLACED IT.  AFTER THAT REPAIR, HAD EXCELLENT PEDAL.  I BORROWED THE VAN A FEW DAYS LATER, AND WHILE DRIVING IT, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME NO BRAKE CONDITION 3 TIMES, ONCE WHICH LEFT THE FRONT END OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION (LUCKILY, NO COLLISION).  I RECOGNIZED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ERRONEOUSLY KEEPING THE FRONT BRAKES FROM APPLYING, AND THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE NO BRAKE CONDITION.  A GM MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO PULL THE ABS FUSE.  I DID SO, AND NOW THE VAN HAS GREAT BRAKES, EVERY TIME.  I HAVE DONE THE SAME TO ANOTHER FAMILY VEHICLE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH THIS DANGEROUS SYSTEM; I'M NOT WAITING UNTIL IT CAUSES ANOTHER ACCIDENT.  THIS CONDITION SCREAMS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.  NO ONE WAS HURT BY THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE INCIDENT (EXCEPT FINANCIALLY), BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP GLIDING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION, OR OVER A CROSSWALK, AND DOES CAUSE A DEATH OR TWO.  PLEASE HAVE ALL THESE DANGEROUS ABS VEHICLES RECALLED, AND HAVE THESE SAFETY FEATURES-TURNED-
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*