NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
42 reportsClear category filter127,000 miles · Dec 31, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I STARTED THE CAR, PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE POOL OF FLUID ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. MASTER CYLINDER WAS NEAR EMPTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES (6?) WERE LEAKING AT THE ABS PUMP…
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I STARTED THE CAR, PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE POOL OF FLUID ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. MASTER CYLINDER WAS NEAR EMPTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES (6?) WERE LEAKING AT THE ABS PUMP. THIS IS THE CAR MY WIFE DRIVES. MY WIFE! I AM ANAL WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLES CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE. TO HAVE A FAILURE LIKE THIS ON A WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A "QUALITY AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE" IS ABSURD AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! MY BROTHERS 1999 HONDA, MY STEP SON'S 1991 NISSAN STANZA (RECENTLY SOLD) A 1993 GEO PRIZM (I.E. TOYOTA COROLLA!!!) RECENTLY SOLD HAD ZERO RUST ON ANY BRAKE FITTING, BRAKE LINE OR FUEL LINE. I HAD NO BRAKE ISSUES PREVIOUSLY. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10441989
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicFire
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THERE WERE TWO FIRES THAT ORIGINATED IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALERSHIP DID SOME WORK ON THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRES WERE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE VEH…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THERE WERE TWO FIRES THAT ORIGINATED IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALERSHIP DID SOME WORK ON THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRES WERE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FIRST FIRE WAS ON JULY 2005, AND THE SECOND OCCURRED ON AUGUST 2005. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10137121
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
SAFETY DEFECT IN 1998 *BF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXPERIENCED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ADMITS THAT SHE MAY HAVE HIT THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. *TT CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V244000 *TC
NHTSA ODI #10097374
97,526 miles · Oct 2, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
BRAKES, OUTER TIE ROD, BRAKE CALIPERS, ENGINE OIL INNER SEAL. BRAKE PADS, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS 20 TIMES EVERY 3 MONTHS AND THE BRAKE CALIBER ON THE RIGHT REAR THIS WILL MAKE THE 9TH TIME I AM RUNNING OUT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR THE FRONT BRAKES AND HUBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HAVE ALL…
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BRAKES, OUTER TIE ROD, BRAKE CALIPERS, ENGINE OIL INNER SEAL. BRAKE PADS, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS 20 TIMES EVERY 3 MONTHS AND THE BRAKE CALIBER ON THE RIGHT REAR THIS WILL MAKE THE 9TH TIME I AM RUNNING OUT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR THE FRONT BRAKES AND HUBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS AND CAN PROVE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON MY CAR COST OF OIL LEAK REPAIR WAS OVER $800.00 DOLLARS AND GUESS WHAT I WILL HAVE THE CAR PAID FOR THIS MONTH AND I AM STILL WORKING ON THE WHEELS AND BRAKES I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BRAKES, AND THE ENGINE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10093468
45,343 miles · Sep 22, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PRIOR TO THE COLLISION THE BRAKES FAILED, AND CONSUMER JUMPED A CURB, CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE.*AK THE VEHICLE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL WRECK BY MET L…
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WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PRIOR TO THE COLLISION THE BRAKES FAILED, AND CONSUMER JUMPED A CURB, CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE.*AK THE VEHICLE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL WRECK BY MET LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10087492
55,000 miles · Apr 14, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE VEHICLE LOST OIL, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE TUBE AND CLAMP. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015772
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES WENT OUT, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING. THISCOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014330
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SHUTTING THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES WERE COMING UNDONE, DEALER REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #564914
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE BRAKES FAIL EVERY 6~11 MONTHS / 6000~11000 MILES, HAVE REPLACED CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, SHOES, WHEEL CYLINDERS MULTIPLE TIMES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #759560
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING STEPPED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL GOT STIFF, RESULTING IN VEHICLE COASTING AND NOT SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE, AND FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH CONSUMER'S CONCERN.*AKCONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR THE INSPECTION OF BRAKES BECAUSE…
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WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING STEPPED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL GOT STIFF, RESULTING IN VEHICLE COASTING AND NOT SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE, AND FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH CONSUMER'S CONCERN.*AKCONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR THE INSPECTION OF BRAKES BECAUSE OF HARD BRAKE PEDAL, LIMITED BRAKE USE AND PEDAL MOVEMENT. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER, BUT WAS NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8005088
NHTSA investigations
2EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
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