1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

MY MAIN COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE DISC BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPER ASSEMBLIES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE 1996 AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND MORE RECENTLY THE CALIPERS DUE TO THEM FREEZING UP. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO INSTANCES PROBABLY THREE WHERE I CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF UNEVEN WEAR. THE CALIPER WAS NOT PROPERLY RELEASING AND IT WAS CAUSING ONE PAD USUALLY THE INSIDE PAD (THE ONE WITHOUT) THE METAL STRIP TO WEAR DOWN. IN THE FIRST TWO CASES I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, AND THE FONT ROTORS. MORE RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN THE FRONT SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY (ONLY A YEAR OR LESS SINCE MY LAST BRAKE PAD CHANGE). THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER I STARTED HEARING A THUMPING SOUND FROM THE BACK BRAKES WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND WHEN IT WAS IN FOR INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT THE BACK BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WERE STICKING AND THAT THE ROTORS WERE DAMAGED. I ENDED UP SPENDING OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE REAR CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS AND NEW ROTORS WHILE IN FOR INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, AND TAKEN CARE OF IT FROM DAY ONE, BUT THE MOST DISAPPOINTING AND EXPENSIVE PART IS THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK I AM ALONE, MY FATHER WHO ALSO OWNS AN OLDS CULTASS HAS HAD NOT AS MUCH, BUT SOME OF THE SAME EXPERIENCES WITH HIS BRAKES, CALIPERS AND ROTORS. I THINK THAT THERE IS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THEM FROM DAY ONE - I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT EITHER WAY IT HAS CAUSED ME TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ($1500-$2000 OR MORE) OVER THE YEARS REPLACING THINGS THAT SHOULD WORK. *AK

Mileage: 119,000

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, FUSES ARE CONTINUOSLY BLOWING, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE SHIFT COLUMN, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. ALSO THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE RADIATOR AND TANK ARE FULL. HE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND THE MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. BRAKES ARE IN WORKING ORDER AND ALL SENSORS ARE GOOD. NOW I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING ON HOT DAYS, THE STARTER CLICKS BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WILL THEN START( ABOUT 5 TRIES), AND TODAY I SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP SIGN I LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT A TOP OF 2RPM'S AND COULD NOT GET OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE MECHANIC STILL NEED TO GIVE A DIAGNOSIS ON THIS LATEST PROBLEM BUT SIAD IT MAY BE A CIRCUIT PROBLEM SINCE TOUCHING THE UNDERHOOD DRIVER SIDE CIRCUIT BOX CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND RESTART.

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH REPLACING FRONT/REAR ROTORS AND CALIPERS DUE TO ROTORS WARPING WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK.*JB

LOW COOLANT INDICATOR, TUNE-UP BRAKES

PREMATURE REAR BRAKE FAILURE SEEMS COMMON FOR THIS AND THE COMPARABLE BODY STYLES OF GM. GM SERVICE MANAGERS SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ACQUIRED CAR WITH 34K, FAILURE OCCURRED AT 60K AGAIN AT 100K AND AGAIN AT 120K. GM DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS NORMAL FOR THE PARTICULAR CAR. *AK

BRAKES LO TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED AT LEAST 1/2 INCH, AND THE ANTILOCK BEGAN PULSATING. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE CAR STOPPED NORMALLY WHENEVER THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND AT PRESENT I HAVE 38,320 ORIGINAL MILES ON. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

ORIGINAL TIRES ON 1995 OLDSMOBILE, CUTLASS, P18575R148964R360. THERE WAS VERY HARD VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND TIRES WERE STARTING TO WEAR OUT. *AK DOT # FOR FIRESTONE TIRES IS HYJ774A. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE VIBRATION, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. *SLC

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IS ON, BRAKES GRAB AND MAKE NOISES ON DRY PAVEMENT, DEALER HAS CHECKED ABS BRAKES AND FINDS NOTHING WRONG YET THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE BRAKE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. *SLC

REPORTING PROBLEM WITH FRONT ROTORS. CONSUMER NEEDS TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND PITTED. BATTERY FAILED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OVER BRAKES PROBLEMS. *YH

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS AND CONTINUED VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ROTORS. *MJS

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO REPUTABLE REPAIR FACILITIES THAT THE ROTORS SHOW SIGNS OF DEFECTS, WITH METAL CHIPS INSIDE, AFFECTING MY BRAKING AND A DANGER TO MY SELF, ANY PASSENGERS AND ANY ONE ELSE ON THE ROAD! I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SOMEONE AT OLDS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SUCH A PROBLEM ON MODEL YEARS 1994, 1996 & 1997, WHY NOT 1995??? I HAVE CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH I KNEW AND SINCE JULY 17TH I HAVE HAD NO FURTHER WORD FROM THEM REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO FIX ASAP. *AK

REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO LACK OF ADJUSTERS,CAUSING MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO LACK OF ADJUSTERS,CAUSING MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKES WERE WEARING ON THE ROTORS & PADS. WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. FIRST TIME HAPPEND ON 3/13/98/16,000MILES. 2ND TIME WAS GETTING A RAMBLING NOISE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ON 12/14/99/ 28,000 MILES., VEHICLE WAS IN DEALER'S FOR SERVICE & MECHANIC NOTICED PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ROTORS. MECHANIC RESURFACED ROTORS & CHANGED PADS FIRST TIME. 2ND TIME REPLACED THE PADS & ONE ROTOR & RESURFACED THE OTHER ROTORS. *AK

LOSS OF BRAKES, BRAKE GRABBING. YH

AS I REPORTED TO NHTSA ON 22 JAN.,'98, THE ABS IS DEFECTIVE AT SLOW VERY SLIPERY CONDITIONS. APPARENTLY THIS IS WELL RECOGNIZED AS THE NEW CADILLAC 2000 ADVERTISES A "NEW SIDE SLIP RATE CONTROL THAT APPLIES BOTH FRONT BRAKES TO SLOW THINGS DOWN" THIS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED MY ROLLING THRU AN INTERSECTION WITH BOTH THIS CAR AND A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH MY ABS EQUIPPED 1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE. BOTH OF THESE CARS AND ALL THE OTHER ABS EQUIPPED GM CARS ARE JUST WAITING FOR SLIPPERY ROAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO A TOTAL LACK OF ANY ABILITY TO STOP THESE CARS.LOTS OF BRAKE PEDAL JUST NO WHEEL BRAKING. THE NEW CADIILLAC ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM BUT I WANT MY CARS FIXED ALSO.

BRAKES ARE UNRELIABLE. PADS HAVE REPLACED THREE TIMES AND REAR ROTORS TWICE. FRONT ROTORS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 3000 MILES. SERVICE TECH INDICATES DESIGN PROBLEMS RELATED TO BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, TIMING BELT FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE.MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND HELPED WITHOUT WARRANTY REPAIRS. ALSO, ALTERNATOR FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE/REPAIR TIME TWICE USUAL DUE TO LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR AND DESIGN OF ENGINE. *AK

BRAKES ARE UNRELIABLE. PADS HAVE REPLACED THREE TIMES AND REAR ROTORS TWICE. FRONT ROTORS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 3000 MILES. SERVICE TECH INDICATES DESIGN PROBLEMS RELATED TO BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, TIMING BELT FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE.MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND HELPED WITHOUT WARRANTY REPAIRS. ALSO, ALTERNATOR FAILURE UNUSUAL AT MILEAGE/REPAIR TIME TWICE USUAL DUE TO LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR AND DESIGN OF ENGINE. *AK

DISC BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS CONSTANTLY. THE BRAKE PADS RAN DOWN BEFORE 20,000 MILES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

FRONT/REAR ROTORS RUSTED AND FAILED.

APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING FOR AN ABNORMALLY LONG TIME. THEPAVEMENT WAS VERY ICY.

ANTI LOCK BRAKES POOR PERFORMANCE CAUSING JERKING AND HESITATION.

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONTO THE HIGHWAY, RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN AFTER GIVING THE AUTO SOME GAS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE WERE BOTH WARNING LIGHTS ON AT ONCE. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE MANIFESTS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR, MOSTLY WITH THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. ALSO, OWNER NOTES THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD SET OF ROTORS HE HAD REPLACED. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE MANIFESTS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR, MOSTLY WITH THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. ALSO, OWNER NOTES THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD SET OF ROTORS HE HAD REPLACED. *AK

ANTILOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

FAILURE ON THE ON THE ABS BRAKE SENSOR, THE BRAKE SENSOR IS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO GRAB WHEN DRIVING. *AK

SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY FOR THE ABS BRAKES. THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES .

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SHE APPLIES THE BRAKES THAT THEY SQUEAK HORRIBLY AND MAKE A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK

WHEN PRESSED THE BRAKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND CAR STALLS WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES, ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

WHEN PRESSED THE BRAKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND CAR STALLS WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES, ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. *AW

ABS BRAKES; BRAKES FAIL W/POOR RESPONSE WHEN APPLYING NOT SURE IF BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE, IN TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

ABS BRAKES FAIL W/PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR OR NOT RESPONDING TO APPLICATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

ABS COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

POOR BRAKE OPERATION ON NORMAL AND MODERATE STOPS, SOFT PEDAL, LONGER PEDAL TRAVEL, EXCESSIVE PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED FOR ONE WITH POWER BRAKES, CONSUMER STATES BRAKES HAVE NEVER COMPLETELY FAILED. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE GOING 60/65MPH, RESULTING IN STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULTY. TT

EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, HAD FIXED, STILL MALFUNCTIONING. TT

BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED. PLEASE EXPLAIN FURTHER. TT