NHTSA Complaint #10171255 — 1998 GMC C/K PICKUP

TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES AT LOW SPEED DUE TO A.B.S. COMPUTER FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH. (1)VEHICLE PASSED GOVERNMENT SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHIN ONE MONTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED NEW BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP WITH NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION COMMENTED DID NOT LIKE MY BRAKES AFTER TEST DRIVE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER FOR EVALUTION. SEVRICE MANAGER DETERMINED THE REED SWITCHES IN FRONT BOTH REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750 I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I HAD EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE IN A WORK TRUCK . I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN OLD TRUCK WITH NEARLY 200,000 KILOMETERS ON IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD NO, THERE ARE NO SERVICE ISSUES OR RECALLS AND I WAS RESPONSABLE. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION ON THE DIAGNOSISUPON RETURNING HOME THE NEXT DAY I STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT LESS THAN 5 M.P.H. .THIS OCCURED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENED. NO BREAKING ACTION!I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDANT WHO CHECKED THE $750. REED SWITCHES AND FOUND THE MILLIAMP OUTPUT TO BE NORMAL. HE SHOWED ME A G.M.BULLETIN THAT SAID THE REED SWITHES MAY NOT FUNCTION DUE TO REDUCED EFFECT OF THE MAGNETS ON THE REED SWITCHES BECAUSE OF CORROSION OR ROAD GRIME.THE DEALER DIAGNOSTIC WAS FAULSE AND THE SAME RESULT WOULD OF OCCURED.THE INDEPENDANT SAID THE $1000. PLUS COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE.IT WAS QUICLY UNPLUGGED AND 30,000 TROUBLE FREE KILOMETERS WERE SINCE RACKED UP WITHOUT A BRAKEING CONCERN. I USE MY TRUCK. I HAUL FIREWOOD AND A FISHING BOAT.THIS IS MY POINT.I AM TIRED OF BIG COMPANIES RISKING LIVES OF CONSUMERS.WE HAVE BEEN STOPPING MASS IN MOTION FOR MANY YEARS .IF AN IMPROVEMENT IS MADE TO AN EXISTING PROVEN SYSTEM,THAT SYSTEM CANNOT CAUSE THE EXISTING SYSTEM TO FAILE. IF A.B.S. ON A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS THE BRAKES MUST STILL FUNCTION.THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO LIGHT, JUST TOTAL FAILURE. *NM