NHTSA Complaint #10181260 — 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT

RECENTLY, MY VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO FIRESTONE FOR STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THIS COMPLAINT IS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION, I WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS PREVELANT IN THE CADILLAC ESCALADE PRODUCTION LINE AND SIMILAR SERIES SUCH AS THE CHEVEROLET AVALANCHE. THE ASSOCIATE ATTRIBUTED THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S NEGLECT TO ADOPT AN EFFECTIVE RETAINING CLIP WHICH RESULTS IN PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. THIS DEFECT NOT ONLY COMPROMISES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT PREMATURELY WEARS AND SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGES THE ROTORS OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION AND IS PENDING OVER $500.00 IN REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO A BRAKE SHOP, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DISASSEMBLE THE REAR DRIVERSIDE HUB TO ACCESS THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. A BOLT WHICH NEEDED TO BE REMOVED WAS LOCK-TITE TO THE POINT OF PERMANENT AND STATIC FIXTURE (WITH THE ONLY METHOD OF REMOVAL BEING THE GRIND OR CUT THE BOLT OUT). BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, I AM UNABLE TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NEVER ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AND NEVER ENGAGED TO CREATE FRICTION WITH THE MOVING WHEELS. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, THE LEVER MOTIONS WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD.