NHTSA complaint: 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
DEAR NHTSA, I DRIVE A 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA. RECENTLY I HAD THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED. ($150) THE SWITCH JUST WORE OUT FROM OLD AGE. I HAVE LOOKED ON MANY WEBSITES AND THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THESE CARS WITH MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN THE SWITCH WEARS OUT AND FAILS; THE LUMINA'S BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT RUNS THROUGH THIS FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND PREVENTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS FROM COMING ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD, AS CARS BEHIND YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE APPLIED YOUR BRAKES AND MAY NOT REDUCE SPEED IN TIME TO PREVENT A COLLISION. I AM APPALLED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT GOES THROUGH THIS FAILURE-PRONE FAULTY SWITCH. I WANTED NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY WARN UNSUSPECTING MOTORISTS.*AK THANK YOU
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation