NHTSA complaint: 1994 HONDA ACCORD — SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, STARTING TO GRADUALLY APPLY BRAKES MORE THAN 200 FEET AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTION. THERE'S ONLY ONE CAR IN FRONT OF ME; IT ALREADY STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE INTERSECTION. WHEN MY CAR WAS ABOUT 15 FEET AWAY FROM THE FRONT CAR, I FELT A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND WOULD HAVE A DIRECT COLLISION WITH THE FRONT CAR. I IMMEDIATELY MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN. MY CAR'S RIGHT FRONT LIGHT AREA HIT THE FRONT CAR'S LEFT REAR BUMPER. MY CAR CONTINUED MOVING, AND FINALLY STOPPED ON THE CURB/GRASS BY THE SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION. LATER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CONFIRMED THAT MY CAR HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL, WHICH WAS ALSO LATER CONFIRMED BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, WE (MY GIRLFRIEND AND I) HAD THE CAR FOR 7 YEARS. WE HAD NEVER HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE TOWARD THE END OF A 250-MILE ROUND TRIP HIGH WAY DRIVING. I DIDN'T FEEL ANY BRAKE PROBLEM DURING THE DRIVING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation