NHTSA complaint: 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKES WAS EXPERIENCED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DRIVER WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES OCCURRED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. INABILITY TO STOP CAUSED VEHICLE TO JUMP THE PARKING CURB AND CRASH INTO THE CORNER OF A CONCRETE BLOCK CONSTRUCTED BUILDING. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE PRIMARY DAMAGE EXPERIENCED.TEST ING OF BRAKES BY OWNER WAS UNABLE TO RECREARE THE FAILURE. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS SUSPECT WHEN IT WAS NOTED THE FLUID LEVEL WAS BELOW PREVIOUS OBSERVED LEVEL. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AROUND THE PLUNGER SHAFT. ALSO, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS FOUND INSIDE THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. DURING DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT JIMMIE VICKERS IT BECAME EVIDENT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY ARE SURPRISED IT IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. I HOPE THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE BEFORE A SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURS TO ANOTHER UNWARY DRIVER.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation