NHTSA Complaint #11465570 — 2007 FORD TAURUS

Severely rusted brake line to the driver side real brake ruptured and caused loss of brake function and emptying of the single brake fluid reservoir. I cannot currently find the ruptured line segment, but a portion of the other rear brake line was similarly rusted prompting preventative repair. Fortunately, my wife was driving at low speed and was able to maneuver the car into a parking spot. An employee at the O'Reilly store where I bought replacement parts thought the state of the ruptured line meant that it came from a 1980s model vehicle rather than a 2007 model. No one in an official capacity has inspected the brake line. My wife did not report nor have I observed any brake warning lamps during my repairs (the brake lamp does illuminate when the parking brake is engaged). Rusting occurred due to trapped road debris in a brake line support tray under driver's seat. I will include a photograph of the removed tray and a brake line portion that came from it. Close inspection of the photograph can see the debris and rust in the tray and significant rust on the non-failed brake line also restrained in it. I will also include a (scanned) receipt from O'Reilly documenting the repair parts and date.