Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
12 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE IN 3/00. IN ONE INCIDENT, BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AT HIGHWAY SPEED; BY SHEER LUCK I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT GM REFUSES TO WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE IN 3/00. IN ONE INCIDENT, BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AT HIGHWAY SPEED; BY SHEER LUCK I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT GM REFUSES TO WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND FURTHER BRAKE FAILURES COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743855
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, POWER MASTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL.
NHTSA ODI #532723
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1997
Wheels
LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF, BENDING FENDER.
NHTSA ODI #520692
Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED 4 TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #516973
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
POWER BRAKE HYDRO BOOSTER FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #976296
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringVisibility
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, BRAKES APPLIED; VERY LOW SPEED. *AK UPON ACCELERATION VEHICLE DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED THERE IS A HORRIBLE SMELL OF PRESTONE IN THE VEHICLE, THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND IT HAS PRE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND OIL DISAPPEARS AS QUICKLY AS CONSUMER PUTS IN.*JB
NHTSA ODI #803578
Mileage unknown · May 15, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
HARD BRAKE PEDAL AFTER RECALL REPAIRS..
NHTSA ODI #504321
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND WENT TO FULL THROTTLE AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA88019 · Hydro Boost
Opened Jan 28, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE87038 · Hydroboost Failure
Opened Jul 9, 1987 · Closed Jan 28, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING FLUID PROVIDES POWER ASSIST TO BOKE BOOSTER.THE EFFECT OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE A LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND/OR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.STATUS:THE VOLUMINOUS AMOUNT OF DATA SUPPLIED BY GM IS PRESENTLY BEING CODED BY A CONTRACTOR AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 12/30/87. GM DATA INDICATED A 50% WEIBULL DISTRIBUTION FAILURE AT 50K MILES FOR THE PISTON PUSH-ROD SEAL. THIS PE LOOKS TO HAVE AN EXTRODINARILY HIGH FREQUENCY, ALTHOUGH THE SEVERITY APEARS TO BE LOW.SHOULD BE INTERESTING DISCUSSING THIS FOR UPGRADE/CLOSURE.===
1986 Pontiac Parisienne Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration