2000 Chevrolet Astro

UPON APPROACH TO AN INTERSECTION, I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN EARLY BECAUSE THE ROAD WAS COVERED WITH ICE AND SNOW. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE A LITTLE, SO I PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE TO ENGAGE THE ABS BRAKES. I HEARD A VERY LOUD SNAP! AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GONE FROM BENEATH MY FOOT. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION, NARROWLY MISSING BECOMING BROADSIDED FROM THE LEFT. I SWUNG THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE (WHICH DID LITTLE TO SLOW FORWARD MOMENTUM) AND WAITED WHILE THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP, INCHES FROM A TELEPHONE POLE. *** UPON BEING TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER COMPONENT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE METAL CASTING HAS A CRACK WHICH IS ALMOST 6 INCHES LONG WHICH RUNS ALONG THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PART FOR ALMOST ITS FULL LENGTH. THE METAL WALL OF THE CYLINDER HAS BEEN EXTRUDED BY THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION WHICH OCCURRED DURING BRAKING. *** I HAVE THE PART AND I AM WILLING TO SHARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PROBLEM. *** IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT A CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE, CONTACTED AFTER THE FACT, TOLD ME THAT THIS FAILURE WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO "BAD BRAKING HABITS".

I ATTEMPTED TO STOP BEHIND A CAR MAKING A TURN. AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER I PURCHASED THE VAN I HAD TAKEN THE VAN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT RIGHT, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE ABS BRAKES WERE LIKE THAT. LATER I TOOK IT AGAIN IN THE WINTER WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKES ON SNOW. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A GRINDING SOUND--AGAIN THE DEALER SAID THAT'S NORMAL. I AM NOT DRIVING IT NOW BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO GM ALLEGATION DEPARTMENT I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM ABOUT AIR BAGS THAT DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS ACCIDENT WITH THE VAN INVOLVED TWO OTHER CARS AND INJURIES TO TWO PEOPLE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL 2000 ASTRO VANS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS SUBMITTED TO YOUR WEB PAGE. THEY TOO ARE AFRAID OF DRIVING THE VANS. WE NEED HELP.;*AK

I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH CHEVROLET THE CORPORATION AND THE DEALERSHIP ON THIS BRAKING PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING, THE BRAKES PUMP THEN GO TO THE FLOOR NOT ALWAYS STOPPING MY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE HAD MY VAN FOR OVER A WEEK NOW AND STILL SAY THEY CANT FIND NOTHING. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH EXPERIECED THIS PROBLEM, WE HAD IT IN THE SHOP LAST JULY AND THEY SAID THEIR WAS NOTHING. WE FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COMPROMISED MY SAFTEY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. PLEASE HELP.*AK