NHTSA Complaint #10173426 — 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE

I PURCHASED A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED SLOW-SPEED BRAKING PROBLEMS FROM THE FIRST DATE OF PURCHASE. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY BE THE BRAKE SHOES OR ROTORS, HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE SHOES AND ROTORS REPLACED ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING HAVE PERSISTED. THE ABS IS TRIGGERED WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS USUALLY UNDER 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CONDITIONS DO NOT WARRANT IT. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE BRAKES AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP THAT POTENTIALLY THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM INVOLVES THE FRONT, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING. SUPPOSEDLY RUST OR CORROSION COULD DETRIMENTALLY AFFECT THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE. THE WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY SENSOR PROBLEM CAUSES FALSE WHEEL SPEED READINGS WHICH SENDS ERRONEOUS WHEEL SPEED READINGS TO THE VEHICLE''S COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER INTERPRETS THIS READING AS A NEED FOR THE COMPUTER TO CONTINUE ACTIVATING THE ABS TO PREVENT WHEEL LOCKUP. HOWEVER, IF ABS IS STILL TRIGGERING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, IT PREVENTS THE WHEELS FROM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE IT CONTINUALLY RELEASES AND APPLIES THE BRAKES AT VERY LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 15 MILES AN HOUR). THIS TYPE OF DEFECT COULD HAVE NEAR FATAL OUTCOMES ESPECIALLY IN A HILLY AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN LIKE THAT OF WEST VIRGINIA. DUE TO THIS PRE-EXISTING MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE WHICH AFFECTS AN EXTREMELY INTEGRAL PART OF THE OPERATION, RENDERING IT UNDRIVEABLE; I EXPECT GENERAL MOTORS/CADILLAC TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME, THE CONSUMER. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY NEGLIGENT TO HAVE NOTICE ABOUT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IGNORE YOUR DUTY OF CARE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE LOW COST REMEDY AVAILABLE TO RECALL AND FIX IT. SINCERELY, NELSON R. STAPLES IV. *NM