NHTSA complaint: 1992 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MARCH 30, 1999 AT THE INTERSECTION OF AL 150 AND I-459 IN HOOVER AL. I TRIED TO STOP AT THE LIGHT BUT THE SUBURBAN JUST WOULD NOT STOP. THE ANTI LOCK MECHANISM DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THERE WAS NO SLIDING OR SKIDDING. I RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THERE WAS RAIN PRESENT, BUT IT WAS LIGHT RAIN ITH NO WATER STANDING ON THE ROAD. THE SECOND OCCASION WAS IN HOUSTON TX ON MAY 28, 1999. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE SUBURBAN ON THE SAM HOUSTON TOLL ROAD WHEN SHE WENT TO CHANGE LANES. SHE DISCOVERED THAT SOMEONE WAS OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN THE LANE THAT SHE WANTED TO BE IN. SHE PULLED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAW SOMEONE IN THE ADJACENT LANE, PULLED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, HARD. THE SUBURBAN'S REAR WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE SUBURBAN MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND EXITTED THE ROADWAY BACKWARD AT ABOUT 20 MPH STRIKING A CONCRETE BARRIER. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 MAKING THE SUBURBAN DRIVABLE, AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO THE BODY WORK YET. I FEEL THAT BOTH OCCURANCES HAVE BEEN CAUSED AT LEAST IN PART BY FAILURE OF THE FOUR WHEEL ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL THREW THE TREAD SIX DAYS LATER ON THE WAY HOME. I DON'T THINK IT WAS DESIGNED TO GO SIDEWAYS.( DOT NUMBER: AN11LX1127 TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation