NHTSA Complaint #10429955 — 1992 MAZDA 626

1992 MAZDA 626 DX, ODOMETER 184,580MI. VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROX 35MPH ON CITY STREET. AS ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT ME OFF I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD AT WHICH POINT I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. AT WHICH POINT I PUMPED THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES AND ONLY HEARD SOME AIR HISSING SOUND. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND USE THE HAND BRAKE TO NARROWLY AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINE(OR POSSIBLY MULTIPLE LINES) UNDER THE CAR RUPTURED AND CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING FLUID(WHICH SPILLED OUT OF THE SYSTEM) AND THEREFORE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY DISABLED AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLE DEFECT IN COMPONENTS AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS. *KB