1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE DOES MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE THEN. THE VEHICLE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL DURING NORMAL BRAKING PROCEDURES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATES THAT THE BRAKES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY. *AK

Mileage: 58,000

ON JUNE 1, 2000 I WAS GOING TO WORK, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I REALIZED I WAS GOING A LITTLE FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT AND PRESSED THE BRAKES. AT THAT POINT IN TIME MY 1998 MONTE CARLO LS VEERED TO THE LEFT AND I HAD NO CONTROL. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE MEDIAN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL. THE MARKS ON THE ROAD WERE FELT TO SHOW THAT MY BRAKE SYSTEM HAD LOCKED UP. (I DO HAVE THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE SCENE). *JB

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HIGHDROPLANED INTO A DITCH AS A RESULT. PH CONSUMER COMPLAINED PREVIOUSLY OF DELAYED STOPPING ESPECIALLY IN WET WEATHER. *TT

Mileage: 100,000

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NO BRAKES WHEN HIGHWAY IS WET EVEN AFTER RECALL WAS DONE. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY CAUSE HEADLIGHTS TO DIM. ALSO, A CLICKING SOUND WOULD COME FROM DASHBOARD AND FRONT WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP MOMENTARILY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK LOW TRACK LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE IN DRY CONDITIONS. THE CLICKING AND DIMMING LIGHTS SEEMED TO BE A SHORT IN THE ABS, ABS RELUCTOR WAS CRACKED. CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. *JB

BRAKES WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL HIT FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED ABS VALVE. BRAKES WENT OUT AGAIN ON MAY 11,2001. DEALER REPLACED ABS BOX AGAIN, AND BRAKES WENT OUT.*AK

BRAKES FAILED AT 25 MPH CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $2100. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES IN PAST, BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF 2000. DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS/PADS, AND TURNED ROTORS. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. ALSO, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK *SLC

BRAKES FAILED AT 25 MPH CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $2100. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES IN PAST, BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF 2000. DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS/PADS, AND TURNED ROTORS. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. ALSO, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEED APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THEY WON'T WORK AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO DISTANCE TO STOP BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THIS OCCURS DURING A LIGHT RAIN. *YH

DOORS WILL NOT STAY OPEN AT POSITIONS LESS THAN FULL OPEN, AND EVEN THEN SLIGHT WIND WILL CAUSE THEM TO CLOSE. HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS !! BRUISES AND GOUGES TO LEGS MOSTLY , BUT SOME ARMS, FINGERS, AND OFTEN HURT BACK- DUE TO PREMATURE CLOSING OF DOOR. [IT CLOSES HARD TOO!] SUPPOSE HINGES INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT/DIMENSIONS OF THE DOORS, OR MECHANISM NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. DUE TO SIZE/WEIGHT OF DOORS - IN TIGHT PARKING SPOTS - IT IS MOST OFTEN- IMPOSSIBLE- TO OPEN DOOR FULLY. HAVE HAD OTHER CARS SAME MODEL- NEVER THIS PROBLEM. DOORS SHOULD HAVE INTERIM POSITIONS WHERE IT WILL REMAIN OPEN WITHOUT EXERTING A CONTINUAL OUTWARD PRESSURE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CHILDREN ARE PASSENGERS ENTERING OR DISEMBARKING FROM THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT AN ADULT IN IMMEDIATE PRESENCE.[COULD EASILY CASUE A BROKEN BONE BY PREMATURE CLOSING ON AN UNSUSPECTING CHILD. WOULD BE ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS IN RENTAL CAR SITUATION WITH ADULTS UNFAMILAR W/PROBLEM. HOOD OF TRUCK HAS SIMILAR SYMPTOMS- DOES NOT STAY IN OPEN POSITION IF SLIGHTEST WIND. TRIM AROUND ALL WINDOWS AND DOOR FRAMES IS NOT SECURE- MANY AREAS BREECHED. RECENTLY NOTICED FAILING OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE MANNER PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR. INADEQUATE STOPPING POWER NOTICED ONLY RECENTLY - HAVE ENDED UP - MUCH TO MY SURPRISE- IN MIDDLE OF INTERSETIONS BEFORE COMPLETE STOP WAS ACHIEVED- FROM SPEED OF 40-45 MPH- NO "GRABBING" FEELING NOTICED AS PRESSURE APPLIED THE BRAKES WAS INCREASED. OR REALLY AT ONSET OF "STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER TO BE SERVICED A FEW TIMES. DEALER HAS TURNED BRAKE ROTORS TWICE & REPLACED THEM. THEN, GAVE CONSUMER MANUFACTURER'S PHONE NUMBER. DEALER WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER IT WAS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR, AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET FOR REPAIRS. *AK

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REPEATED FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE NOISES AND FAILURES. YH

DRIVING RAIN THE BRAKES ARE SLOW TO REACT ABOUT A 3 SECOND DELAY .THE DEALER TOLD US TO USE MORE BRAKE PRESSURE FROM THE FOOT ANOTHER WORDS PUSH HARDER. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN THE RAIN. *AK

BRAKES CONTINUALLY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN IT IS RAINING, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS WITH REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS, HOWEVER WITHOUT REMEDY. MJS

WHEN DRIVING AT NO MORE THAN 15 MPH APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED AND REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE DURING WET OR RAINY CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR AND REQUIRES PUMPING TO GET THE PRESSURE BACK UP. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN HAS A POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. AN ASSOCIATE OF MINE WHOM IS A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER FOR GENERAL MOTORS HAS INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ON THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE FOR THE W-BODY VEHICLES. BUT SINCE THE PART IS SO EXPENSIVE THE DEALERS WILL NOT ROOT CAUSE THE COMPONENT AND WILL NOT PERFORM A BULLETIN SEARCH.

HARD PEDAL WITH BRAKE FADE WHEN STOPPING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS - DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. SINCE DEALER TURNED ROTORS, BRAKES MAKE KLUNKING, CLICKING GRINDING NOISE DURING LOW SPEED APPLICATION, BUT SQUEALING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO APPLICATION. ABS ACTIVATES PREMATURELY OVER THE SLIGHT BUMPS AND WON'T RETURN CONTROL TO DRIVER, BUT NO ERROR LAMP. SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED GM FEELS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION.

HARD PEDAL WITH BRAKE FADE WHEN STOPPING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS - DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. SINCE DEALER TURNED ROTORS, BRAKES MAKE KLUNKING, CLICKING GRINDING NOISE DURING LOW SPEED APPLICATION, BUT SQUEALING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO APPLICATION. ABS ACTIVATES PREMATURELY OVER THE SLIGHT BUMPS AND WON'T RETURN CONTROL TO DRIVER, BUT NO ERROR LAMP. SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED GM FEELS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION.

ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF GRAVEL, SAND AND BUMPS, THIS ERRATIC OPERATION MAY HAVE CAUSE BRAKE ROTORS TO WARP. NLM

ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF GRAVEL, SAND AND BUMPS, THIS ERRATIC OPERATION MAY HAVE CAUSE BRAKE ROTORS TO WARP. NLM

REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE MANUFACTOR AS OF 3/31/99.*AK