1997 VOLVO 850 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

1997 VOLVO 850. THE ABS AND TRACS LIGHTS ARE ON APPROX. 90% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT AND STOPPING DISTANCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. WHEN LIGHTS ARE OFF, BRAKE PEDAL GETS FIRMER AFTER PUMPING AND BRAKING DISTANCE IS REDUCED. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS. DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM DURING REPEATED VISITS. INEFFECTIVE BRAKES AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHILE BRAKING CONTRIBUTED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE VEHICLE AND A SEMI-TRAILER.*AK