NHTSA complaint: 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, THE DRIVER NOTICED AN 18-WHEELER HEADING TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND AN INSURANCE AGENT INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation