NHTSA Complaint #10610009 — 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT

WARNING LIGHTS FOR BRAKES, ABS, AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ILLUMINATED ON START UP AND BACKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING SPACE. THE BRAKES WERE MUSHY BUT WOULD STILL STOP THE CAR BUT WITH MUCH GREATER EFFORT. THE VOLT APPARENTLY HAS A MECHANICAL FAIL SAFE BRAKING MECHANISM (OTHER THAN THE PARKING BRAKE) IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM EVEN IF THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FAILS. CONTACT WITH ON STAR INDICATED A DTC OF C1121 - LEFT FRONT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM LEAKING. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ON THE VEHICLE AND THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR WAS AT THE MAXIMUM LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER SINCE THE BRAKE PRESSURE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED OVER 159 PSIG. WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT ANY VEHICLE PART CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME, FAILURE OF A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE SHOULD BE RARE. THIS SUBMISSION WAS ONLY TO HELP IDENTIFY IF THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE 2014 VOLT IS FAILING AT MORE THAN NORMAL RATES. *TR