ON JANUARY , MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO CHILDREN TO AN APPOINTMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 0845 HRS. WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS ON A TWO LANE ROAD, SHE STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THEN, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND STEERING CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE CAR DID A 540 (A COMPLETE 360 AND A 180) AND ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 0 F. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE FRAME. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. THE CAR WAS SERVICED IN 2002 DUE TO COMPLAINT ABOUT EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE. *NLM