NHTSA Complaint #10426006 — 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

I WAS PARKED ON A HILL FACING UP WARDS. I MADE A U TURN IN THE STREET TO GO DOWN THE HILL AS I ALWAYS DO. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN I LOST ALL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN BUT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A VERY SLOW STOP. WHILE I CONTINUED DRIVING TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND NOW THE "LOW BRAKE FLUID" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WARNING CHIMES WERE RINGING CONSTANTLY. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID HITTING HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS CAUSING THE SMOKE. I COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING UNDER THE VEHICLE TOO BUT UNDER THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE LINE AND SAID THAT THE LINE RUNS UP TO THE FIRE WALL BEHIND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT. "REAL NICE". I HAVE TO FIND A SHOP WHO IS COMPETENT TO DO THIS JOB. I WOULD HAVE NO DOUBT BEEN IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHILE THIS HAPPENED. FROM READING SOME OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES ONLINE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. APPARENTLY ALL THESE BRAKE LINES RUN UP TO THE FIRE WALL WHERE INSTALLATION HOLDS MOISTURE AND CAUSES FAILURE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. IF THE LINE WASN'T IN OR CLOSE TO INSULATION THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. *TR *KB