NHTSA Complaint #10461076 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK AT AROUND 5:30AM AND STARTED TO PASS A SEMI TRUCK WHEN THE SEMI SIGNALED TO COME OVER TOO THE PASSING LANE AS WELL TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM. I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND SIGNAL FOR THE TRUCK TO MANEUVER INTO THE PASSING LANE. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO STOPPING POWER. THEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER TO FIND THAT THERE WAS NONE VISIBLE. I CALL MY BROTHER TO COME AND TOW ME AND THE CAR HOME, WHICH WAS ABOUT 6 MILES FROM THE HOUSE. AFTER I LIFTED THE CAR AND PUT BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER, I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED WHERE THE FUEL LINE AND THE BRAKE FLUID LINE COME TOGETHER IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM OF $255 OF MY OWN MONIES! THANKS PONTIAC FOR POSSIBLY CAUSING THE LOSS OF LIFE OR INJURY TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND ANY OTHER MISFORTUNES THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF A IMPROPER, UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE BRAKING SYSTEM!!! AS THIS IS NOT THE ONLY REPORT OF THIS FAILURE, I HOPE AND PRAY IT DOES NOT COME TO SOMEONE LOSING A LIFE BEFORE YOU ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES AND FAILURES! *JS