NHTSA Complaint #10462826 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

I WAS PULLING OUT TO CROSS BUSY FOUR LANE. A CAR COMING FROM RIGHE SWITCHED LANES AND TURNED IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED BRAKES SMARTLY BUT DID NOT APPLY HARD ENOUGH TO SLIDE OR SQUEAL TIRES. AFTER THAT I CONTINUED ABOUT A MILE AND STARTED TO BRAKE FOR A STOP LIGHT. BRAKES FELT AS IF SOME AIR WAS IN SYSTEM (NOT FULLY BLED). NEXT I APPLIED AGAIN FOR ANOTHER LIGHT. CONDITION WORSENED. BY THE TIME I RETURNED TO MY RESIDENCE, ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY, I HAD TO USE EMERGENY BRAKE. ALL FLUID WAS GONE FROM MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. I PLACED CAR ON JACK, REFILLED RESERVOIR AND PUMPED BRAKES, AND FOUND THAT ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF BRAKE LINES DIRECTLY UNDER DRIVERS FLOOR, ON THE SLOPED PART GOING UPWARD TO MASTER CYLINDER ,WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD FAILED (PIN HOLE). LINE ABOVE LOOKS NEW AND LINE BELOW THE AREA LOOKS NEW. ALSO THE CAR IS VERY CLEAN AND NON RUSTED ON BOTTOM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN PAMPERED SINCE WE PURCHASED FROM DEALER AT 18,000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY A MATERIALS ISSUE AS THE PART THAT IS CORRODED IS IN A SLOPED AREA WHICH WOULD NATURALLY DRAIN OFF ANY MOISTURE THAT COLLECTS. ADDITIONALLY FUEL LINES AND ADJACENT TO THE BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO CORRODED. I SUSPECT THAT LINES WERE DAMAGED WHEN ORIGINALLY BENT, PROBABLY PEIRCING THE OUTER CORROSION COATING. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. I SEARCHED FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES ON LINE AND FOUND FIVE COMPLAINTS THAT EXACTLY DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE MODE BYPASSES THE SAFETY DESIGN OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH IS DESIGNED TO KEEP EITHER FRONT OR REAR BRAKES WORKING IF THE OTHER FAILS. IT IS CATASTROPHIC AND WILL (OR PROBABLY HAS) CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT