2014 Chevrolet Volt

WARNING LIGHTS FOR BRAKES, ABS, AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ILLUMINATED ON START UP AND BACKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING SPACE. THE BRAKES WERE MUSHY BUT WOULD STILL STOP THE CAR BUT WITH MUCH GREATER EFFORT. THE VOLT APPARENTLY HAS A MECHANICAL FAIL SAFE BRAKING MECHANISM (OTHER THAN THE PARKING BRAKE) IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM EVEN IF THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FAILS. CONTACT WITH ON STAR INDICATED A DTC OF C1121 - LEFT FRONT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM LEAKING. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ON THE VEHICLE AND THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR WAS AT THE MAXIMUM LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER SINCE THE BRAKE PRESSURE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED OVER 159 PSIG. WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT ANY VEHICLE PART CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME, FAILURE OF A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE SHOULD BE RARE. THIS SUBMISSION WAS ONLY TO HELP IDENTIFY IF THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE 2014 VOLT IS FAILING AT MORE THAN NORMAL RATES. *TR

INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON CITY STREETS. REACHED APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AS I APPROACHED HE INTERSECTION, WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND NORMAL BRAKING FAILED. PRESSING THE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD, WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO A STOP IN 2 CAR LENGTHS, BUT OVERRAN THE LIMIT LINE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. CAR REPORTED "LEAKING BRAKE CIRCUIT" VIA REMOTE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSTICS. INTERNAL DISPLAYS INDICATE "BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE", "ABS FAILURE" AND "STABILITRAK SERVICE REQUIRED". *TR

I RECEIVED THE CHEVY VOLT 2/20/14 AT AROUND 10:45 AM. MY PARTNER AND I HAD A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING AT 12:30 P.M. IN JERSEY CITY, NJ SO WE LEFT DIRECTLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN THE BRAND NEW VOLT, 7 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 P.M. THE CAR ALARMED WITH TWO MESSAGES: 1. ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE AND 2. PROPULSION POWER REDUCED. THE ALARMS/ENGINE FAILURE CAME AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIME---WHILE ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND NO AVAILABLE SHOULDER. WITH SEMI-TRUCKS BEARING DOWN ON US, WE LUCKILY MADE IT TO A CONSTRUCTION PULL OFF AREA AND CALLED ON STAR. ON STAR INFORMED US THE TURNPIKE IS A RESTRICTED ZONE SO THEY COULD NOT SEND ANYONE, THEY WERE HELPFUL AND GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY WHICH SENT A TOW TRUCK. WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH ON STAR MY PARTNER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE GOT THE CAR. THEY WERE HELPFUL AND CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WOULD BE TOWED?MALOUF CHEVROLET. AFTER WAITING OVER 30 MIN FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, ALL THE WHILE FEARING I WAS GOING TO BE MOWED DOWN BY A SEMI-TRUCK ON THE SHOULDER, THE BRAND NEW VOLT, MY PARTNER AND I WERE OFF THE TURNPIKE. UPON ARRIVAL TO MALOUF WE WERE GREETED BY A MEMBER OF THEIR SERVICE TEAM, HE ASKED ME HOW MANY MILES WERE ON THE CAR. I SAID?66?, HE ASKED ?6600?, I RESPONDED ?NO! 66, THE CAR ONLY RAN FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AFTER DELIVERY!? WE NOW HAVE A LOANER FROM MALOUF AND HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BRAND NEW CHEVROLET VOLT. *TR