NHTSA complaint: 1998 CHEVROLET S10 — SERVICE BRAKES
I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. BEGAN SLOWLY TRAVELING DOWN THE HILL THAT I LIVE ON. THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THIS OCCURING. THE ENGINE ALSO STALLED. I HAD NO WAY TO SLOW OR STOP SAFELY, AS THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WAS RUSTED AND DID NOT WORK. I MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. ENDED UP DRIVING OFF OF A SMALL EMBANKMENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND OTHER EXTERNAL AREAS IN THE FRONT. THE HOOD AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR ARE NO LONGER SEALING VERY GOOD. A REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE MUCH OF THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO FAILURE CAUSED BY RUST. THE MECHANIC ALSO FOUND FUEL LINE DAMAGE DUE TO RUST AND REPLACE THEM AS WELL. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED OR DIED THAT DAY, OR HAVE CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH. WHY HAS CHEVROLET NOT BEEN REQUIRED CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS? *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation