NHTSA complaint: 1994 CHEVROLET ASTRO — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY ASTRO VAN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME APPLIED THEIR BRAKES. I ALSO APPLIED MY BRAKES, BUT MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I ATTEMPTED 4 TIMES IN A PANICKED STATE TO TRY AND RE-APPLY MY BRAKES WITH NO SUCCESS. I STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER CONSIDERING WHAT HAD HAPPENED THAT DAY AND LOOKING AT THE BRAKE PEDAL SIZE IN THE VEHICLE IT IS NO WONDER I COULDN'T READILLY RE-APPLY THE BRAKE. I MEASURED THE BRAKE PEDAL SURFACE AREA. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 4 SQ. INCHES. I HAVE SINCE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER VEHICLES AND THE SIZE OF THEIR BRAKE PEDAL SURFACE AREA. I HAVE YET TO DATE FOUND SUCH A SMALL BRAKE PEDAL IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VAN THOUSANDS OF MILES AND KNOW WITHOUT MUCH CONSIDERATION THE PEDALS LOCATION WITHOUT LOOKING, BUT IN A PANICED STATE I FOUND YOU LOOSE THAT REFERENCE AND IT SIMPLY COMES DOWN TO AN INCREASED OR DECREASED CHANCE OF HITTING THAT PEDAL GIVEN SURFACE AREA. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation