NHTSA Complaint #10218760 — 1999 BUICK CENTURY

CORROSION (RUST THROUGH/FAILURE) OF FRONT/RIGHT METAL BRAKE LINE IN 1999 BUICK CENTURY (9 YR OLD CAR, 96K MILES). THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY MUSHY AND WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE GROUND. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION/RUST THROUGH. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AT SOME TIME DURING MY MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT CONTRIBUTED TO THE VERY MINOR CONTACT CAUSED BY THE OTHER VEHICLE ENTERING MY LANE WITHOUT WARNING, BUT I WILL CHECK THE "CRASH" BOX BELOW BECAUSE BRAKE LINE FAILURE HAPPENED SOME TIME DURING A VERY MINOR CRASH (TOUCHING OF TWO CARS). IN THE SEARCH FOR MY NEXT CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY AND COROLLA AS WELL AS HONDA ACCORD APPEAR TO USE "COATED" BRAKE AND GAS LINES TO PREVENT CORROSION FAILURES (COULD SEE A BLACK COATING AND NOT JUST BARE STEEL). FROM NOW ON, I WILL NEVER BUY A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE COATED LINES (OR STAINLESS STEEL). COATING THESE LINES (OR USING STAINLESS STEEL) IS SUCH AN EASY SAFETY PRECAUTION. MOST MUFFLER PIPES ARE NOW STAINLESS STEEL, SO WHY IS THE NHTSA NOT MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR MANUFACTURERS TO COAT OR USE S.S. FOR BRAKE LINES AND GAS LINES? *TR