NHTSA complaint: 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
A HYDRALIC BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STOPING DISTANCE AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION AT THE BODY SHOP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF FRICTION ABRASION OF THE BRAKE HOSE. THE SPLASHSHIELD HAS AN OPENING FOR THE BRAKE HOSE. THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE IS ONLY PARTLY SHIELDED BY AN RUBBER SLEEVE. THIS SLEEVE COVERS THE BRAKE HOSE AND THE SLEEVE EXTENDS FROM THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE HOSE IS CONNECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE SPLASHIELD -- A DISTANCE OF ABOUT THREE INCHES. WHERE THE HOSE PASSES THROUGH THE SPLASHIELD, THE BRAKE HOSE IS UNPROTECTED. THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE ON THE BRAKEHOSE OF ABRASION WEARING TO THE POINT WHERE THE SPLASHSHIELD WORE A HOLE IN THE HOSE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT FOR WHICH A SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation