NHTSA complaint: 1998 ISUZU AMIGO — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT, MOSTLY ON HILLS, THE ABS STARTS UP AND ALLOWS MY CAR TO FREE WHEEL FOR ABOUT 10 TO 20 FEET BEFORE BRAKING BEGINS AGAIN. I AM NOT LETTING UP ON THE PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME THE ABS STARTED UP IT WORKED GREAT, I HEARD A MOTOR RUNNING UNDER THE HOOD AND EVEN ON THE SNOW I STOPPED FINE. THIS MOTOR DOES FUNCTION WHEN 12VDC IS APPLIED BUT AS OF LATE, NO LONGER FUNCTIONS WHEN THE ABS IS STARTED, THE PROBLEM MUST BE IN THE CONTROLING MODULE IT IS FAILING TO START THE MOTOR. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DITCH 6 TIMES TOTAL AND I AM JUST WAITING TO GET INTO A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I DID NOTICE THAT OTHER CARS NEXT TO ME UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS ARE ABLE TO STOP. THIS LEAD ME TO THIS LITTLE TEST I CONDUCTED. WHEN I DISABLE THE ABS MY CAR STOPS FINE. IN FACT IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE ABS OFF FROM A SPEED OF 30 MPH THE CAR WILL STOP ON AVERAGE 45% SHORTER THAN WHEN THE ABS IS STARTED. THE REAR TIRES DID LOCK UP JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ABS OFF. I TESTED 10 TIMES WITH EACH CONDITION (10 WITH ABS AND 10 WITHOUT ABS) AND THEN AVERAGED RESULTING STOPPING DISTANCE. THE TESTS WERER DONE ON WET PAVEMENT CAUSED BY RAIN. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND THE SYSTEM IS FINE( JAN 29 1999). IF THE DEALER IS CORRRECT AND NO PROBLEM EXSISTS THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. SURE I CAN STILL STEER THE CAR AND THERE IS NO DANGER OF LOCKING THE TIRES (OR STOPPING THIS CAR) BUT AROUND HERE IF I STEER OFF THE ROAD IN
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation