NHTSA complaint: 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
THE VECHILE BEGAN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE AT TRAVEL SPEEDS FROM 0-45MPH. DURING FAILURE, THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED BEGIN TO SLOW THE VECHILE AND THEN PEDAL POWER IS LOST AND BRAKING ABILITY IS LOST. WHEN THE PEDAL IS RELEASED AND QUICKLY REDRPRESSED THE BRAKE POWER IS RESTORED.CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURES. THE LOCAL DEALER PERFORMERMED A PROM TEST BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS MOST LIKELY FAULTY, BUT REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER A NHTSA RECALL. AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AT A COST OF $600. THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO CHYSLER WHO SUGGESTED A SECOND DEALER TO CHECK THE ABS SYSTEM. THE SECOND DEALER PERFORMED A SERIES OF TEST TO THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE ABS ACCUMULATOR PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT AT A COST OF MORE THAN $319.00. THE DELEARSHIP REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL, AND THE LOCAL ZONE MANAGER REFUSED TO REPLACED THOSE PARTS OUTLINED IN THE NHTSA BULLETIN AS RELATED TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER THEN ASSURED THAT THE REPAIR HAD CORRECTED THE FAILURE,AS DETERMINED BY HIS TEST. LESS THAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR THE VECHILE AGAIN EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, OF THE SAME TYPE (LOSS OF BRAKING AND PEDAL POWER). THIS INCIDENT OCCURED ON AUGUST 30,1999. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTE
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation